Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
February 28 Saturday, February 28, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on February 28 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
4
Holidays
Religion 1156 years ago
The Fourth Council of Constantinople closes.
The Fourth Council of Constantinople concludes, reaffirming the Nicene Creed and condemning Photius while resolving the Photian Schism between Rome and Constantinople.
History
What happened on February 28
12 verified entries Full timeline
- -202World history
Liu Bang is enthroned as the Emperor of China, beginning four centuries of rule by the Han dynasty.
Liu Bang becomes Emperor of China, founding the Han dynasty that will govern for four centuries.
- 870Religion
The Fourth Council of Constantinople closes.
The Fourth Council of Constantinople concludes, reaffirming the Nicene Creed and condemning Photius while resolving the Photian Schism between Rome and Constantinople.
- 1525World history
Aztec king Cuauhtémoc is executed on the order of conquistador Hernán Cortés.
Cuauhtémoc, the last Aztec ruler, is executed by order of Spanish conqueror Hernán Cortés.
- 1638UK history
The Scottish National Covenant is signed in Edinburgh.
John Knox's followers sign the Scottish National Covenant in Edinburgh, pledging loyalty to the Presbyterian Church.
- 1835Culture
Elias Lönnrot signs and dates the foreword to the first version of the Kalevala, the so-called Old Kalevala.
Elias Lönnrot signs and dates the foreword to the first version of the Kalevala, known as the Old Kalevala.
- 1844US history
A gun explodes on board the steam warship USS Princeton during a pleasure cruise down the Potomac River, killing six, including Secretary of State Abel Upshur. President John Tyler, who is also on board, is not injured from the blast.
A gun explodes on board the USS Princeton during a cruise down the Potomac, killing six people, including Secretary of State Abel Upshur; President John Tyler survives.
- 1922UK history
The United Kingdom ends its protectorate over Egypt through a Unilateral Declaration of Independence.
The United Kingdom grants Egypt independence through a unilateral declaration.
- 1985War
The Provisional Irish Republican Army carries out a mortar attack on the Royal Ulster Constabulary police station at Newry, killing nine officers.
The Provisional Irish Republican Army launches a mortar attack on a Royal Ulster Constabulary police station in Newry, killing nine officers in the deadliest assault on the RUC during the Troubles.
- 2013Religion
Pope Benedict XVI resigns as the pope of the Catholic Church, becoming the first pope to do so voluntarily since Pope Gregory XII in 1415.
Pope Benedict XVI resigns, becoming the first pope to step down voluntarily since 1415.
- 2023Disaster
Two trains collide south of the Vale of Tempe in Greece, leading to the deaths of at least 57 people and leaving 58 missing and 85 injured.
A train collision near the Vale of Tempe in Greece kills at least 57 people, leaves 58 missing, and injures 85.
- 2024Politics
Prime Minister Modi of India inaugurates the 2nd Space Port of India - Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport.
Prime Minister Modi inaugurates India's second space port in Kulasekarapattinam.
- 2026War
The United States and Israel launch attacks across Iran, assassinating Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Retaliatory strikes are launched by Iran against US military bases in the Gulf, with explosions reported in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE.
The United States and Israel launch attacks on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei; Iran retaliates by striking US military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE.
Born today
Famous birthdays on February 28
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 84
Dino Zoff
Italian footballer
Dino Zoff, regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, turns 84 today; he captained Italy to World Cup victory in 1982, becoming the oldest winner at 40.
Born
1942
Turns 84
today
Peter Medawar
Brazilian-English biologist and immunologist, Nobel Prize laureate
1915 – 1987
Gilbert Gottfried
American comedian, actor, and singer
1955 – 2022
Eric Lindros
Canadian ice hockey player
b. 1973 · 53
Ivo Karlović
Croatian tennis player
b. 1979 · 47
Ryan Allen
American football player
b. 1990 · 36
Takayasu Akira
Japanese sumo wrestler
b. 1990 · 36
Music
The number one songs on February 28
Across the years Full chart history
Also #1 on this day
- 2026"Rein Me In"— Sam Fender and Olivia Dean
- 2025"Not Like Us"— Kendrick Lamar
- 2024"Stick Season"— Noah Kahan
- 2023"Flowers"— Miley Cyrus
- 2022"We Don't Talk About Bruno"— Carolina Gaitán , Mauro Castillo , Adassa , Rhenzy Feliz , Diane Guerrero and Stephanie Beatriz
- 2021"Drivers License"— Olivia Rodrigo
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport February 28, 1983
The final episode of M*A*S*H draws 105.9 million viewers, setting a television record
The two-and-a-half-hour finale of the Korean War comedy-drama became the most-watched television broadcast in American history at the time. The series had run for 11 seasons, far outlasting the three-year war it depicted.
Read the story
🔬 Science February 28, 2024
Prime Minister Modi of India inaugurates the 2nd Space Port of India - Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport.
Prime Minister Modi inaugurates India's second space port in Kulasekarapattinam.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
4 celebrated today
Kalevala Day, also known as the Finnish Culture Day (Finland)
International
Kalevala Day, also known as Finnish Culture Day, is celebrated on 28 February in honor of Finnish culture and the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala
National Science Day (India)
International
National Science Day is celebrated in India on February 28 each year to mark the discovery of the Raman effect by Indian physicist Sir C
Peace Memorial Day (Taiwan)
International
Peace Memorial Day, also known as 228 Memorial Day, is a public holiday in Taiwan for honoring and mourning the victims and families of the February 28 incident in 1947
Andalusia Day (Spain)
International
The Andalusia Day is celebrated on 28 February and commemorates the 28 February 1980 referendum on the Statute of Autonomy of Andalusia, in which the Andalusian electorate voted for the statute that m
❝
Pressure is something you feel when you don't know what you're doing.
— Dino Zoff · born February 28, 1942