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 6 Friday, February 6, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on February 6 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
Disaster 30 years ago
Willamette Valley Flood: Floods in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, United States, causes over US$500 million in property damage throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Floods devastate the Willamette Valley in Oregon, causing over $500 million in property damage across the Pacific Northwest.
History
What happened on February 6
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 337Religion
Election of pope Julius I.
Julius I is elected pope, succeeding Pope Strepontius.
- 590World history
Hormizd IV, king of the Sasanian Empire, is overthrown and blinded by his brothers-in-law Vistahm and Vinduyih.
Hormizd IV is overthrown and blinded by his brothers-in-law Vistahm and Vinduyih, ending his reign.
- 1579Religion
The Diocese of Manila is erected by papal bull, with Domingo de Salazar appointed its first bishop.
Pope Gregory XIII establishes the Diocese of Manila, appointing Domingo de Salazar as its first bishop.
- 1685Royalty
James II of England and VII of Scotland is proclaimed King upon the death of his brother Charles II.
James II becomes king following the death of his brother Charles II.
- 1694World history
Dandara, leader of the runaway slaves in Quilombo dos Palmares, Brazil, is captured and commits suicide rather than be returned to a life of slavery.
Dandara, a leader of the runaway slaves in Quilombo dos Palmares, commits suicide upon capture to avoid returning to slavery.
- 1778US history
American Revolutionary War: In Paris the Treaty of Alliance and the Treaty of Amity and Commerce are signed by the United States and France signaling official recognition of the new republic.
France signs the Treaty of Alliance and the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the United States in Paris, officially recognizing the new American republic.
- 1788US history
Massachusetts becomes the sixth state to ratify the United States Constitution.
Massachusetts joins the Union as the sixth state to ratify the United States Constitution.
- 1840UK history
Signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, establishing New Zealand as a British colony.
The Treaty of Waitangi is signed, marking the beginning of British colonial rule in New Zealand.
- 1865Politics
The municipal administration of Finland is established.
Finland establishes its municipal administration.
- 1958Sports
Eight Manchester United F.C. players and 15 other passengers are killed in the Munich air disaster.
A plane crash in Munich kills eight Manchester United football team members and 15 other passengers.
- 1996Disaster
Willamette Valley Flood: Floods in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, United States, causes over US$500 million in property damage throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Floods devastate the Willamette Valley in Oregon, causing over $500 million in property damage across the Pacific Northwest.
- 2016Disaster
An earthquake of magnitude 6.6 strikes southern Taiwan, killing 117 people.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake strikes southern Taiwan, killing 117 people and causing widespread building collapses in Tainan.
Born today
Famous birthdays on February 6
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 43
S. Sreesanth
Indian cricketer
S. Sreesanth, Indian cricketer known for his right-arm fast-medium bowling across all formats, turns 42 today.
Born
1983
Turns 43
today
Girolamo Benivieni
Florentine poet
1453 – 1542
Magnús Guðmundsson
Icelandic lawyer and politician, 3rd Prime Minister of Iceland
1879 – 1937
Robert La Follette Jr.
American politician
1895 – 1953
Edward Lansdale
American general and CIA agent
1908 – 1987
Scott Gordon
American ice hockey player and coach
b. 1963 · 63
Kim Zmeskal
American gymnast and coach
b. 1976 · 50
Music
The number one songs on February 6
Across the years Full chart history
Also #1 on this day
- 2026"Aperture"— Harry Styles
- 2025"Messy"— Lola Young
- 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 6, 1971
Astronaut Alan Shepard hits golf balls on the Moon during Apollo 14 mission
During the Apollo 14 mission's second moonwalk, Commander Alan Shepard used a makeshift six-iron to hit two golf balls on the lunar surface, describing one shot as going "miles and miles and miles."
Read the story
🔬 Science February 6, 1959
Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments files the first patent for an integrated circuit.
Jack Kilby patents the first integrated circuit, a breakthrough in microelectronics that shrinks computing power.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
4 celebrated today
International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (United Nations)
International
International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is a United Nations-sponsored annual awareness day that takes place on February 6 as part of the UN's efforts to eradicate female geni
Ronald Reagan Day (California, United States)
International
Ronald Reagan Day is a day of recognition that occurs every February 6, starting in 2011, in the state of California for Ronald Reagan, who was that state's governor from 1967 to 1975 and President of
Sami National Day (Russia, Finland, Norway and Sweden)
International
The Sámi National Day is an ethnic national day for the Sámi (Saami) people that falls on February 6, the date when the first Sámi congress was held in 1917 in Trondheim, Norway
Waitangi Day, celebrates the founding of New Zealand in 1840.
International
Waitangi Day, the national day of New Zealand, marks the anniversary of the initial signing, on 6 February 1840, of the Treaty of Waitangi
❝
Let us learn to show our friendship for a man when he is alive and not after he is dead.
— F. Scott Fitzgerald · born February 6, 1896