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
January 1 Thursday, January 1, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on January 1 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
8
Holidays
European history 499 years ago
Croatian nobles elect Ferdinand I, Archduke of Austria as King of Croatia in the 1527 election in Cetin.
Croatian nobles gather in Cetin to elect Ferdinand I, Archduke of Austria, as King of Croatia, binding the kingdom to the Habsburg dynasty.
History
What happened on January 1
12 verified entries Full timeline
- -153World history
For the first time, Roman consuls begin their year in office on January 1.
Roman consuls start their terms in office on January 1 for the first time.
- -45World history
The Julian calendar takes effect as the civil calendar of the Roman Republic, establishing January 1 as the new date of the new year.
The Julian calendar becomes the official civil calendar of the Roman Republic, setting January 1 as the start of the new year.
- -42World history
The Roman Senate posthumously deifies Julius Caesar.
The Roman Senate posthumously declares Julius Caesar divine.
- 193World history
The Senate chooses Pertinax against his will to succeed Commodus as Roman emperor.
The Senate appoints Pertinax as Roman emperor despite his reluctance.
- 404World history
Saint Telemachus tries to stop a gladiatorial fight in a Roman amphitheatre, and is stoned to death by the crowd. This act impresses the Christian Emperor Honorius, who issues a historic ban on gladiatorial fights.
Saint Telemachus is killed while trying to end a gladiatorial fight, prompting Emperor Honorius to ban such contests.
- 417World history
Emperor Honorius forces Galla Placidia into marriage to Constantius, his famous general (magister militum) (probable).
Emperor Honorius arranges the marriage of Galla Placidia to his prominent general Constantius.
- 947World history
Emperor Taizong of the Khitan-led Liao dynasty captures Daliang, ending the dynasty and empire of the Later Jin.
Emperor Taizong of Liao conquers Daliang, extinguishing the Later Jin dynasty and consolidating Khitan dominance over northern China.
- 1001Royalty
Grand Prince Stephen I of Hungary is named the first King of Hungary by Pope Sylvester II (probable).
Stephen I is recognized as the first King of Hungary by Pope Sylvester II.
- 1068Royalty
Romanos IV Diogenes marries Eudokia Makrembolitissa and is crowned Byzantine Emperor.
Romanos IV Diogenes marries Eudokia Makrembolitissa and is crowned Byzantine Emperor.
- 1259European history
Michael VIII Palaiologos is proclaimed co-emperor of the Empire of Nicaea with his ward John IV Laskaris.
Michael VIII Palaiologos is proclaimed co-emperor of the Empire of Nicaea alongside his young ward John IV Laskaris.
- 1438Royalty
Albert II of Habsburg is crowned King of Hungary.
Albert II is crowned King of Hungary, becoming both king and Holy Roman Emperor.
- 1527European history
Croatian nobles elect Ferdinand I, Archduke of Austria as King of Croatia in the 1527 election in Cetin.
Croatian nobles gather in Cetin to elect Ferdinand I, Archduke of Austria, as King of Croatia, binding the kingdom to the Habsburg dynasty.
Born today
Famous birthdays on January 1
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 67
Panagiotis Giannakis
Greek basketball player and coach
Panagiotis "Notis" Giannakis, the Greek basketball player and coach considered one of his country's greatest sportspeople, turns 67 today.
Born
1959
Turns 67
today
Lorenzo de' Medici
Italian politician
1449 – 1492
Betsy Ross
American seamstress, sewed flags for the Pennsylvania Navy during the Revolutionary War
1752 – 1836
Artur Rodziński
Polish-American conductor
1892 – 1958
Shaji N. Karun
Indian director and cinematographer
1952 – 2025
Christian Paradis
Canadian lawyer and politician, 9th Canadian Minister of Industry
b. 1974 · 52
David Nalbandian
Argentine tennis player
b. 1982 · 44
Music
The number one songs on January 1
Across the years Full chart history
Also #1 on this day
- 2026"Last Christmas"— Wham!
- 2025"Last Christmas"— Wham!
- 2024"Last Christmas"— Wham!
- 2023"Food Aid"— LadBaby
- 2022"Sausage Rolls for Everyone"— LadBaby featuring Ed Sheeran and Elton John
- 2021"Don't Stop Me Eatin'"— LadBaby
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport January 1, 1902
Michigan defeats Stanford 49-0 in the first Rose Bowl football game
The Tournament of Roses football game, later known as the Rose Bowl, debuts as Michigan dominates Stanford in Pasadena. Stanford quits after three quarters, and the game is so lopsided that chariot racing replaces football at the tournament for the next 14 years.
Read the story
🔬 Science January 1, 1998
Argentinian physicist Juan Maldacena publishes a landmark paper initiating the study of AdS/CFT correspondence, which links string theory and quantum gravity.
Juan Maldacena publishes a groundbreaking paper linking string theory and quantum gravity through the AdS/CFT correspondence.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
The last day of Kwanzaa (African Americans)
International
Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day
The eighth of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity)
International
The Twelve Days of Christmas, or Twelve Days of Christmastide, is the festive Christian season celebrating the Nativity of Jesus
Global Family Day
International
Global Family Day One Day of Peace and Sharing, is celebrated every January 1 in the United States as a global day of peace and sharing
Jump-up Day (Montserrat)
International
Jump-up Day is a holiday celebrated on January 1 in Montserrat
New Year's Day (Gregorian calendar) Japanese New Year
International
The Japanese New Year is an annual festival that takes place in Japan
New Year's Day (Gregorian calendar) Novy God Day (Russia)
International
The New Year celebration observed in Russia, in post-Soviet states, and globally by the diasporas of post-Soviet states is called Novy God in Russian
❝
For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice.
— T. S. Eliot · born January 1, 1888