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
June 21 Sunday, June 21, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on June 21 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 178 years ago
In the Wallachian Revolution, Ion Heliade Rădulescu and Christian Tell issue the Proclamation of Islaz and create a new republican government.
Ion Heliade Rădulescu and Christian Tell issued the Proclamation of Islaz, establishing a provisional government during the Wallachian Revolution.
History
What happened on June 21
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 533European history
A Byzantine expeditionary fleet under Belisarios sails from Constantinople to attack the Vandals in Africa, via Greece and Sicily.
A Byzantine fleet led by Belisarius departs Constantinople for Africa, planning to conquer the Vandals after stops in Greece and Sicily.
- 1307World history
Külüg Khan is enthroned as Khagan of the Mongols and Wuzong of the Yuan.
Külüg Khan is enthroned as Khagan of the Mongols and takes the temple name Wuzong.
- 1529European history
French forces are driven out of northern Italy by Spain at the Battle of Landriano during the War of the League of Cognac.
Spanish forces defeat French troops in the Battle of Landriano, expelling them from northern Italy.
- 1582World history
Sengoku period: Oda Nobunaga, the most powerful of the Japanese daimyōs, is forced to commit suicide by his own general Akechi Mitsuhide.
Oda Nobunaga, a prominent Japanese daimyō, commits suicide after being betrayed by his general Akechi Mitsuhide.
- 1621European history
Execution of 27 Czech noblemen on the Old Town Square in Prague as a consequence of the Battle of White Mountain.
Twenty-seven Czech noblemen were executed in Prague's Old Town Square following their defeat at the Battle of White Mountain.
- 1734Canadian history
In Montreal, New France, a slave known by the French name of Marie-Joseph Angélique is put to death, having been convicted of setting the fire that destroyed much of the city.
Marie-Joseph Angélique is executed for setting a fire that devastates much of Montreal.
- 1788US history
New Hampshire becomes the ninth state to ratify the Constitution of the United States.
New Hampshire joins the Union as the ninth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
- 1824European history
Greek War of Independence: Egyptian forces capture Psara in the Aegean Sea.
Egyptian forces capture the Greek island of Psara in the Aegean Sea during the Greek War of Independence.
- 1848European history
In the Wallachian Revolution, Ion Heliade Rădulescu and Christian Tell issue the Proclamation of Islaz and create a new republican government.
Ion Heliade Rădulescu and Christian Tell issued the Proclamation of Islaz, establishing a provisional government during the Wallachian Revolution.
- 1930Politics
One-year conscription comes into force in France.
France implements one-year mandatory military service for all eligible men.
- 1945WWII
World War II: The Battle of Okinawa ends when the organized resistance of Imperial Japanese Army forces collapses in the Mabuni area on the southern tip of the main island.
The Battle of Okinawa ends with the collapse of organized Japanese resistance.
- 2025Disaster
A hot air balloon catches fire mid-flight and crashes in Praia Grande, Santa Catarina, Brazil, killing 8 of the 21 on board.
A hot air balloon catches fire mid-flight and crashes in Praia Grande, Brazil, killing eight of the 21 people on board.
Born today
Famous birthdays on June 21
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 54
Irene van Dyk
South African-New Zealand netball player
Irene van Dyk, a former netball international who represented both South Africa and New Zealand, winning the 2003 World Netball Championships and two Commonwealth Games golds with New Zealand, turns 54 today.
Born
1972
Turns 54
today
Alexander Thomson of Banchory
Scottish jurist, agriculturalist and religious activist
1798 – 1868
Alois Hába
Czech composer and educator
1893 – 1973
Mary McCarthy
American novelist and critic
1912 – 1989
Wade Phillips
American football coach
b. 1947 · 79
Kathy Mattea
American singer-songwriter and guitarist
b. 1959 · 67
Lana Del Rey
American singer-songwriter
b. 1985 · 41
Music
The number one songs on June 21
Across the years Full chart history
Also #1 on this day
- 2025"Manchild"— Sabrina Carpenter
- 2024"Houdini"— Eminem
- 2023"Sprinter"— Dave and Central Cee
- 2022"As It Was"— Harry Styles
- 2021"Good 4 U"— Olivia Rodrigo
- 2020"Rockstar"— DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport June 21, 1970
Brazil defeats Italy 4-1 in Mexico City to win third FIFA World Cup title
Brazil's victory at the Estadio Azteca gave them permanent possession of the Jules Rimet Trophy. Pelé opened the scoring, and captain Carlos Alberto scored the famous fourth goal in what many consider the greatest World Cup final.
Read the story
🔬 Science June 21, 2004
SpaceShipOne becomes the first privately funded spaceplane to achieve spaceflight.
SpaceShipOne achieves spaceflight, becoming the first privately funded vehicle to reach outer space.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Day of the Martyrs (Togo)
International
Public holidays in Togo are days when workers in the Togolese Republic get the day off work
Father's Day (Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Uganda, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates)
International
Father's Day is a day set aside for honoring one's father, as well as fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society
Go Skateboarding Day
International
Go Skateboarding Day (GSD), observed on the 21st of June, is an event created by Don Brown, formerly IASC Marketing Director and co-created with Per Welinder who wanted a day for the global skate comm
International Yoga Day (international)
International
The International Day of Yoga is a day in recognition of Yoga that is celebrated around the world annually on 21 June following its adoption by the United Nations in 2014
National Indigenous Peoples Day (Canada)
International
National Indigenous Peoples Day is a day recognizing and celebrating the cultures and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Indigenous peoples of Canada
Solstice-related observances (see also June 20): Day of Private Reflection (Northern Ireland)
International
The Day of Private Reflection is a day of remembrance created to acknowledge and reflect upon the conflict in Northern Ireland
❝
Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.
— Bhagavad Gita · born June 21, 1972