On This Day — 1 January

2000s

2026

Bulgaria officially adopts the Euro, becoming the 21st Eurozone country.

Bulgaria

2026

A fire at a bar during New Year's Eve celebrations in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, kills 41 people and injures 116 others.

2026 Crans-Montana bar fire

2025

Fourteen people are killed and 57 others injured during a vehicle-ramming and shooting attack in New Orleans, Louisiana.

2025 New Orleans truck attack

2024

A 7.5 Mww  earthquake strikes the western coast of Japan, killing more than 500 people and injuring over 1,000 others. A majority of direct deaths were due to collapsed homes.

2024 Noto earthquake

2024

Disney's copyright protection on Steamboat Willie and the original Mickey Mouse expires as they enter the public domain.

Steamboat Willie

2024

Artsakh ceases to exist.

Republic of Artsakh

2023

Croatia officially adopts the Euro, becoming the 20th Eurozone country, and becomes the 27th member of the Schengen Area.

Croatia

2017

An attack on a nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey, during New Year's celebrations, kills 39 people and injures 79 others.

Istanbul nightclub shooting

2015

The Eurasian Economic Union comes into effect, creating a political and economic union between Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Eurasian Economic Union

2013

At least 60 people are killed and 200 injured in a stampede after celebrations at Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

2013 Houphouët-Boigny stampede

📅

2011

A bomb explodes as Coptic Christians in Alexandria, Egypt, leave a new year service, killing 23 people.

2011 Alexandria bombing

2011

Estonia officially adopts the Euro currency and becomes the 17th Eurozone country.

Estonia

📅

2010

A suicide car bomber detonates at a volleyball tournament in Lakki Marwat, Pakistan, killing 105 and injuring 100 more.

2010 Lakki Marwat suicide bombing

2009

Sixty-six people die in a nightclub fire in Bangkok, Thailand.

Santika Club fire

2007

Bulgaria and Romania join the EU.

Bulgaria

2007

Adam Air Flight 574 breaks apart in mid-air and crashes near the Makassar Strait, Indonesia, killing all 102 people on board.

Adam Air Flight 574

📅

2004

In a vote of confidence, General Pervez Musharraf wins 658 out of 1,170 votes in the Electoral College of Pakistan, and according to Article 41(8) of the Constitution of Pakistan, is "deemed to be elected" to the office of President until October 2007.

Motion of no confidence

2001

Greece adopts the Euro, becoming the 12th Eurozone country.

Greece

1900s

1999

The Euro currency is introduced in 11 member nations of the European Union (with the exception of the United Kingdom, Denmark, Greece and Sweden).

Euro

📅

1998

Following a currency reform, Russia begins to circulate new rubles to stem inflation and promote confidence.

Monetary reform in Russia, 1998

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

1995

The World Trade Organization comes into being.

World Trade Organization

1995

The Draupner wave in the North Sea in Norway is detected, confirming the existence of freak waves.

Draupner wave

1995

Austria, Finland and Sweden join the EU.

Austria

1994

The Zapatista Army of National Liberation initiates twelve days of armed conflict in the Mexican state of Chiapas.

Zapatista Army of National Liberation

1994

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) comes into effect.

North American Free Trade Agreement

1993

Dissolution of Czechoslovakia: Czechoslovakia is divided into the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic.

Dissolution of Czechoslovakia

1990

David Dinkins is sworn in as New York City's first black mayor.

David Dinkins

1989

The Montreal Protocol comes into force, stopping the use of chemicals contributing to ozone depletion.

Montreal Protocol

📅

1988

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America comes into existence, creating the largest Lutheran denomination in the United States.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

1987

The Isleta Pueblo tribe elect Verna Williamson to be their first female governor.

Pueblo of Isleta

1985

The first British mobile phone call is made by Michael Harrison to his father Sir Ernest Harrison, chairman of Vodafone.

Mobile phone

1985

Eastern Air Lines Flight 980 crashes into Mount Illimani in Bolivia, killing all 29 aboard.

Eastern Air Lines Flight 980

1984

The original American Telephone & Telegraph Company is divested of its 22 Bell System companies as a result of the settlement of the 1974 United States Department of Justice antitrust suit against AT&T.

AT&T Corporation

1984

Brunei becomes independent of the United Kingdom.

Brunei

1983

The ARPANET officially changes to using TCP/IP, the Internet Protocol, effectively creating the Internet.

ARPANET

1982

Peruvian Javier Pérez de Cuéllar becomes the first Latin American to hold the title of Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Peru

1981

Greece is admitted into the European Community.

Greece

📅

1979

the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and Taiwan Relations Act enter into force. Through the Communiqué, the United States establishes normal diplomatic relations with China. Through the Act, the United States guarantees military support for Taiwan.

Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations

1978

Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747, crashes into the Arabian Sea off the coast of Bombay, India, due to instrument failure, spatial disorientation, and pilot error, killing all 213 people on board.

Air India Flight 855

1976

A bomb explodes on board Middle East Airlines Flight 438 over Qaisumah, Saudi Arabia, killing all 81 people on board.

Middle East Airlines Flight 438

1973

Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom are admitted into the European Economic Community.

Denmark

1971

Cigarette advertisements are banned on American television.

Cigarette

1970

The defined beginning of Unix time, at 00:00:00.

Unix time

1965

The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan is founded in Kabul, Afghanistan.

People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan

1964

The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is divided into the independent republics of Zambia and Malawi, and the British-controlled Rhodesia.

Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland

1962

Western Samoa achieves independence from New Zealand; its name is changed to the Independent State of Western Samoa.

Territory of Western Samoa

1960

Cameroon achieves independence from France and the United Kingdom.

Cameroon

1959

Cuban Revolution: Fulgencio Batista, dictator of Cuba, is overthrown by Fidel Castro's forces.

Cuban Revolution

1958

The European Economic Community is established.

European Economic Community

1957

George Town, Penang, is made a city by a royal charter of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

George Town, Penang

1957

Lèse majesté in Thailand is strengthened to include "insult" and changed to a crime against national security, after the Thai criminal code of 1956 went into effect.: 6, 18

Lèse-majesté in Thailand

1956

Sudan achieves independence from Egypt and the United Kingdom.

Sudan

1949

United Nations cease-fire takes effect in Kashmir from one minute before midnight. War between India and Pakistan stops accordingly.

United Nations

1948

The British railway network is nationalized to form British Railways.

Transport in England

1947

Cold War: The American and British occupation zones in Allied-occupied Germany, after World War II, merge to form the Bizone, which later (with the French zone) became part of West Germany.

Cold War

1947

The Canadian Citizenship Act 1946 comes into effect, converting British subjects into Canadian citizens. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King becomes the first Canadian citizen.

Canadian Citizenship Act, 1946

1945

World War II: The German Luftwaffe launches Operation Bodenplatte, a massive, but failed, attempt to knock out Allied air power in northern Europe in a single blow.

World War II

1942

The Declaration by United Nations is signed by twenty-six nations.

Declaration by United Nations

1934

Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay becomes a United States federal prison.

Alcatraz Island

1934

A "Law for the Prevention of Genetically Diseased Offspring" comes into effect in Nazi Germany.

Nazi eugenics

1932

The United States Post Office Department issues a set of 12 stamps commemorating the 200th anniversary of George Washington's birth.

United States Post Office Department

1929

The former municipalities of Point Grey, British Columbia and South Vancouver, British Columbia are amalgamated into Vancouver.

West Point Grey

📅

1928

Boris Bazhanov defects through Iran to seek asylum in France. He is the only member of Joseph Stalin's secretariat to have defected from the Soviet Union.

Boris Bazhanov

1927

New Mexican oil legislation goes into effect, leading to the formal outbreak of the Cristero War.

Mexico

📅

1923

Britain's Railways are grouped into the Big Four: LNER, GWR, SR, and LMS.

List of railway companies involved in the 1923 grouping

1914

The SPT Airboat Line becomes the world's first scheduled airline to use a winged aircraft.

St. Petersburg–Tampa Airboat Line

1912

The Republic of China is established.

Republic of China (1912–1949)

1910

Captain David Beatty is promoted to rear admiral, and becomes the youngest admiral in the Royal Navy (except for royal family members) since Horatio Nelson.

David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty

1902

The first American college football bowl game, the Rose Bowl between Michigan and Stanford, is held in Pasadena, California.

College football

1901

The Southern Nigeria Protectorate is established within the British Empire.

Southern Nigeria Protectorate

1901

The British colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia federate as the Commonwealth of Australia; Edmund Barton is appointed the first Prime Minister.

New South Wales

1900

Nigeria becomes a British protectorate with Frederick Lugard as high commissioner.

Nigeria

1800s

1899

Spanish rule ends in Cuba.

Captaincy General of Cuba

1898

New York, New York annexes land from surrounding counties, creating the City of Greater New York. The four initial boroughs, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and The Bronx, are joined on January 25 by Staten Island to create the modern city of five boroughs.

New York City

1892

Ellis Island begins processing immigrants into the United States.

Ellis Island

1890

Eritrea is consolidated into a colony by the Italian government as Italian Eritrea.

Eritrea

1885

Twenty-five nations adopt Sandford Fleming's proposal for standard time (and also, time zones).

Sandford Fleming

1877

Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom is proclaimed Empress of India.

Queen Victoria

1863

American Civil War: The Emancipation Proclamation takes effect in Confederate territory.

American Civil War

📅

1861

Liberal forces supporting Benito Juárez enter Mexico City.

Liberal Party (Mexico)

1860

The first Polish postage stamp is issued, replacing the Russian stamps previously in use.

Postage stamps and postal history of Poland

1847

The world's first "Mercy" Hospital is founded in Pittsburgh, United States, by a group of Sisters of Mercy from Ireland; the name will go on to grace over 30 major hospitals throughout the world.

UPMC Mercy

1845

The Philippines moves its national calendar to align with other Asian countries' calendars by skipping Tuesday, December 31, 1844. The change has been ordered by Governor–General Narciso Claveria to reform the country's calendar so that it aligns with the rest of Asia. Its territory has been one day behind the rest of Asia for 323 years since the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in the Philippines on March 16, 1521.

Narciso Clavería y Zaldúa

1834

Most of Germany forms the Zollverein customs union, the first such union between sovereign states.

Zollverein

📅

1822

The Greek Constitution of 1822 is adopted by the First National Assembly at Epidaurus.

Greek Constitution of 1822

1818

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (anonymously) publishes the pioneering work of science fiction, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, in London.

Mary Shelley

1810

Major-General Lachlan Macquarie officially becomes Governor of New South Wales.

Lachlan Macquarie

1808

The United States bans the importation of slaves.

Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves

1806

The French Republican Calendar is abolished.

French Republican calendar

1804

French rule ends in Haiti. Haiti becomes the first black-majority republic and second independent country in North America after the United States.

Saint-Domingue

1801

The legislative union of Kingdom of Great Britain and Kingdom of Ireland is completed, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland is proclaimed.

Kingdom of Great Britain

1801

Ceres, the largest and first known object in the Asteroid belt, is discovered by Giuseppe Piazzi.

Ceres (dwarf planet)

Before 1800

1788

The first edition of The Times of London, previously The Daily Universal Register, is published.

The Times

📅

1781

American Revolutionary War: One thousand five hundred soldiers of the 6th Pennsylvania Regiment under General Anthony Wayne's command rebel against the Continental Army's winter camp in Morristown, New Jersey in the Pennsylvania Line Mutiny of 1781.

6th Pennsylvania Regiment

1776

American Revolutionary War: Burning of Norfolk – Norfolk, Virginia, is burned to the ground by combined Royal Navy and Continental Army action.

American Revolutionary War

1776

General George Washington hoists the first United States flag, the Continental Union Flag, at Prospect Hill.

George Washington

1773

The hymn that becomes known as "Amazing Grace", previously titled "1 Chronicles 17:16–17, Faith's Review and Expectation", is first used to accompany a sermon led by John Newton in the town of Olney, Buckinghamshire, England.

Amazing Grace

1772

The first traveler's cheques, which could be used in 90 European cities, are issued by the London Credit Exchange Company.

Traveller's cheque

1739

Bouvet Island, the world's remotest island, is discovered by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charles Bouvet de Lozier.

Bouvet Island

1726

J. S. Bach leads the first performance of Herr Gott, dich loben wir, BWV 16, his church cantata for New Year's Day to a libretto by Georg Christian Lehms.

Johann Sebastian Bach

1725

J. S. Bach leads the first performance of his chorale cantata Jesu, nun sei gepreiset, BWV 41, which features the trumpet fanfares from the beginning also in the end.

Johann Sebastian Bach

1707

John V is proclaimed King of Portugal and the Algarves in Lisbon.

John V of Portugal

📅

1700

Russia begins using the Anno Domini era instead of the Anno Mundi era of the Byzantine Empire.

Anno Domini

1651

Charles II is crowned King of Scotland at Scone Palace.

Charles II of England

1604

The Masque of Indian and China Knights is performed by courtiers of James VI and I at Hampton Court.

The Masque of Indian and China Knights

1600

Scotland recognises January 1 as the start of the year, instead of March 25.

Kingdom of Scotland

1527

Croatian nobles elect Ferdinand I, Archduke of Austria as King of Croatia in the 1527 election in Cetin.

Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor

1515

Twenty-year-old Francis, Duke of Brittany, succeeds to the French throne following the death of his father-in-law, Louis XII.

Francis I of France

1502

The present-day location of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is first explored by the Portuguese.

Rio de Janeiro

1438

Albert II of Habsburg is crowned King of Hungary.

Albert II of Germany

1259

Michael VIII Palaiologos is proclaimed co-emperor of the Empire of Nicaea with his ward John IV Laskaris.

Michael VIII Palaiologos

1068

Romanos IV Diogenes marries Eudokia Makrembolitissa and is crowned Byzantine Emperor.

Romanos IV Diogenes

1001

Grand Prince Stephen I of Hungary is named the first King of Hungary by Pope Sylvester II (probable).

Stephen I of Hungary

📅

947

Emperor Taizong of the Khitan-led Liao dynasty captures Daliang, ending the dynasty and empire of the Later Jin.

Emperor Taizong of Liao

417

Emperor Honorius forces Galla Placidia into marriage to Constantius, his famous general (magister militum) (probable).

Honorius

404

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.

AD 404