November 26: Holidays, Historical Events, Famous Birthdays & Zodiac Sign
On November 26, 1922, Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon became the first people in over 3,000 years to step inside Pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb — a moment that rewrote Egyptology overnight.
About November 26
November 26 wears many hats. In the United States, it is inextricably tied to Thanksgiving: George Washington proclaimed a one-time national day of thanks in 1789, and Abraham Lincoln made it an annual fixture in 1863, anchoring it to the final Thursday of November. But the date also carries a deeper, global historical weight that reaches far beyond American traditions.
In 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter and his patron Lord Carnarvon pierced the sealed entrance of Tutankhamun's tomb in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, becoming the first humans to enter the boy-king's burial chamber in three millennia. That same day in 1917, the National Hockey League was officially formed with five founding teams, laying the groundwork for what would become one of the world's premier professional sports leagues. Fast forward to 2011, and NASA launched the Mars Science Laboratory, sending the Curiosity rover on its journey to the Red Planet.
From the coronation of Charles IV as King of Germany in 1346 to France launching its first satellite, Astérix, in 1965, November 26 has been a day of firsts, coronations, and discoveries — a surprisingly quiet date that has shaped the modern world in ways both grand and unexpected.
Holidays & Observances on November 26
- Christian feast days: Alypius the Stylite
- Christian feast days: Basolus (Basle)
- Christian feast days: Bellinus of Padua
- Christian feast days: Conrad of Constance
- Christian feast days: Ethelwine of Athelney
- Christian feast days: Blessed Gaetana Sterni
- Christian feast days: John Berchmans
- Christian feast days: Pope Siricius
Fun & National Days on November 26
- National Cake Day — Grab a fork and celebrate with your favorite slice — red velvet, chocolate, or a classic sponge all qualify today.
- Good Grief Day — Channel your inner Charlie Brown and embrace life's frustrations with a sigh, a smile, and a Peanuts comic strip.
- Family Health History Day — Take a few minutes to chat with relatives about your family's medical history — it's a gift of knowledge for future generations.
- Day of the Covenant
- National Day of Mourning
- Thanksgiving Day
- Turkey-Free Thanksgiving
- Unthanksgiving Day
On This Day in History
- 1346 — Charles IV received his coronation as King of Germany in Bonn, officiated by Bishop Walram of Cologne, following his election at Rhens earlier that summer.
- 1476 — Vlad the Impaler reclaimed the Wallachian throne for a third time, defeating Basarab Laiota with military support from Stephen the Great and Stephen V Báthory.
- 1778 — Captain James Cook arrived at Maui, marking the first time a European explorer set foot on the Hawaiian island during his expedition across the Pacific.
- 1789 — President George Washington proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day at Congress's request, establishing the first such observance under the new constitutional government.
- 1863 — Abraham Lincoln designated November 26 as an annual national Thanksgiving Day, setting the holiday on the final Thursday of November for years to come.
- 1917 — The National Hockey League was officially founded with five charter franchises: the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators, Quebec Bulldogs, and Toronto Arenas.
- 1922 — Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon entered the sealed tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, becoming the first people to step inside in over 3,000 years.
- 1949 — India's Constituent Assembly adopted the nation's constitution, a landmark document drafted under the leadership of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, shaping the world's largest democracy.
- 1965 — France successfully launched the Astérix satellite aboard its own booster, becoming the third nation after the Soviet Union and the United States to independently reach orbit.
- 1977 — An unidentified hijacker calling himself Vrillon, claiming to represent the 'Ashtar Galactic Command,' overtook Britain's Southern Television broadcast for six mysterious minutes.
- 2011 — NASA launched the Mars Science Laboratory from Cape Canaveral, sending the car-sized Curiosity rover on an eight-month journey to explore the Martian surface.
- 2018 — NASA's InSight robotic probe successfully touched down on Elysium Planitia, Mars, beginning its mission to study the planet's deep interior structure.
Famous Birthdays on November 26
- 1857 — Ferdinand de Saussure, Swiss linguist whose structural theories laid the intellectual foundation for modern linguistics and semiotics.
- 1876 — Willis Carrier, American engineer whose invention of modern air conditioning transformed how the world lives, works, and builds.
- 1894 — Norbert Wiener, Mathematician and philosopher who founded cybernetics, exploring the mechanics of control and communication in machines and living things.
- 1895 — Bill W., American activist who co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous, creating a worldwide recovery movement that has helped millions.
- 1922 — Charles M. Schulz, Cartoonist who created Peanuts, introducing Charlie Brown and Snoopy to become one of the most influential comic strips in history.
- 1939 — Tina Turner, American-Swiss singer and performer whose explosive energy and raspy vocals earned her the title 'Queen of Rock 'n' Roll.'
- 1990 — Rita Ora, Kosovan-English singer-songwriter and actress known for a string of international pop hits and her bold, genre-crossing style.