November 26 in History

53 events 783 – 2025

November 26 spans 53 recorded events across recorded history — from 783 – 2025. Below is a curated digest of the most significant moments tied to this date.

By · Wikipedia

The Wang Fuk Court fire, a catastrophic fire in Tai Po, Hong Kong, leaves at lea

2025 — The Wang Fuk Court fire, a catastrophic fire in Tai Po, Hong Kong, leaves at least 168 dead and 79 injured

Did you know

The Wang Fuk Court fire was the deadliest fire accident in Hong Kong since the 1948 Wing On warehouse fire, which resulted in 176 deaths.

Did you know

The fire burned for 43 hours and 27 minutes, consuming seven out of the eight blocks of the complex.

Did you know

Most casualties were found inside their apartments, indicating that many were trapped during the fire.

Did you know

The incident was the first five-alarm fire in Hong Kong since the 2008 Cornwall Court fire, highlighting the severity of the disaster.

Did you know

The fire occurred in the Tai Po District, New Territories, Hong Kong, a region with a high population density and urban development.


The Asturian queen Adosinda is held at a monastery to prevent her nephew from retaking the throne from Mauregatus.
Kingdom in the Northern Iberian Peninsula (718–924)
The Kingdom of Asturias was a medieval monarchy in the Iberian Peninsula founded by the nobleman Pelagius. It was the first Christian political entity to be established in the Iberian Peninsula after the Umayyad conquest of Visigothic Hispania in 711–720s. In the summer of 722, Pelagius defeated an Umayyad army at the Battle of Covadonga, in what is retroactively regarded as the beginning of the Christian Reconquista.
Read More
783
Battle of Caishi: A Song dynasty fleet fights a naval engagement with Jin dynasty ships on the Yangtze river during the Jin–Song Wars.
1161 battle during the Jin-Song wars
The Battle of Caishi was a major naval engagement of the Jin–Song Wars of China that took place on November 26–27, 1161. It ended with a decisive Song victory, aided by their use of gunpowder weapons.
Read More
1161
Having been elected German king at Rhens on 11 July 1346, Charles IV is crowned King of Germany by bishop Walram of Cologne in Bonn.
This is a list of monarchs who ruled over East Francia, and the Kingdom of Germany, from the division of the Frankish Empire in 843 and the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806 until the collapse of the German Empire in 1918:
Read More
1346
Vlad the Impaler defeats Basarab Laiota with the help of Stephen the Great and Stephen V Báthory and becomes the ruler of Wallachia for the third time.
15th-century ruler of Wallachia
Vlad III, commonly known as Vlad the Impaler or Vlad Dracula, was Voivode of Wallachia three times between 1448 and his death. He is regarded as a Christian hero in Romania due to his opposition to the Ottoman Empire and he is considered an important ruler in Wallachian history.
Read More
1476
In the Hawaiian Islands, Captain James Cook becomes the first European to visit Maui.
Archipelago in the Pacific Ocean
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major volcanic islands, several atolls, and numerous smaller islets in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaiʻi in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll. Formerly called the Sandwich Islands by Europeans, the present name for the archipelago is derived from the name of its largest island, Hawaiʻi.
Read More
1778
A national Thanksgiving Day is observed in the United States as proclaimed by President George Washington at the request of Congress.
American federal holiday in November
Thanksgiving is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. The earliest Thanksgiving can occur is November 22; the latest is November 28. Outside the United States, it is called American Thanksgiving to distinguish it from the Canadian holiday of the same name and related celebrations in other regions. As the name implies, the holiday generally revolves around giving thanks and the centerpiece of most celebrations is a Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends.
Read More
1789
Official opening of Thomas Telford's Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
Scottish civil engineer (1757–1834)
Thomas Telford was a Scottish civil engineer. After establishing himself as an engineer of road and canal projects in Shropshire, he designed numerous infrastructure projects in his native Scotland, as well as harbours and tunnels. Such was his reputation as a prolific designer of highways and related bridges, he was dubbed the 'Colossus of Roads', and, reflecting his command of all types of civil engineering in the early 19th century, he was elected as the first president of the Institution of Civil Engineers, a post he held for 14 years until his death. The town of Telford in Shropshire was named after him.
Read More
1805
The Battle of Berezina begins during Napoleon's retreat from Russia.
1812 battle during the French invasion of Russia
The Battle of (the) Berezina took place from 26 to 29 November 1812, between Napoleon's Grande Armée and the Imperial Russian Army under Field Marshal Wittgenstein and Admiral Chichagov. Napoleon was retreating toward Poland in chaos after the aborted occupation of Moscow and trying to cross the Berezina River at Borisov. The outcome of the battle was inconclusive as, despite heavy losses, Napoleon managed to cross the river and continue his retreat with the surviving remnants of his army.
Read More
1812
An earthquake as high as magnitude 8.8 rocks the Banda Sea, triggering a tsunami and killing at least 60 in the Dutch East Indies.
Earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia
The 1852 Banda Sea earthquake struck on 26 November at 07:40 local time, affecting coastal communities on the Banda Islands. It caused violent shaking lasting five minutes, and was assigned XI on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale in the Maluku Islands. A tsunami measuring up to 8 m (26 ft) slammed into the islands of Banda Neira, Saparua, Haruku and Ceram. The tsunami caused major damage, washing away many villages, ships and residents. At least 60 people were killed in the earthquake and tsunami. The earthquake had an estimated moment magnitude of 7.5 or 8.4–8.8, according to various academic studies.
Read More
1852
United States President Abraham Lincoln proclaims November 26 as a national Thanksgiving Day, to be celebrated annually on the final Thursday of November.
Following the Franksgiving controversy from 1939 to 1941, it has been observed on the fourth Thursday in 1942 and subsequent years.
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War, defeating the Confederate States and playing a major role in the abolition of slavery.
Read More
1863
Advertisement

Born on November 26

20 people 1990 – 2001
Pau Víctor
Spanish footballer
Pau Víctor Delgado is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a forward or winger for Primeira Liga club Braga.
Read More
2001
Lamecha Girma
Lamecha Girma
Ethiopian athlete
Lamecha Girma is an Ethiopian middle- and long-distance runner who holds the world record in the 3,000 metres steeplechase. He is the 2020 Tokyo Olympic silver medallist in the steeplechase and won silver medals at the…
Read More
2000
Jaycee Horn
Jaycee Horn
American football player
Jaycee Carrington Horn is an American professional football cornerback for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks and was selected eighth…
Read More
1999
Olivia O'Brien
Olivia O'Brien
American singer-songwriter
Olivia Gail O'Brien is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She rose to fame in 2016 after collaborating with Gnash on the single "I Hate U, I Love U", which peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in…
Read More
1999
Jacob Shaffelburg
Jacob Shaffelburg
Canadian soccer player
Jacob Everett Shaffelburg is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC and the Canada national team.
Read More
1999
Shivam Mavi
Indian cricketer
Shivam Pankaj Mavi is an Indian international cricketer, who is a right-arm fast-medium bowler. He made his international debut for the Indian cricket team in January 2023.
Read More
1998
Aubrey Joseph
Aubrey Joseph
American actor
Aubrey Omari Joseph is an American actor best known for his role as Tyrone Johnson / Cloak in Freeform's Cloak & Dagger.
Read More
1997
Jennie Wåhlin
Jennie Wåhlin
Swedish curler
Jennie Frances Wåhlin is a Swedish curler from Huddinge. She was a longtime member of Team Isabella Wranå. She won a gold medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics as alternate for the Anna Hasselborg team.
Read More
1997
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
English-Congolese footballer
Aaron Wan-Bissaka is a professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Premier League club West Ham United. Born in England, he plays for the DR Congo national team.
Read More
1997
Malik Beasley
Malik Beasley
American basketball player
Malik JonMikal Beasley is an American professional basketball player for the Cangrejeros de Santurce of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). He attended Saint Francis School in Alpharetta, Georgia, where he was a…
Read More
1996
Brandon Carlo
Brandon Carlo
American ice hockey player
Brandon Mitchell Carlo is an American professional ice hockey player who is a defenseman for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Boston Bruins selected him in the second round, 37th overall,…
Read More
1996
Louane
Louane
French singer and actress
Anne Edwige Maria Peichert, known by her stage name Louane Emera or simply Louane, is a French singer and actress. In France she became known for being a semi-finalist in the 2013 season of The Voice: la plus belle…
Read More
1996
Marc Roca
Spanish footballer
Marc Roca Junqué is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for La Liga club Real Betis.
Read More
1996
James Guy
James Guy
English swimmer
James George Guy is an English competitive swimmer who specialises in freestyle and butterfly. Guy has won multiple gold medals at each of the major international meets available to him, including for Great Britain at…
Read More
1995
Anuel AA
Anuel AA
Puerto Rican rapper and singer
Emmanuel Gazmey Santiago, known professionally as Anuel AA, is a Puerto Rican rapper and singer. Often called "The God of Latin trap" by himself and major Latin artists, his music often contains samples and…
Read More
1992
Manolo Gabbiadini
Manolo Gabbiadini
Italian footballer
Manolo Gabbiadini is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a forward.
Read More
1991
Corey Knebel
Corey Knebel
American baseball player
Corey Andrew Knebel is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and…
Read More
1991
Avery Bradley
Avery Bradley
American basketball player
Avery Antonio Bradley Jr. is an American former professional basketball player who is the vice president of player development for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball…
Read More
1990
Chip
Chip
English rapper
Jahmaal Noel Fyffe, better known by his stage name Chip, is an English rapper and grime MC. In the past 14 years, he has collaborated with the likes of Skepta, T.I., Meek Mill, Young Adz and many others. In 2009, he…
Read More
1990
Gabriel Paulista
Gabriel Paulista
Brazilian footballer
Gabriel Armando de Abreu, commonly known as Gabriel Paulista or simply Gabriel, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Corinthians.
Read More
1990
See all birthdays on November 26

Died on November 26

20 people 2010 – 2024
Jim Abrahams
Jim Abrahams
American film director and writer (born 1944)
James Steven Abrahams was an American film director and writer. With David and Jerry Zucker, he was best known as a member of Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker.
Read More
2024
Vikram Gokhale
Vikram Gokhale
Indian actor and director (born 1945)
Vikram Gokhale was an Indian film, television and stage actor, noted for his roles in Marathi theatre, Hindi films and television. He was the son of the Veteran Marathi theatre and film actor, Chandrakant Gokhale.
Read More
2022
Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Sondheim
American composer and lyricist (born 1930)
Stephen Joshua Sondheim was an American composer and lyricist. Regarded as one of the most important figures in 20th-century theater, he is credited with reinventing the American musical. He received numerous accolades,…
Read More
2021
Stephen Hillenburg
Stephen Hillenburg
American animator, voice actor, and marine science educator (born 1961)
Stephen McDannell Hillenburg was an American animator, writer, producer, director, voice actor, and marine biology educator. He was best known for creating the animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants for…
Read More
2018
Fritz Weaver
Fritz Weaver
American actor (born 1926)
Fritz William Weaver was an American stage, film, and television actor. He won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for the original Broadway production of Child's Play (1970), and was nominated for Tony Award for…
Read More
2016
Amir Aczel
Amir Aczel
Israeli-American mathematician, historian, and academic (born 1950)
Amir Dan Aczel was an Israeli-born American lecturer in mathematics and the history of mathematics and science, and an author of popular science.
Read More
2015
Guy Lewis
Guy Lewis
American basketball player and coach (born 1922)
Guy Vernon Lewis II was an American basketball player and coach. He served as the head men's basketball coach at the University of Houston from 1956 to 1986. Lewis led his Houston Cougars to five appearances in the…
Read More
2015
Mary Hinkson
Mary Hinkson
American dancer and choreographer (born 1925)
Mary De Haven Hinkson was an African American dancer and choreographer known for breaking racial boundaries throughout her dance career in both modern and ballet techniques. She is best known for her work as a member of…
Read More
2014
Gilles Tremblay
Gilles Tremblay
Canadian ice hockey player and sportscaster (born 1938)
Joseph Jean Gilles Tremblay was a Canadian ice hockey left winger who played his entire National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Montreal Canadiens from 1960 to 1969.
Read More
2014
Peter Underwood
Peter Underwood
English parapsychologist and author (born 1932)
Peter Underwood was an English author, broadcaster and parapsychologist. Underwood was born in Letchworth, Hertfordshire. Described as "an indefatigable ghost hunter", he wrote many books which surveyed alleged…
Read More
2014
Arik Einstein
Arik Einstein
Israeli singer-songwriter (born 1939)
Arieh Lieb "Arik" Einstein (Hebrew: אָרִיק אַייְנְשְׁטֵייְן ; was an Israeli singer, songwriter, actor, comedian and screenwriter. He was a pioneer of Israeli rock music and was named "the voice of Israel." Through both…
Read More
2013
Jane Kean
Jane Kean
American actress and singer (born 1923)
Jane Kean was an American actress and singer whose career in show business spanned seven decades and included appearing in nightclubs, on recordings, and in radio, television, Broadway and films. Among her most famous…
Read More
2013
Saul Leiter
Saul Leiter
American photographer and painter (born 1923)
Saul Leiter was an American photographer and painter whose early work in the 1940s and 1950s was an important contribution to what came to be recognized as the New York school of photography.
Read More
2013
Tony Musante
Tony Musante
American actor and screenwriter (born 1936)
Anthony Peter Musante Jr. was an American actor, best known for the TV series Toma as Detective David Toma, Nino Schibetta in Oz (1997), and Joe D'Angelo in As the World Turns (2000–2003). In movies, he achieved fame…
Read More
2013
Celso Advento Castillo
Celso Advento Castillo
Filipino actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1943)
Celso Adolfo Castillo was a Filipino film director and screenwriter. He was known as the Messiah of Philippine Cinema for directing films that broke new ground in Philippine cinema, including Asedillo, Patayin Mo sa…
Read More
2012
Peter Marsh
Australian table tennis player (born 1948)
Peter James Marsh was an Australian Paralympic athlete and table tennis player who competed at three Paralympic Games and won two bronze medals.
Read More
2012
Joseph Murray
Joseph Murray
American surgeon and soldier, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1919)
Joseph Edward Murray was an American plastic surgeon who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1990 with E. Donnall Thomas for "their discoveries concerning organ and cell transplantation in the…
Read More
2012
M. C. Nambudiripad
M. C. Nambudiripad
Indian author and translator (born 1919)
Moothiringode Chithrabhanu Nambudiripad was a pioneer of popular science writing in Malayalam language and an eminent translator. He was one of the founders of popular science movement in Kerala State, India. He was…
Read More
2012
Manon Cleary
Manon Cleary
American painter and academic (born 1942)
Manon Cleary was an American artist based in Washington, D.C. Cleary specialized in photo-realistic paintings and drawings. Many of her works were inspired by events in her life and focused on the human form and lights.
Read More
2011
Leroy Drumm
American songwriter (born 1936)
Leroy Maxey Drumm was an American bluegrass and country songwriter whose work became part of the recorded repertoire of several prominent artists in the genre. He is best known as co-writer of "Colleen Malone,"…
Read More
2010
See all deaths on November 26
Related questions

More questions about November 26

What happened on November 26?

A featured event on this date is 2025: The Wang Fuk Court fire, a catastrophic fire in Tai Po, Hong Kong, leaves at least 168 dead and 79 injured. This page also lists 53 events from other years on the same day.

Why is November 26 remembered in history?

November 26 brings together events, births, and deaths across many eras, which makes it useful for seeing how one calendar date connects different historical turning points.

Who was born on November 26?

Notable birthdays on this date include Pau Víctor, Lamecha Girma, Jaycee Horn.

See birthdays

Who died on November 26?

Notable deaths on this date include Jim Abrahams, Vikram Gokhale, Stephen Sondheim.

See deaths
Short answer

What happened on November 26 in history?

On November 26, one notable event in history was 2025: The Wang Fuk Court fire, a catastrophic fire in Tai Po, Hong Kong, leaves at least 168 dead and 79 injured..

This date currently highlights 53 recorded events on thisDay.info, spanning 783 – 2025.

DateNovember 26
Featured year2025
LocationTai Po, Hong Kong, leaves at least
Events listed53

Explore November 26

Jump between the main pages for this date to compare events, people, and the daily quiz.

Explore November 26

Advertisement

Explore history for any date on the interactive calendar.

Open the Calendar All Blog Posts

History runs on facts, and this project runs on coffee!

Your support is incredibly helpful and genuinely appreciated.

Support with a coffee ☕