Historical Events From 2026 Most Likely To Be Included In History Books (So Far), Ranked

On February 28, 2026, the US and Israel launched attacks on strategic locations throughout Iran. After failed negotiations about a possible nuclear agreement between the two countries, the US-Israeli effort was purportedly intended to destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities. The bombing campaign continued through the first days of March, killing the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as well as thousands of other combatants and civilians alike. Donald Trump asserted that the death of the Supreme Leader was an opportunity for Iranians to "take back" their country. Retaliation by Iran, however, resulted in unrest and damage alike in nearby countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Jordan. By March 2, 2026, Trump said the bombing would last for weeks, if not more, while Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense, explained that the overall goal was to "destroy the missile threats, destroy the navy, no nukes." Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff offered a slight variation, stating the mission was, to protect and defend ourselves and, together with our regional partners, prevent Iran from the ability to project power outside of its borders. As a result of the war that erupted, oil prices surged due to shipping constraints through the Strait of Hormuz. The global economy experienced shocks in other sectors affected by trade to and from the region.

Nicolás Maduro Moros, president of Venezuela from 2013 to 2026, was captured by the United States military on January 3, 2026. The action, dubbed Operation Absolute Resolve, came after years of domestic and international tension surrounding political power, economic resources (especially oil), and allegations of drug offenses. Numerous individuals were killed in the intervention, dozens of whom were part of Maduro's security detail. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were later flown to the US where they appeared in a New York City courtroom on January 5, 2026. They were charged with narco-terrorism, cocaine trafficking, and weapons offenses - charges to which they pled not-guilty. After Maduro was removed from power, his former Executive Vice President Delcy Rodriguez began acting as head of state in Venezuela. Opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado also reaffirmed her intent to move Venezuela toward new elections in the country.

Documents related to the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, allegations of sex trafficking and abuse, and efforts to determine who may have been privy to his activities became a contentious issue years ago. After Donald Trump indicated he would consider releasing emails, photos, financial records, and other related information during his presidential campaign in 2024, there were efforts to make that happen after his presidency began. The release of Epstein files in January 2026 came as a result of the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November 20025 and a limited number of documents in December 2025. The heavy redactions in the December batch of documents and criticism of their contents led to a subsequent release of more than three million pages on January 30, 2026. The names included in the Epstein files revealed the extent to which several world leaders, notable celebrities, and political and financial figures, and others interacted with the registered sex offender. Resignations, firings, and other falls from grace resulting for the contents of the Epstein files will likely continue to unfold as a result.

In early 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials increased efforts to find, detain, and remove alleged criminal illegal aliens from the US. ICE crackdowns in places in Florida, Illinois, and California resulted in arrests as well as protests nationwide. Joined by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents in some locations - namely Minneapolis, Minnesota - violence accompanied protests, raids, and other enforcement measures. ICE and CBP agents often, according to groups like the American Immigration Council, were performing illegal traffic stops, racially profiling, and harrassing perceived immigrants without reasonable suspicion to do so. On January 7, 2026, Renee Good was shot and killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis. Good's death was followed by the killing of Alex Pretti on January 24, 2026. Both events were caught on video and went viral while more arrests and efforts to quell protests escalated. By March, the Trump administration had added to its immigration policy initiatives, including trying to end deportation protections for individuals from Haiti, Syria, and Venezuela.

President Donald Trump talked about purchasing or taking control of Greenland - an autonomous territory of Denmark - in 2025 and renewed this conversation in early 2026. In response to not winning the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, Trump said he no longer needed to think "purely of peace" and appeared to reassert that the US would take Greenland "whether they like it or not." Neither Greenland nor Denmark responded well to Trump or the notion of a US takeover. Members of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization also made it clear they would defend Greenland in the event of an attack. Trump backed down from his insistence that the US would seize Greenland, but not before hurling threats of renewing tariffs on numerous European countries. While Trump developed a framework for new tariffs, they were not implemented.

Artemis II launched on April 1, 2026, carrying NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, as well as Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency. In a series of space milestones, Wiseman became the oldest individual wot leave Earth's orbit, Glover was the first person of color to leave Earth's low orbit, Koch was the first woman to do so, and Hansen was the first person with citizenship from a country other than the US to travel to vicinity of the moon. The 10-day Artemis II mission was tasked with taking photos of the moon, testing hardware for future flights, and other fundamentals in anticipation of a planned "long‑term return to the Moon and future missions to Mars."

Mexican authorities, with the backing of the US, killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, commonly known as "El Mencho," on February 22, 2026. Efforts to capture El Mencho failed, and the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel was shot alongside several members of his organized crime group. The killing of El Mencho sparked upheaval throughout Mexico. Riots, roadblocks, and a chaotic "security situation" resulted in thousands of tourists being stranded in places like Puerto Vallarta. Additionally, the governor of Jalisco (where the cartel was based) Pablo Lemus Navarro, suspended public transportation, and several governments worldwide issued travel warnings.

Pakistan's declaration of "open war" on Afghanistan in February 2026 was the result of the formers assertions that the Taliban in the country was supporting militant groups inside its borders. This included the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan or the Pakistani Taliban. Tensions between the two countries had been escalating since October 2025 and, as a result, no trade has taken place between them since then. Air strikes by Pakistan initiated preceded the war declaration. Afghanistan responded with ground operations and, by early March, the two countries continued to launch attacks on the other.

In a presidential first, the sitting President of the United States sat in on oral arguments delivered to the United States Supreme Court on April 1, 2026. Donald Trump was present to hear the case involving his executive order to restrict birthright citizenship. This order was issued in January 2025. This was not the first time the Supreme Court heard a case involving one of Trump's executive orders. When the Court heard arguments regarding his tariff policy in November 2025, the President had indicated he might attend but ultimately he did not. The precedent set by Trump and his attendance during Supreme Court proceedings, according to Rebecca Falconer from Axios, "underscores how much the president's second-term agenda depends on a Supreme Court that has handed him both major wins and stinging defeats."

The year 2026 marked the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The Semiquincentennial included events and celebrations around the country, with numerous activities taking place in Washington, DC. In addition to an America250 time capsule buried for future Americans to dig up in 250 years, parades, sporting events, rallies, and massive fireworks celebrations were on the agenda.

Protests initially broke out in France over education conditions, with students leading many of the efforts. In September 2026, demonstrations and riots alike broke out in Paris and, in short time, workers and political organizations alike joined in. On October 1, university campuses across France were blockated and some 3,000 students were detained by authorities. By October 8, a fourth national day of action was held, followed by a fifth day on October 13, 2026. Clashes continued through October and spread to other European countries including Belgium, Italy, and Germany.

After holding the position of Prime Minister in Hungary for 16 years, Viktor Orbán was defeated in a parliamentary election that took place in April 2026. Orbán, a close ally of Donald Trump, was accompanied in the final days leading up to the election by US Vice President JD Vance, but it did not aid in his reelection efforts. Orbán was defeated by Peter Magyar, a candidate from the Tisza Party, by a landslide. According to reports, nearly 80% of Hungarian voters. Orbán conceded the election on Sunday, April 12, but remained steadfast in his positions, telling followers, I congratulated the victorious party... We are going to serve the Hungarian nation and our homeland from opposition.