February 26 is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. In a common year there are 308 days left in the year; in a leap year there are 309, because an extra day is added in leap years at the end of February. The date sits near the end of February and typically falls in late winter in the Northern Hemisphere and late summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

Calendar and seasonal context

As a fixed calendar date it does not shift with movable feasts, but its position relative to seasonal observances varies by hemisphere. Astrologically, most sources place February 26 within the sign of Pisces. The day often lies in the eighth or ninth week of the year, depending on how weeks are numbered.

Notable events

Across history, February 26 has been the date of political, cultural and tragic events. A widely remembered modern incident is the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center in New York City, which occurred on this date and had lasting effects on security policy and urban terrorism awareness. Other events on this date have spanned diplomatic milestones, scientific announcements and cultural premieres.

Famous births

  • Victor Hugo (born 1802) — French novelist and poet, author of works such as Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.
  • Levi Strauss (born 1829) — German-American entrepreneur credited with founding the first company to manufacture blue jeans.
  • Johnny Cash (born 1932) — American singer-songwriter influential in country, rock and folk music.

Observances and uses

February 26 is observed in different ways around the world. Some countries mark anniversaries or memorials on this date; private and local observances, cultural commemorations and commemorative events are common. The date is also used in historical timetables, archival references and anniversary notices.

Notable distinctions of the day include its steady placement within late February and its recurrence every year without adjustment (apart from the leap-year count of remaining days). For researchers and the public alike, February 26 serves as a convenient reference point for remembering a range of political, cultural and personal milestones.