1986: what happened around the world

In 1986, 151 events recorded on Erask's globe began — Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, Anfal campaign and 1986 United States bombing of Libya among the best known. 97 more were already under way, such as Soviet-Afghan War and Iran–Iraq War. 161 things were founded or built that year, from New Zealand and Avicii Arena.

151events began
97already under way
161founded or built
See 1986 on the globe →

Revolts, massacres and attacks55

+15 less-known, on the globe.

Accidents and fires50

+10 less-known, on the globe.

Wars, battles and sieges34

Disasters11

Treaties, councils and politics1

Already under way in 198697

Came to an end in 19869

Founded or built in 1986161

+131 more, on the globe.

Stories that pass through 1986

Volcanic EruptionsEvery significant eruption on record since 1500 How America Filled UpEvery American city of 60,000 people, in the year it began Women's SuffrageA map filling in, one country at a time, 1893-2012 DecolonisationHow a third of the world stopped belonging to somebody else, 1945–1990 Nuclear detonationsEvery recorded nuclear test, 1945–1998

Nearby years

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 All of the 20th century →

Every entry comes from Wikidata and links to its Wikipedia article; entries are ordered by how many language editions of Wikipedia cover them. Only things with a date are listed, and dates before the modern era are often approximate. How this is made →