Today's Holidays, National Days & Public Holidays
Discover what's happening today, Sunday, August 23, 2026, or tomorrow.
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Calendar.cx is your complete guide to holidays, national days, and observances around the world. We track 2,000+ events every year — from quirky fun days like National Pizza Day and National Dog Day, to major public holidays like Christmas and New Year's Day.
Every day of the year gets its own page, packed with national days, public holidays from dozens of countries, religious observances, historical events, notable births and deaths, and sports fixtures. Whether you're a teacher planning a classroom theme, a brand manager building a content calendar, or just curious what today's quirky celebration is — Calendar.cx has it all.
Browse by month, search for a specific day, or check out the FAQ for answers about any holiday. New events and observances are added regularly to keep the calendar accurate and complete.
Today is Sunday, August 23
National Days & Fun Holidays Today
On This Day in History — August 23
- 2013 — A riot at the Palmasola prison complex in Santa Cruz, Bolivia kills 31 people.
- 2012 — A hot-air balloon crashes near the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana, killing six people and injuring 28 others.
- 2011 — Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is overthrown after the National Transitional Council forces take control of Bab al-Azizia compound during the Libyan Civil War.
- 2011 — A magnitude 5.8 (class: moderate) earthquake occurs in Virginia. Damage occurs to monuments and structures in Washington D.C. and the resulted damage is estimated at $200 million-$300 million USD.
- 2007 — The skeletal remains of Russia's last royal family members Alexei Nikolaevich, Tsarevich of Russia, and his sister Grand Duchess Anastasia are discovered near Yekaterinburg, Russia.
- 2006 — Natascha Kampusch, who had been abducted at the age of ten, escapes from her captor Wolfgang Přiklopil, after eight years of captivity.
Notable Births on August 23
Notable Deaths on August 23
- 2016 — Steven Hill, American actor (b. 1922)
- 2015 — Augusta Chiwy, Congolese-Belgian nurse (b. 1921)
- 2015 — Guy Ligier, French rugby player and race car driver (b. 1930)
- 2015 — Enrique Reneau, Honduran footballer (b. 1971)
- 2015 — Paul Royle, Australian lieutenant and pilot (b. 1914)
- 2014 — Albert Ebossé Bodjongo, Cameroonian footballer (b. 1989)
Tomorrow is Monday, August 24
National Days & Fun Holidays Tomorrow
On This Day in History — August 24
- 2016 — An earthquake strikes Central Italy with a magnitude of 6.2, with aftershocks felt as far as Rome and Florence.
- 2010 — In San Fernando, Tamaulipas, Mexico, 72 illegal immigrants are killed by Los Zetas and eventually found dead by Mexican authorities.
- 2006 — The International Astronomical Union (IAU) redefines the term "planet" such that Pluto is now considered a dwarf planet.
- 2004 — Eighty-nine passengers die after two airliners explode after flying out of Domodedovo International Airport, near Moscow. The explosions are caused by suicide bombers from Chechnya.
- 1998 — First radio-frequency identification (RFID) human implantation tested in the United Kingdom.
- 1995 — Microsoft Windows 95 was released to the public in North America.
Notable Births on August 24
Notable Deaths on August 24
- 2017 — Jay Thomas, American actor, comedian, and radio talk show host (b. 1948)
- 2016 — Walter Scheel, German politician, 4th President of Germany (b. 1919)
- 2015 — Charlie Coffey, American football player and coach (b. 1934)
- 2015 — Joseph F. Traub, German-American computer scientist and academic (b. 1932)
- 2015 — Justin Wilson, English race car driver (b. 1978)
- 2014 — Richard Attenborough, English actor, director, producer, and politician (b. 1923)