National days, ongoing national weeks and months, and global observances for August 21, 2026. Plus historical events and birthdays.
August 21, 2026 celebrates National Senior Citizens Day, plus 3 more.
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Get your calendars, spreadsheets, and pray your sleeper pick doesn't get snatched one spot ahead of you--National Fantasy Football Draft Day will now forever be celebrated on August 21st! Whether you’re drafting in backyards, garages, or the sports bar, millions of leagues around the world can officially celebrate this historic moment, an official holiday by Fantasy Football Players for Fantasy Football Players.
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August 21 recognizes National Brazilian Blowout Day. The day provides an opportunity to put your best self forward, starting with your beautiful locks.
Read the full story →People born on August 21
Heiress who married rancher Marquis de Morès, who named the city of Medora, North Dakota after her.
Critically-acclaimed jazz musician who was a skilled jazz pianist and organist.
One of the greatest NBA players of all time. He is the only player to average 30 points and 20 rebounds per game in a season.
Country music legend who had over 120 hit singles across multiple genres, selling over 100 million records.
Co-founder of AOL.
Events that occurred on August 21 throughout history
Pueblo Indians capture Santa Fe from the Spanish during the Pueblo Revolt.
James Cook formally claims eastern Australia for Great Britain, naming it New South Wales.
Nat Turner leads black slaves and free blacks in a rebellion in Southampton County, Virginia. The uprising resulted in the deaths of 55 white people. Turner was captured and executed for causing the rebellion.
The American Bar Association is founded in Saratoga Springs, New York. The Association was created to set rules and set regulations for attorneys across the country.
An F5 tornado strikes Rochester, Minnesota, leading to the creation of the Mayo Clinic. The town lacked the ability to treat the injured and care for the dead, sparking the need for a permanent hospital to be built.
The first successful adding machine is patented in the U.S. William Seward Burroughs' machine design corrected problems in previous-patented adding machines.
The Olds Motor Vehicle Co. manufactures the first Oldsmobile. The company produced only four vehicles that year. By 1903, Oldsmobile became the top-selling car company in the U.S.
The Mona Lisa is stolen by Vincenzo Peruggia, a Louvre employee. He travelled to Italy to try to sell the painting, but the buyer called the police after verifying its authenticity. Peruggia later claimed he was returning the painting to Italy because he believed Napoleon Bonaparte stole it.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs an executive order proclaiming Hawaii as the 50th state of the union.
James Anderson Jr. becomes the first African American U.S. Marine to receive the Medal of Honor posthumously. Private First Class Anderson used his own body to shield his comrades from an explosion near Cam Lo in the Quang Tri Province, Vietnam.
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is founded by Ingrid Newkirk and Alex Pacheco. The organization has grown into the largest animal rights organization in the world.
Longer-running observances that include this date.
National Wellness Month
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National Dog Month
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National Back To School Month
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Happiness Happens Month
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National Golf Month
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National Sandwich Month
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International Peace Month
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Romance Awareness Month
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Family Fun Month
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National Crayon Collection Month
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National Water Quality Month
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National Eye Exam Month
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Showing the first 12 — See all months for August.
