21st Century Timeline: Events, People and History

Events in the 21st Century 36

1886 – present The Coca-Cola Company From Atlanta pharmacy to world's most recognised brand The Coca-Cola Company was founded in Atlanta, Georgia, when pharmacist John Pemberton first served his syrup on May 8, 1886. Today it operates in more than 200 countries, producing over 500 beverage brands, and its trademark script logo is one of the most recognised symbols in history.
1893 – present PepsiCo From a North Carolina pharmacy to a global food and drink empire PepsiCo traces its roots to 1893 when pharmacist Caleb Bradham invented "Brad's Drink" in New Bern, North Carolina. Renamed Pepsi-Cola in 1898, the brand became one of the most recognised in the world. After merging with Frito-Lay in 1965, PepsiCo grew into a global food and beverage giant operating in over 200 countries.
1917 – 2008 J. D. Salinger American novelist Salinger wrote The Catcher in the Rye, capturing teenage alienation and postwar disillusionment.
1925 – 2015 B.B. King American blues guitarist & singer B.B. King (1925-2015) — born Riley B. King in the Mississippi Delta — became "the King of the Blues", famous for his guitar Lucille, his hit "The Thrill Is Gone", and a touring and recording career spanning more than sixty years and fifteen Grammy Awards.
1927 – 2015 Günter Grass Writer, sculptor, Nobel laureate, 1927-2015 Günter Grass (1927-2015) — novelist, poet, playwright, sculptor and printmaker. Author of The Tin Drum (1959), the defining work of post-war German literature; winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature (1999); political activist and speechwriter for Willy Brandt; and, in his final decades, the man who shattered his own image as Germany's moral conscience by revealing his Waffen-SS service sixty years after the fact.
1928 – 2014 Maya Angelou American poet and memoirist Angelou wrote I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, reflecting on identity, racism, and resilience.
1931 – 2007 Ursula K. Le Guin American novelist Le Guin wrote science fiction and fantasy exploring society, gender, and anthropology.
1932 – 2003 Johnny Cash American singer-songwriter, "The Man in Black" Johnny Cash (1932-2003) was an American singer-songwriter whose stark baritone, songs of faith, hardship and redemption, and lifelong identification with prisoners and the poor made him one of the most influential artists in American music. The only artist inducted into the Country Music, Rock and Roll, Songwriters, and Gospel Music Halls of Fame, he sold over 90 million records across a career spanning five decades.
1932 – 2016 Umberto Eco Italian novelist and philosopher Eco wrote The Name of the Rose, combining mystery, semiotics, and historical fiction.
1932 – 2019 Jacques Chirac President of France 1995–2007 Jacques René Chirac was a French Gaullist politician who dominated the French right for three decades. He served twice as Prime Minister, eighteen years as Mayor of Paris, and twelve years as President of the Republic, remembered for his charm, his opposition to the 2003 Iraq War, and his recognition of France's role in the Holocaust.
1935 – present Roger Sweet Toy designer, creator of He-Man, 1935–2026 Roger Sweet (1935–2026) — the American toy designer who created He-Man and the Masters of the Universe franchise at Mattel, generating over $1.2 billion in worldwide sales from a prototype built from a Big Jim action figure and a handful of clay. He died on 28 April 2026, just weeks before the release of a new live-action He-Man film.
1936 – 2015 Margaret Atwood Canadian novelist Atwood wrote The Handmaids Tale, exploring dystopian society, gender, and political control.
1946 – present New York Knicks NBA franchise, 1946–present The New York Knickerbockers — one of the NBA's original franchises, founded in 1946. Three NBA championships (1970, 1973, 2026), decades of heartbreak in between, and a 53-year wait finally ended by Jalen Brunson and a new championship core.
1949 – 2011 Gil Scott-Heron American poet, musician & author Gil Scott-Heron (1949-2011) was an American poet, musician and author whose spoken-word recordings — above all "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" — made him one of the most influential forefathers of hip-hop and a defining voice of Black political consciousness in American music.
1958 – present The Shadows British instrumental rock group, London 1958 The Shadows are a British instrumental rock group formed in London in 1958, originally as Cliff Richard's backing band. With hits including "Apache", "FBI" and "Wonderful Land", they became the third most successful act in UK chart history behind only Elvis Presley and Cliff Richard himself, and were pioneers of the four-piece guitar-bass-drums rock format.
1960 – 2020 Diego Maradona Footballer, manager, 1960-2020 Diego Armando Maradona (1960-2020) — widely regarded as the greatest footballer who ever lived. The Hand of God and the Goal of the Century in a single match; two World Cup finals; two Serie A titles with Napoli; a life of extraordinary brilliance, devastating addiction, improbable comebacks and unconditional love from the people of Argentina and Naples. He died aged 60 on 25 November 2020.
1962 – present The Rolling Stones The World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band — London 1962 The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. The longest-running major rock band in history, they have released 25 studio albums and are one of the best-selling music artists ever with over 250 million records sold. The core of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Charlie Watts remained constant for over 50 years.
1962 – present James Bond — The Films Eon Productions film franchise, 1962-present The James Bond film franchise — produced by Eon Productions from 1962 to the present — is the longest-running and highest-grossing spy film series in cinema history. 25 official films, six actors as 007, total box office exceeding $7 billion, and a 26th film in development under director Denis Villeneuve. From Dr. No to No Time to Die, the franchise has defined what a blockbuster can be.
1964 – present Star Trek — The Complete Franchise TV series and films, 1966-present Star Trek — Gene Roddenberry's vision of a hopeful human future among the stars. Thirteen theatrical films, fifteen TV series, and sixty years of boldly going. From the NBC rejection of The Cage in 1964 to Strange New Worlds season 4 in 2026 — the most expansive science fiction franchise in television history.
1979 – present Islamic Republic of Iran A Shia theocratic republic Since 1979 Iran has been an Islamic Republic combining elected institutions with a Supreme Leader holding ultimate authority. It has been a major regional power and a focus of international tension over its nuclear programme, sanctions, and domestic movements for reform.
1981 – present Tears for Fears English pop rock / synth-pop duo, Bath 1981 Tears for Fears are an English band formed in Bath in 1981 by childhood friends Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. From the stark synth-pop of "The Hurting" to the global smashes "Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" on "Songs from the Big Chair", through a 1990s split and a 21st-century reunion culminating in "The Tipping Point" (2022), they have sold over 30 million albums worldwide.
1989 – 2019 Emperor Akihito (Heisei era) Reign 1989–2019 — abdicated, the first in 200 years Emperor Akihito's Heisei era was a time of economic stagnation after the 1980s bubble, and of natural disasters including the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. A reconciliation-minded monarch, in 2019 he became the first Japanese emperor in over two centuries to abdicate the throne.
2001 9/11 attacks 2,977 killed in worst terrorist attack in history Al-Qaeda hijacked four passenger aircraft on September 11, 2001. Two were flown into the World Trade Center in New York, one into the Pentagon, and one crashed in Pennsylvania. 2,977 people were killed.
2003 Wimbledon 2003 The Championships, 23 June - 6 July 2003 The 2003 Wimbledon Championships, the 117th edition, played on the grass courts of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club from 23 June to 6 July 2003. Roger Federer won his first Grand Slam title, defeating Mark Philippoussis in the final -- the first of his record eight Wimbledon titles. Serena Williams defeated her sister Venus Williams in the Ladies' final to successfully defend her title. Defending men's champion Lleyton Hewitt suffered a shock first-round exit to Ivo Karlovic, the first time in the Open Era a reigning champion lost in round one.
2004 Indian Ocean tsunami 230,000 killed — deadliest natural disaster of 21st century A magnitude 9.1 earthquake off the coast of Sumatra generated a massive tsunami on December 26, 2004. Waves up to 30 metres high killed approximately 230,000 people across 14 countries.
2008 Wimbledon 2008 — greatest final ever Men: Rafael Nadal · Women: Venus Williams Nadal defeated Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 in what is widely regarded as the greatest tennis match ever played. The final lasted nearly 5 hours and was halted twice by rain.
2013 Wimbledon 2013 Men: Andy Murray · Women: Marion Bartoli Andy Murray became the first British men's champion since Fred Perry in 1936 — ending a 77-year wait.
2019 – present Emperor Naruhito (Reiwa era) Reign 2019–present — the 126th emperor Naruhito became the 126th emperor on 1 May 2019, beginning the Reiwa era, after his father Akihito's abdication. Oxford-educated and a specialist in water policy, he is the first Japanese emperor born after World War II.
2020 COVID-19 pandemic declared WHO declares global pandemic The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. The disease, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, had spread to over 100 countries.
2021 US Open 2021 Men: Daniil Medvedev · Women: Emma Raducanu Emma Raducanu, 18 and ranked 150th, won without losing a set — an unprecedented achievement in Grand Slam history.
2022 Australian Open 2022 Men: Rafael Nadal · Women: Ashleigh Barty Nadal came back from two sets down to win his 21st Grand Slam. Barty won on home soil, then retired at 25. Both stories dominated global sports coverage.
2022 Russia invades Ukraine Largest European war since WWII Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the largest military attack in Europe since World War II. Ukrainian forces mounted fierce resistance.
2022 French Open 2022 Men: Rafael Nadal · Women: Iga Świątek Nadal's 14th and final Roland Garros title — the most titles any player has won at a single Grand Slam ever.
2022 Roger Federer announces retirement Laver Cup, London — final match On 15 September 2022, Roger Federer announced his retirement from professional tennis after 24 years and 1,500+ matches. His final match was a doubles match at the Laver Cup alongside Rafael Nadal. Both were in tears at the end. Federer retired with 20 Grand Slam titles, 103 ATP titles, and 310 weeks as world number 1.
2030 New Horizons — deepest Kuiper Belt flyby NASA's New Horizons spacecraft — which performed the first close flyby of Pluto in July 2015 — continues its journey through the outer solar system. After its 2019 flyby of Arrokoth (the most distant object ever visited by a spacecraft), New Horizons is expected to fly by one or more additional Kuiper Belt Objects in the early 2030s, if a suitable target is identified. By 2030 it will be approximately 58 AU from the Sun, deeper into the Kuiper Belt than any previous spacecraft.
2061 Halley's Comet returns — perihelion July 28, 2061 The most famous comet in history returns to the inner solar system, reaching perihelion on 28 July 2061. Unlike the disappointing 1986 apparition — when Earth and the comet were on opposite sides of the Sun — the 2061 return will be far more favourable: both will be on the same side, and the comet is expected to reach apparent magnitude −0.3, bright enough to be striking to the naked eye. Last seen in 1986; next return after 2061 is approximately 2134. For anyone born after about 1982, this will be their second — and last — chance to see it.