Dashed left edge = started before July 2026 ·
Dashed right edge = ongoing beyond July 2026
Events in July 2026 29
1926 – 2026Betye Saar (1926-2026)Died 26 July 2026, aged 99American artist whose assemblages skewered racist imagery and whose installations drew on mystical themes.
1932 – 2026Marjan Berk (1932–2026)Marjan Berk, born Marie-Janne van Baaren (Zeist, 11 July 1932 – Amsterdam, 5 July 2026), was one of the Netherlands' most versatile and beloved cultural figures: actress, cabaret performer, television screenwriter, novelist, children's author and columnist for more than 40 years. She spent the first 27 years of her career on stage, in cabaret and on television before reinventing herself at 49 as a writer of more than 50 books. Her TV series Vrouwenvleugel won the Gouden Televizier-Ring in 1994. The magazine Opzij called her "the queen of the light novel." She died on 5 July 2026, six days before her 94th birthday, and was at the time of her death the oldest columnist in the Netherlands.
1936 – 2026Garfield Sobers (1936-2026)Died 17 July 2026, aged 89West Indian cricketer regarded by many as the most gifted all-round player the game has produced.
1939 – 2026Wally Funk (1939-2026)Died 8 July 2026, aged 87American aviation pioneer who in 2021 became the oldest woman to reach space, sixty years after being denied a place in the astronaut corps.
1939 – 2026Susumu TonegawaJapanese Molecular BiologistJapanese molecular biologist who was awarded the 1987 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering V(D)J recombination, the genetic mechanism by which the immune system generates millions of different antibodies from a limited set of genes. Born in Nagoya, he solved one of biology's oldest puzzles while working in Switzerland, then spent over 40 years at MIT, where he reinvented himself as a neuroscientist pioneering the use of optogenetics to identify and manipulate memory cells in the brain.
1952 – 2026Sheikh Hamad ibn Khalifa Al Thani (1952-2026)Died 12 July 2026, aged 74Emir of Qatar from 1995 to 2013, whose liberal reforms and gas exports transformed the country into the wealthiest per capita in the Gulf.
1955 – 2026Lindsey Graham (1955-2026)Died 11 July 2026, aged 71American Republican senator for South Carolina from 2003 until his death, a leading Senate voice on defence and foreign affairs.
1960 – 2026Franco Baresi (1960–2026)Franco Baresi (born Franchino Baresi, 8 May 1960, Travagliato, Brescia – 31 July 2026) was an Italian footballer who spent his entire 20-year professional career at AC Milan, making 719 appearances and captaining the club for 15 seasons. Widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders in the history of the game, he combined extraordinary positional intelligence, anticipation and the ability to read play with the authority of a natural leader. He won six Serie A titles, three European Cups/Champions Leagues and the 1982 FIFA World Cup with Italy. His number 6 shirt was retired by AC Milan upon his retirement in 1997 -- the first player in the clubs history to receive that honour. He died on 31 July 2026, aged 66; AC Milan announced his passing with the words "The entire history of AC Milan is in tears."
1970 – 2026Glen Hansard (1970-2026)Died 29 July 2026, aged 56Irish singer-songwriter and front man of the Frames who appeared in The Commitments and won an Academy Award for Falling Slowly from the film Once.
2026International Booker Longlisting and DeathWomen Without Men was longlisted for the International Booker Prize in 2026, bringing her work to a new generation of English-language readers. She died of a heart attack in a hospital near San Francisco on July 3 at the age of 80, having lived in exile for 32 years.
20262026 FIFA World CupNorth American ExpansionThe first tournament to feature 48 teams, hosted across three nations. Winner: TBD.
2026Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce marry at Madison Square GardenA thousand guests, thousands more outsideTaylor Swift and Travis Kelce married at Madison Square Garden in New York City on 3 July 2026, with about 1,000 guests inside and thousands of fans gathered outside.
2026United States marks its 250th anniversaryA time capsule buried in PhiladelphiaThe United States celebrated its semiquincentennial on 4 July 2026, 250 years after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. A time capsule was buried at Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia.
2026Australia wins the Women's T20 World CupA seventh title for AustraliaAustralia defeated England on 5 July 2026 to win the Women's T20 World Cup for the seventh time.
2026Marjan Berk dies in AmsterdamMarjan Berk dies in Amsterdam on 5 July 2026, six days before her 94th birthday. Her death is announced by her family through her publisher. She has been working until shortly before the end -- her Mokum Magazine column continuing into her final months. Tributes describe the two pillars of her achievement: the performing career, with its particular gift for dry, unshowy comic precision; and the writing career, with its more than 50 books and four decades of columns. Joop van den Ende's tribute captures both: "Her creative spirit and her bravado were the foundation of an enormous success." She is buried in Amsterdam.
2026G.R.L. announce the news -- 6 July 2026On 6 July 2026 -- 38 days after Lauren's death -- her former G.R.L. bandmates Emmalyn Estrada, Natasha Slayton and Paula van Oppen announce her passing in a joint statement on the G.R.L. Instagram account. "It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Lauren. Our hearts are broken, and we cannot begin to express how much she meant to us. We will forever cherish the love, laughter, and countless memories she gave us. Her beautiful spirit touched so many lives, and she will be deeply missed and forever loved. Rest peacefully, sweet Lauren. You will always be in our hearts." The announcement triggers an immediate global wave of tributes from fans, collaborators and fellow artists.
2026Susumu Tonegawa dies in San Mateo, CaliforniaDied in San Mateo, California, at the age of 86. MIT's Picower Institute, which he had founded and directed, described him as one of the most intellectually fearless scientists of his generation.
2026Jannik Sinner defends his Wimbledon titleLinda Moskova wins her first Grand Slam a day earlierItaly's Jannik Sinner beat Alexander Zverev in four sets on 12 July 2026 to defend his Wimbledon singles title. The previous day Linda Moskova beat fellow Czech Karolina Muchova for her first Grand Slam title.
2026Pat Oliphant dies in Santa FeDied at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, at the age of 90, after suffering from age-related illnesses. His son Grant said his father had 'used his art to speak truth to power for more than half a century.'
2026Death at HomeDied at his home in Pasadena, California, five days before his 103rd birthday. Nature described his hallmark as 'his ability to develop simple equations that could capture the essence of messy molecular phenomena.'
2026Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey opens in cinemasHomer adapted with Damon, Holland and ZendayaChristopher Nolan's The Odyssey was released in US theatres on 17 July 2026. Based on Homer's epic poem, it starred Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson and Anne Hathaway.
2026Spain wins the FIFA World Cup finalA 1-0 win over Argentina in extra timeSpain beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time on 19 July 2026 to win the FIFA World Cup. England had finished third the previous day, beating France 6-4.
2026Andy Burnham becomes prime minister of the United KingdomReplacing Keir Starmer as Labour leaderAndy Burnham became prime minister of the United Kingdom on 20 July 2026, days after being elected leader of the Labour Party, replacing Keir Starmer.
2026Death on Broad PeakKilled by an avalanche while climbing Broad Peak (8,051m) in the Karakoram range of Pakistan at the age of 42. Broad Peak was one of the fourteen mountains he had summited during Project Possible in 2019. Nepal declared a national day of mourning.
2026Tadej Pogacar wins a record-tying fifth Tour de FranceLevel with Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault and IndurainTadej Pogacar of Slovenia won the Tour de France on 26 July 2026 for the fifth time, tying the all-time record.
2026Ursula Hegi dies in Sag Harbor, New YorkDied from complications of a stroke at a hospice facility in Sag Harbor, New York, at the age of 80.
2026Geraldine de Haas dies in New JerseyDied of natural causes at Englewood Hospital in New Jersey at the age of 91. Jazz critic Howard Reich called her 'one of the most inspired and influential impresarios that Chicago and jazz itself has ever had.'
2026Kavinsky dies in ParisFound dead at his home in Paris, three days before his 51st birthday. Authorities found no suspicious elements at the scene; he had been complaining of headaches for several days and is believed to have suffered a stroke. The Weeknd paid tribute, calling him 'an inspiration to so many.'
2026Franco Baresi dies aged 66Franco Baresi dies on 31 July 2026, aged 66. His death is announced by AC Milan: "The entire history of AC Milan is in tears following the passing of Franco Baresi. His example and integrity will be forever etched into the Clubs DNA, just as his iconic number 6 shirt is." No cause of death is given. Tributes arrive from across world football: from former teammates Maldini, Costacurta and Ancelotti; from FIFA; and from clubs and players throughout Europe.