Centuries: 19th century - 20th century - 21st century
Decades: 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s - 1980s - 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 2030s
Years: 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 - 1986 - 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991
Events
- January 1 - Spain and Portugal enter the European Community
- January 1 - Aruba becomes independent of Curacao
- January 28 - Space Shuttle Challenger accident
- February 28 - Swedish prime minister Olof Palme is shot dead on his way home from the cinema, his wife the only witness.
- February 11 - Human Rights activist Anatoly Scharansky is released by USSR, leaves the country.
- April 26 - Chernobyl explosion
- August - Apple Lisa discontinued by Apple Computer.
- Commonly considered the start date of the golden age of old school rap
- December 31 - A fire at the Dupont Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, kills 97 and injures 140.
Art, Culture & Fashion
- 1986 in film
- 1986 in literature
- 1986 in music
- 1986 in sports
- January 26 - Super Bowl XX Chicago Bears (46) def. New England Patriots (10)
- Argentina wins Football World Cup in Mexico
- British Commonwealth Games held in Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- 1986 in television
Births
Deaths
- January 28 - Crew of Space Shuttle Challenger: Francis R. Scobee, Michael J. Smith, Judy Resnick, Ellison Onizuka, Ronald McNair, Greg Jarvis, Christa McAuliffe.
- February 11 - Frank Herbert, science fiction author.
- February 28 - Olof Palme, Swedish prime minister
- March 10 - Ray Milland, English actor
- June 14 - Jorge Luis Borges, Argentine writer
- August 20 - Milton Acorn, Canadian poet, writer, and playwright
- August 31 - Henry Moore, sculptor
- December 28 - Andrei Tarkovsky, Russian movie director