In the news today
News from around the world
On your calendar this October 19
Name day today: Saint of the day
Today we celebrate René
Astrological sign: Libra (September 23 - October 22)
Every year on October 19:
- Constitution Day (Niue)
What day of the week is October 19, 2026?
October 19, 2026 is a Monday
Ongoing holidays and events
October 17-25: World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, Rotterdam (Netherlands)
It happened on October 19
October 19, 1783: First human flight in a hot air balloon: Jean-Baptiste Réveillon, Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier, and Giroud de Villette board a balloon tethered to the ground by a rope at the Folie Titon.
October 19, 1939: Founding in France of the CNRS, the National Centre for Scientific Research, by decree-law, to coordinate laboratory activity and increase research output.
October 19, 1987: The New York Stock Exchange loses 22.6% following a very sharp rise in long-term interest rates. To this day, it is the second-largest stock market crash, just behind the one in Iceland in 2008.
News of the week and month
This week
October 19 - October 20 - October 21 - October 22 - October 23 - October 24 - October 25
Selection of events, dates, holidays and public holidays for October
Holidays, public holidays and festivals
- October 2-3: Shemini Atzeret, the solemn closing assembly
- October 3-4: Simchat Torah, celebrating and reading the Torah
- October 4: Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Paris (France)
- October 6-15: Busan International Film Festival (South Korea)
- October 7-18, 2026: BFI London Film Festival (United Kingdom)
- October 7-18: Ghent International Film Festival (Belgium)
- October 10-12: Mondial Coiffure Beauté, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles
- October 12-18: 2026 Paris Motor Show, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles/Paris (France)
- October 12-18: Semaine du Goût (Taste Week)
- October 13-15: TechCrunch Disrupt SF, San Francisco (USA)
- October 15: Global Handwashing Day
- October 16: Boss's Day (USA)
- October 21-25: Amsterdam Dance Event, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- October 22: Feast of Saint John Paul II at the Vatican
- October 24: United Nations Day
- October 25: switch to winter time
- October 28 to November 1, 2026: Salon du Chocolat, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, France
- October 31 to November 8: Rolex Paris Masters, Paris La Défense Arena
- October 31: Halloween
National days
- October 1: China National Day
- October 1: Cyprus Independence Day
- October 1: Nigeria Independence Day
- October 1: Tuvalu Independence Day
- October 2: Guinea Independence Day
- October 3: German Unity Day
- October 3: Gaecheonjeol (National Foundation Day) of South Korea
- October 4: Lesotho Independence Day
- October 9: Uganda Independence Day
- October 10: Fiji Independence Day
- October 10: Double Ten Day (National Holiday) of Taiwan
- October 12: National Holiday (Hispanic Day) of Spain
- October 12: Equatorial Guinea Independence Day
- October 24: Zambia Independence Day
- October 26: National Holiday (Austrian Neutrality) of Austria
- October 27: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Independence Day
- October 29: Turkey Republic Day
National and international days
- October 1: International Day of Older Persons
- October 2: International Day of Non-Violence
- October 4: World Animal Day
- October 4-10: World Space Week
- October 5: World Teachers' Day
- October 5: World Habitat Day
- October 10: World Mental Health Day
- October 11: International Day of the Girl Child
- October 13: International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction
- October 15: International Day of Rural Women
- October 16: World Food Day
- October 16: World Bread Day
- October 17: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
- October 24: World Development Information Day
- October 27: World Day for Audiovisual Heritage
- October 28: Day of the Establishment of the Independent Czechoslovak State
- October 29: World Stroke Day
- October 31: World Cities Day
Sporting competitions
- October 9-11: Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix
- October 10: Ironman World Championship (Hawaii)
- October 10: Giro di Lombardia cycling race, Italy
- October 17-25: World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, Rotterdam (Netherlands)
- October 18: Amsterdam Marathon (Netherlands)
- October 22-25: Paris Games Week
- October 23-25: United States F1 Grand Prix, Austin (USA)
- October 27 to November 8: Weightlifting, IWF World Championships, Ningbo (China)
- October 30 to November 1: Mexican F1 Grand Prix, Mexico City
Sunrise and sunset
Today's sunrise and sunset times
| City | Sunrise 🌞 | Sunset 🌙 |
|---|