Today is Sunday, May 17, 2026. It’s the 137th day of the year, and we’re on week 20.
Every day is special for some reason, and today is no different! Here you’ll find some interesting facts & events that happened today in history, as well as The Fact Site’s Fact of the Day!
Learn what special holiday falls on this day and how to celebrate it. You’ll also find out what famous people celebrate their birthdays today!
We update this page daily, so if you have a few minutes spare, check out these events & facts that all help to make today a special day!
Historical Events
The world is full of things happening – all day, every day. But here are some notable events that happened today in history.
A pair of Michael Jordan’s Air Jordan sneakers sold for a record $560,000 at auction.
The pair of autographed Air Jordan 1s were worn by the famous basketballer during his glory days. They sold for almost four times the estimated auction sale price, beating the previous record by over $100,000.
The diaries of Lord Byron were burned by six of the poet’s friends.
Often recognized as the greatest crime in literary history, Lord Byron's friend, Murray, saw the memoirs as scandalous enough to damage Byron's reputation forever. All of this, despite the fact that Byron himself declared that he wished the memoirs to be published.
These are just our highlighted events, but if you'd like to learn more about what happened on this day, you can check out the link below!
Famous Birthdays
Are you celebrating your birthday today? If so, you're not the only one! Here are a few famous people that were also born on this day.
1988
Nikki Reed
1988
Nikki Reed
American actress Nikki Reed was born on May 17, 1988, in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is celebrating her 38th birthday today!
1990
Ross Butler
1990
Ross Butler
American actor Ross Butler was born on May 17, 1990, in Singapore, Singapore. He is 36 years old today!
1988
Karrueche Tran
1988
Karrueche Tran
American actress Karrueche Tran was born on May 17, 1988, in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is celebrating her 38th birthday today!
Today's Quote
Throughout history, people have said some emotional, inspirational, and thought-provoking things, sometimes silly things too! But here's what's been said on this day in history.
1843
Life must be understood backwards. But they forget the other proposition, that it must be lived forwards.
Søren Kierkegaard
Danish Philosopher
Today's Holidays
Every day has special holidays that are celebrated throughout the world, and today is no different! Here's two of today's special holidays you can participate in.
United States
World Baking Day
You don’t need any special skills to celebrate World Baking Day; the right attitude and access to an oven are more than enough! The possibilities are endless, really - so try to bake some bread, cookies, brownies, cake, cupcakes, or whatever baked goodie you feel like today!
United States
National Pack Rat Day
We’re all guilty of holding onto mementos and clutter for far too long, but pack rats take it even further. Take a hard look at yourself on Pack Rat Day and challenge your hoarding tendencies, and take this day as an opportunity to let go of some of your less-loved possessions.
Shower Thoughts
Don't you just love it when you're taking your morning shower, and that little voice in your head asks, "how many balloons would it take to float a human?"
We all have these strange thoughts at random times - and here are our shower thoughts of the day.
Fact Of The Day
Check out our daily facts page for fresh, random facts updated every day!
Fast Facts About Today
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Day of Week
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Day of Year
Day 137
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Week Number
Week 20
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Decade
2020s
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Moon Phase
Waxing Crescent
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Leap Year
2026 is not a leap year
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Zodiac Sign
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Birthstone
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Birth Flower
Final Thoughts
Every date has its own story. From headline-making moments in history to notable birthdays, seasonal traditions, and small daily curiosities, this page is a quick reminder that there’s always something worth learning.
Check back anytime you want a fresh snapshot of what makes today truly unique.
