1986

Chernobyl nuclear accident
Gorbachev introduces glasnost and perestroika
Spain and Portugal join European Economic Community
President Marcos flees Philippines after ruling 20 years, as newly elected Corazon Aquino succeeds him
Desmond Tutu elected Archbishop in South Africa
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson married
Voyager 2 spacecraft reports secrets of Uranus
Space shuttle Challenger explodes after launch, killing all seven aboard
Secret initiative to send arms to Iran and diversion of funds from arms sales to Nicaraguan Contras revealed - Iran-Contra Affair
Richard Rutan and Jeana Yeager pilot "Voyager" non-stop around the world
The "New Coke" fizzles out, Coca-Cola brings back "Classic Coke"
Larry McMurty's Lonesome Dove
Anthony Lukas' Common Ground
Digital audiotape
Songs - "J Mood", "That's What Friends Are For", "Graceland", "Tutu", "Friends"
Broadway - "The Mystery of Edwin Drood"
Films - "Agnes of God", "Hannah and Her Sisters", "Platoon"
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen born
Georgia O'Keefe, Otto Preminger, James Cagney, Benny Goodman, Raymond Loewy, Henry Moore, and Cary Grant die