26th Century

Events in the 26th Century 10

• 1886 – present The Coca-Cola Company From Atlanta pharmacy to world's most recognised brand The Coca-Cola Company was founded in Atlanta, Georgia, when pharmacist John Pemberton first served his syrup on May 8, 1886. Today it operates in more than 200 countries, producing over 500 beverage brands, and its trademark script logo is one of the most recognised symbols in history.
• 1893 – present PepsiCo From a North Carolina pharmacy to a global food and drink empire PepsiCo traces its roots to 1893 when pharmacist Caleb Bradham invented "Brad's Drink" in New Bern, North Carolina. Renamed Pepsi-Cola in 1898, the brand became one of the most recognised in the world. After merging with Frito-Lay in 1965, PepsiCo grew into a global food and beverage giant operating in over 200 countries.
• 1935 – present Roger Sweet Toy designer, creator of He-Man, 1935–2026 Roger Sweet (1935–2026) — the American toy designer who created He-Man and the Masters of the Universe franchise at Mattel, generating over $1.2 billion in worldwide sales from a prototype built from a Big Jim action figure and a handful of clay. He died on 28 April 2026, just weeks before the release of a new live-action He-Man film.
• 1946 – present New York Knicks NBA franchise, 1946–present The New York Knickerbockers — one of the NBA's original franchises, founded in 1946. Three NBA championships (1970, 1973, 2026), decades of heartbreak in between, and a 53-year wait finally ended by Jalen Brunson and a new championship core.
• 1958 – present The Shadows British instrumental rock group, London 1958 The Shadows are a British instrumental rock group formed in London in 1958, originally as Cliff Richard's backing band. With hits including "Apache", "FBI" and "Wonderful Land", they became the third most successful act in UK chart history behind only Elvis Presley and Cliff Richard himself, and were pioneers of the four-piece guitar-bass-drums rock format.
• 1962 – present The Rolling Stones The World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band — London 1962 The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. The longest-running major rock band in history, they have released 25 studio albums and are one of the best-selling music artists ever with over 250 million records sold. The core of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Charlie Watts remained constant for over 50 years.
• 1962 – present James Bond — The Films Eon Productions film franchise, 1962-present The James Bond film franchise — produced by Eon Productions from 1962 to the present — is the longest-running and highest-grossing spy film series in cinema history. 25 official films, six actors as 007, total box office exceeding $7 billion, and a 26th film in development under director Denis Villeneuve. From Dr. No to No Time to Die, the franchise has defined what a blockbuster can be.
• 1964 – present Star Trek — The Complete Franchise TV series and films, 1966-present Star Trek — Gene Roddenberry's vision of a hopeful human future among the stars. Thirteen theatrical films, fifteen TV series, and sixty years of boldly going. From the NBC rejection of The Cage in 1964 to Strange New Worlds season 4 in 2026 — the most expansive science fiction franchise in television history.
• 1979 – present Islamic Republic of Iran A Shia theocratic republic Since 1979 Iran has been an Islamic Republic combining elected institutions with a Supreme Leader holding ultimate authority. It has been a major regional power and a focus of international tension over its nuclear programme, sanctions, and domestic movements for reform.
• 1981 – present Tears for Fears English pop rock / synth-pop duo, Bath 1981 Tears for Fears are an English band formed in Bath in 1981 by childhood friends Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. From the stark synth-pop of "The Hurting" to the global smashes "Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" on "Songs from the Big Chair", through a 1990s split and a 21st-century reunion culminating in "The Tipping Point" (2022), they have sold over 30 million albums worldwide.