Deaths in 2026
173ms
The year 2026 marked the passing of many notable individuals. We remember them now.
In January, the 4th saw the departure of L. Ganesan, 91, an Indian politician and former MP. Also on this day, Jules Radich, 71, a New Zealand politician and former mayor of Dunedin, passed away from a heart attack.
The 3rd of January brought the loss of Jamil Azar, 89, a Jordanian journalist and broadcaster, renowned as the founder of the Al-Jazeera news network. Italy mourned Natale Carlotto, 94, a politician. Spain lost Maria Eugènia Cuenca, 78, a politician who served in both the Catalan parliament and the Congress of Deputies. American actor Bret Hanna-Shuford, 46, known for roles in "Paramour" and "Amazing Grace," succumbed to cancer. Turkey's operatic scene lost Mesut İktu, 78. Poland remembered historian Andrzej Paczkowski, 87, and social activist Mirosław Zdanowicz, 88. Bulgaria mourned football legend Dimitar Penev, 80, who excelled as both player and manager. Russia noted the passing of Ivan Varshavsky, 87, a railway track fitting foreman. England remembered footballer Terry Wharton, 83, who played for clubs like Wolverhampton Wanderers. Indonesian Muslim scholar Amal Fathullah Zarkasyi, 76, also passed away.
On January 2nd, Finland's opera world lost Ritva Auvinen, 93. British horse trainer Ian Balding, 87, also passed. Bangladesh mourned poet Sukumar Barua, 87. Indian politician Shyam Bihari Lal, 60, a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Uttar Pradesh, died of a heart attack. France remembered Dominique Bucchini, 82, a politician who served as an MEP and mayor of Sartène. Malta lost session drummer and percussionist Tony Carr, 98, a vital member of bands like CCS and Hot Chocolate. Ukraine mourned journalist, actor, and singer Bohdan Chufus, 75. Spanish football executive Miquel Contestí, 92, former president of RCD Mallorca, passed away. Britain bid farewell to Sir Patrick Duffy, 105, a long-serving MP and former president of the NATO Assembly. Canadian radio host Evan Hammond, 45, died of a stroke. American rockabilly musician, film producer, and wrestling manager Johnny Legend, 77, passed from stroke and heart failure. India remembered politician and academic Ashok Gajanan Modak, 85, a former Maharashtra MLC. Hungary's harpsichordist Lajos Rovátkay, 92, also passed. Russia's photographer Valery Fyodorovich Plotnikov, 82, was noted. English-born Australian actor Tim Robertson, 81, known for "Chances" and "Stingers," had his death announced. Jordan remembered politician Saleh Rusheidat, 80, a member of the House of Representatives. Australian footballer Phoenix Spicer, 23, who played for North Melbourne, also passed. Italy mourned partisan and politician Ivanne Trebbi, 97. Poland's Olympic high jumper Robert Wolski, 43, died in a traffic collision.
The 1st of January saw the passing of Kyrgyz politician Marat Amankulov, 55, an MP. Spain remembered politician Xesús Cañedo, 67, co-founder of the Partíu Asturianista. Ukraine lost soldier Lana Chornogorska, 27. American jockey and horse trainer Diane Crump, 77, succumbed to glioblastoma. Kosovo mourned Nexhat Daci, 81, former acting president and chairman of the Assembly. Canada remembered writer Brian Doyle, 90. Israeli political scientist Yehezkel Dror, 97, born in Austria, passed away. Latvian computer scientist Imants Freibergs, 91, former first gentleman, was noted. American writer James Grauerholz, 72, died of pneumonia. Algeria remembered historian Mohamed Harbi, 92. South Korea's baseball world lost Jeon Jun-ho, 50, a player for the Hyundai Unicorns and other teams, to lung cancer. American actress Victoria Jones, 34, also passed. South African-born Israeli executive Morris Kahn, 95, founder of Golden Pages and Amdocs, was remembered. Russian actor and screenwriter Andrey Khoroshev, 66, known for "Engineering Red," also passed. American politician Harvey C. Krautschun, 76, a former member of the South Dakota House of Representatives, was noted. Estonia mourned actor Arno Liiver, 71, from films like "Spring." British cricketer Arnold Long, 85, who played for Sussex and other teams, passed away. Ukraine's mathematician Volodymyr Marchenko, 103, known for the Marchenko equation, was remembered. Brazilian politician Hélio Mauro, 83, died of cardiac arrest. Northern Ireland lost boxer Paul McCullagh Jr., 25, to bone cancer. Spanish sculptor Enric Mestre, 89, was mourned. Tajik-Russian footballer and manager Mukhsin Mukhamadiev, 59, who represented both Tajikistan and Russia, passed away. British actor Gregory de Polnay, 82, known for "Dixon of Dock Green," also passed. New Zealand public health official Dame Karen Poutasi, 76, former director general of health, was remembered. Australian actress Candy Raymond, 75, from "Don's Party" and "Prisoner," had her death announced. Israeli intelligence officer Amit Saar, 47, head of the Military Intelligence Research Department, died of brain cancer. Germany mourned politician Roland Schäfer, 76, former mayor of Bergkamen. Angolan Roman Catholic prelate Serafim Shyngo-Ya-Hombo, 80, auxiliary bishop and bishop, passed away. American politician Margaret Anne Staggers, 80, a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, was noted. Russian-Armenian test pilot Ruben Yesayan, 79, was remembered. Hong Kong actor, director, and choreographer Yuen Cheung-yan, 68, known for martial arts films, also passed.
The following notable deaths occurred in 2026. Names are reported under the date of death, in alphabetical order. A typical entry reports information in the following sequence:
Name, age, country of citizenship at birth, subsequent nationality (if applicable), what subject was noted for, cause of death (if known), and a reference.
== January ==
=== 4 ===
L. Ganesan, 91, Indian politician, MP (1980–1986, 2004–2009).
Jules Radich, 71, New Zealand politician, mayor of Dunedin (2022–2025), heart attack.
=== 3 ===
Jamil Azar, 89, Jordanian journalist and broadcaster, founder of Al-Jazeera news network.
Natale Carlotto, 94, Italian politician.
Maria Eugènia Cuenca, 78, Spanish politician, member of the Catalan parliament (1999–2006) and the Congress of Deputies (1986–1992).
Bret Hanna-Shuford, 46, American actor (Paramour, Amazing Grace, The Wolf of Wall Street), cancer.
Mesut İktu, 78, Turkish operatic baritone.
Andrzej Paczkowski, 87, Polish historian.
Dimitar Penev, 80, Bulgarian football player (CSKA Sofia, national team) and manager (national team).
Ivan Varshavsky, 87, Russian railway track fitting foreman.
Terry Wharton, 83, English footballer (Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bolton Wanderers, Crystal Palace).
Amal Fathullah Zarkasyi, 76, Indonesian Muslim scholar.
Mirosław Zdanowicz, 88, Polish social activist.
=== 2 ===
Ritva Auvinen, 93, Finnish opera singer.
Ian Balding, 87, British horse trainer.
Sukumar Barua, 87, Bangladeshi poet.
Shyam Bihari Lal, 60, Indian politician, Uttar Pradesh MLA (since 2017), heart attack.
Dominique Bucchini, 82, French politician, MEP (1979–1984) and mayor of Sartène (1977–2001).
Tony Carr, 98, Maltese session drummer and percussionist (CCS, Hot Chocolate).
Bohdan Chufus, 75, Ukrainian journalist, actor and singer.
Miquel Contestí, 92, Spanish football executive, president of RCD Mallorca (1978–1992).
Sir Patrick Duffy, 105, British politician, MP (1963–1966, 1970–1992) and president of the NATO Assembly (1988–1990).
Evan Hammond, 45, Canadian radio host, stroke.
Johnny Legend, 77, American rockabilly musician, film producer and wrestling manager, stroke and heart failure.
Ashok Gajanan Modak, 85, Indian politician and academic, Maharashtra MLC (1994–2006).
Lajos Rovátkay, 92, Hungarian harpsichordist.
Valery Fyodorovich Plotnikov, 82, Russian photographer.
Tim Robertson, 81, English-born Australian actor (Chances, Australia You're Standing In It, Stingers). (death announced on this date)
Saleh Rusheidat, 80, Jordanian politician, member of the House of Representatives (since 1993).
Phoenix Spicer, 23, Australian footballer (North Melbourne).
Ivanne Trebbi, 97, Italian partisan and politician, deputy (1979–1987).
Robert Wolski, 43, Polish Olympic high jumper (2004), traffic collision.
=== 1 ===
Marat Amankulov, 55, Kyrgyz politician, MP (2015–2021).
Xesús Cañedo, 67, Spanish politician, co-founder of the Partíu Asturianista.
Lana Chornogorska, 27, Ukrainian soldier.
Diane Crump, 77, American jockey and horse trainer, glioblastoma.
Nexhat Daci, 81, Kosovan politician, acting president (2006) and chairman of the Assembly (2001–2006).
Brian Doyle, 90, Canadian writer.
Yehezkel Dror, 97, Austrian-born Israeli political scientist.
Imants Freibergs, 91, Latvian computer scientist, first gentleman (1999–2007).
James Grauerholz, 72, American writer, pneumonia.
Mohamed Harbi, 92, Algerian historian.
Jeon Jun-ho, 50, South Korean baseball player (Hyundai Unicorns, Woori Heroes, SK Wyverns), lung cancer.
Victoria Jones, 34, American actress.
Morris Kahn, 95, South African-born Israeli telecommunications industry executive, founder of Golden Pages, Amdocs and the Aurec Group.
Andrey Khoroshev, 66, Russian actor and screenwriter (Engineering Red, 8 ½ $, Admiral).
Harvey C. Krautschun, 76, American politician, member of the South Dakota House of Representatives (1985–1996).
Arno Liiver, 71, Estonian actor (Spring, Summer, Autumn).
Arnold Long, 85, British cricketer (Sussex, MCC, Surrey).
Volodymyr Marchenko, 103, Ukrainian mathematician (Marchenko equation, Marchenko–Pastur distribution).
Hélio Mauro, 83, Brazilian politician, cardiac arrest.
Paul McCullagh Jr., 25, Northern Irish boxer, bone cancer.
Enric Mestre, 89, Spanish sculptor.
Mukhsin Mukhamadiev, 59, Tajik-Russian football player (Tajikistan national team, Russia national team) and manager (Tajikistan national team).
Gregory de Polnay, 82, British actor (Dixon of Dock Green, Doctor Who, Howards' Way).
Dame Karen Poutasi, 76, New Zealand public health official, director general of health (1995–2006).
Candy Raymond, 75, Australian actress (Don's Party, Number 96, Prisoner). (death announced on this date)
Amit Saar, 47, Israeli intelligence officer, head of the Military Intelligence Research Department (2020–2024), brain cancer.
Roland Schäfer, 76, German politician, mayor of Bergkamen (1998–2020).
Serafim Shyngo-Ya-Hombo, 80, Angolan Roman Catholic prelate, auxiliary bishop of Luanda (1990–1992) and bishop of Mbanza Congo (1992–2008).
Margaret Anne Staggers, 80, American politician, member of the West Virginia House of Delegates (2007–2014).
Ruben Yesayan, 79, Russian-Armenian test pilot.
Yuen Cheung-yan, 68, Hong Kong actor (The Miracle Fighters, Drunken Tai Chi, Flying Dagger), director, and martial arts choreographer.
== References ==
== External links ==
The Guardian (UK) obituaries
The Telegraph (UK) obituaries
Obituaries, Chicago Tribune
Obituaries, Los Angeles Times
The New York Times, obituaries
The Washington Post obituaries
The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) obituaries
Home
Languages