Look Back To 1976: What Happened That Year

The heatwave, the drought and the first stirrings of punk.

Here's 1976 in full - the music, the news, the screen, the sport and the ordinary details. Good for a birthday card, a party quiz round or a reminiscence session.

In the charts in 1976

• 'Save Your Kisses for Me' by Brotherhood of Man won Eurovision and was the year's best-selling single.
• Punk broke through in the autumn; the Sex Pistols' Bill Grundy interview in December caused a national row.
• Johnny Mathis's 'When a Child Is Born' was the Christmas number one.

In the news in 1976

• The summer brought a long heatwave and the worst drought in living memory, with standpipes in some areas.
• The Drought Act was passed in August, and a Minister for Drought was appointed; heavy rain arrived in September.
• James Callaghan became Prime Minister in April after Harold Wilson resigned.

On screen in 1976

• The Muppet Show began on ITV.
• Rocky and Taxi Driver were released.
• Open All Hours and I, Claudius were on the BBC.

In sport in 1976

• Southampton beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
• James Hunt won the Formula One world championship at the final race.
• Liverpool won the league and the UEFA Cup.

Everyday life in 1976

• Ladybird books, Chopper bikes and Raleigh Grifters were the things children wanted.
• Hosepipe bans, bath-sharing and 'save water, bath with a friend' stickers were everywhere.
• Concorde began commercial flights in January.

If you were born in 1976

• Anyone born in 1976 was born in the hottest summer in living memory.
• They arrived the year punk started and Concorde began flying passengers.
• Anyone born in 1976 turns 30 in 2006, 40 in 2016, 50 in 2026, 60 in 2036 and 70 in 2046.
• For a milestone card, the strongest line is usually the number one from the week they were born rather than the year's biggest events - it's personal, and it takes two minutes to find.
• For a reminiscence session, read one section at a time and stop on whatever gets a reaction. The point is the conversation, not the facts.

Shop birthday cards

How to write it so it lands

• The number one from the week they were born beats the year's headlines on a card.
• Read one section at a time in a reminiscence session and stop where the conversation starts.
• Use it as a guess-the-year round by reading three facts and hiding the date.

Where to shop next

• Look back to 1979
• Look back to 1978
• Look back to 1977
• Look back to 1975
• Look back to 1974
• Look back to 1973
• The 1970s: the whole decade
• 1970s party playlist
• 70s kids' TV shows
• 70s quiz questions
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• The 1930s: the whole decade
• The 1920s: the whole decade
• Decade calendar: every year from 1920
• Decade trivia: fun facts by era
• Decade trivia game: play for points
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• Decade travel: destinations and holidays by era
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• All guides

Frequently asked questions

How bad was the 1976 drought?

It followed a dry 1975 and a long summer heatwave. Some areas had standpipes in the street, and the Drought Act was passed in August 1976.

What was the Christmas number one in 1976?

'When a Child Is Born' by Johnny Mathis.

How old is someone born in 1976?

Subtract 1976 from the current year. They turn 40 in 2016, 50 in 2026, 60 in 2036 and 70 in 2046.

Do you sell anything to do with this year?

We make greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK, including milestone birthday cards. This page itself is free to read and free to copy.