34 Photos of What the World Looked Like in 1986

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 11/16/2024 in wow

1986 started off with a bang, when the Challenger Space Shuttle exploded on January 28th in front of a live television audience. Four months later, the USSR dealt with their own historic disaster, when an explosion in Chernobyl's nuclear reactor number four taught the world a costly lesson about nuclear power.

But 1986 was about more than just tragedy. If you want to get a better sense of daily life, check out these 34 photos that show what the world really looked like in 1986.

List View
Player View
Grid View

1.
“Me, high school graduation day June 15, 1986, standing next to my then boyfriend's 1969 Chevelle.”
2.
Behind the scenes, Aliens, 1986.
3.
The last week of the drinking age being 18, at a college.
4.
Inside the control room of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, 1986.
5.
The 4th reactor at Chernobyl nuclear power station in the USSR, after its explosion. April 26th, 1986.
6.
Chernobyl Disaster, 1986.
7.
Two armed farmers, father and son. Zimbabwe, 1986.
8.
9.
“Back in 1986 when I was leader of a pack of skate rats.”
10.
The colorful, spectacular balloon release in Cleveland in 1986 that didn’t end as planned.
11.
Will Ferrell in high school, 1986.
12.
Anthony Bourdain preparing a meal in his NYC apartment, 1986.
13.
Parents and sister of Christa Macauliffe watching the space shuttle Challenger explode at the Kennedy Space Center, January, 1986.
14.
15.
Launch observers react to the Shuttle Challenger tragedy, 1986.
16.
“My mom (blonde) and her siblings all in high school, 1986.”
17.
Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal at the 1986 World Cup.
18.
A man rides a bus for white passengers only, against apartheid policies, Durban, South Africa's, 1986.
19.
Hands Across America, in Springfield Township, Ohio, May 25, 1986.
20.
My parents at a house party, 1986.
21.
Steve Ballmer promoting Windows 1.0 in 1986.
22.
A Christian wedding during the Lebanese Civil War, Beirut, Lebanon, 1986.
23.
Princess Diana greeting people in Walsall, 1986.
24.
First day of kindergarten, 1986.
25.
Gays protest the Supreme Court's Bowers v. Hardwick decision in 1986.
26.
The entire British Concorde fleet in one picture, January 21, 1986, at London Heathrow Airport.
27.
28.
29.
Funeral of Swedish PM Olof Palme. He was the leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party from 1969 until his assassination on the 28th of February, 1986.
30.
The electronics department at Service Merchandise, 1976.
31.
President Ronald Reagan meets with Senate Candidate John McCain in the Oval Office. 1986.
32.
Eastern Bloc leaders meeting in 1986.
33.
Gwen Stefanie and Tony Kanal in high school,1986.
34.
Halloween, 1986.

1.
“Me, high school graduation day June 15, 1986, standing next to my then boyfriend's 1969 Chevelle.”
2.
Behind the scenes, Aliens, 1986.
3.
The last week of the drinking age being 18, at a college.
4.
Inside the control room of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, 1986.
5.
The 4th reactor at Chernobyl nuclear power station in the USSR, after its explosion. April 26th, 1986.
6.
Chernobyl Disaster, 1986.
7.
Two armed farmers, father and son. Zimbabwe, 1986.
8.
9.
“Back in 1986 when I was leader of a pack of skate rats.”
10.
The colorful, spectacular balloon release in Cleveland in 1986 that didn’t end as planned.
11.
Will Ferrell in high school, 1986.
12.
Anthony Bourdain preparing a meal in his NYC apartment, 1986.
13.
Parents and sister of Christa Macauliffe watching the space shuttle Challenger explode at the Kennedy Space Center, January, 1986.
14.
15.
Launch observers react to the Shuttle Challenger tragedy, 1986.
16.
“My mom (blonde) and her siblings all in high school, 1986.”
17.
Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal at the 1986 World Cup.
18.
A man rides a bus for white passengers only, against apartheid policies, Durban, South Africa's, 1986.
19.
Hands Across America, in Springfield Township, Ohio, May 25, 1986.
20.
My parents at a house party, 1986.
21.
Steve Ballmer promoting Windows 1.0 in 1986.
22.
A Christian wedding during the Lebanese Civil War, Beirut, Lebanon, 1986.
23.
Princess Diana greeting people in Walsall, 1986.
24.
First day of kindergarten, 1986.
25.
Gays protest the Supreme Court's Bowers v. Hardwick decision in 1986.
26.
The entire British Concorde fleet in one picture, January 21, 1986, at London Heathrow Airport.
27.
28.
29.
Funeral of Swedish PM Olof Palme. He was the leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party from 1969 until his assassination on the 28th of February, 1986.
30.
The electronics department at Service Merchandise, 1976.
31.
President Ronald Reagan meets with Senate Candidate John McCain in the Oval Office. 1986.
32.
Eastern Bloc leaders meeting in 1986.
33.
Gwen Stefanie and Tony Kanal in high school,1986.
34.
Halloween, 1986.