Remembering 1996 - The Year of Spice Girls, Euro 96, Oasis at Knebworth, Trainspotting, Dolly the Sheep and much more!

Last updated: February 2026

Radio 2 celebrates 1996's biggest music, movies and memorable moments - 30 years on!

It's the year that football (literally) came home in the Euros, Spice Girls changed the face of pop forever, Oasis sold out Knebworth, Trainspotting was the surprise big screen hit, and Dolly the Sheep became the world's first cloned animal.

Lara Croft debuted in the first Tomb Raider game, Microsoft encouraged more of us to email with the launch of their Hotmail service, while the likes of singers Lorde and Lewis Capaldi, actors (and celeb couple) Tom Holland and Zendaya, and England footballers Jarred Bowen and James Maddison were all born.

From gut-wrenching band breakups to era-defining dance tracks, join us as we look back on the biggest cultural moments turning 30 in 2026.

Following the huge success of their second album (What's The Story) Morning Glory?, released in 1995, Oasis continued to go from strength to strength in 1996. The Manchester band, featuring Liam and Noel Gallagher, topped the UK Singles Chart with Don't Look Back In Anger, picked up three Brit Awards, before performing two soldl-out gigs in the grounds of Knebworth House.

An estimated 250,000 Oasis fans congregated at the Hertfordshire stately home over 10 and 11 August to hear their idols perform their biggest songs to date, These concerts have gone down in music history. For many this was the peak moment for Britpop, the music and cultural phenomenon that had grown throughout the 90s, led by a revival in popularity for British guitar music.

Fans faced a nail-biting wait for tickets and in an era just before websites and mobile phones became the norm, it was down to ringing a phone line and a lot of waiting. Tickets sold out out in less than 24 hours - for approximately £22.50 each (a bargain, if you ask us!) and the gigs became the biggest the UK had ever seen. An estimate two-and-a-half million people applied for tickets.

One of those in attendance was Radio 2 Unwinds host Angela Griffin. Speaking to a very jealous Fearne Cotton, on Radio 2's Sounds of the 90s, Angela revealed she secured last-minute tickets "through a mate (of a mate, of a mate...)."

"Even at the time, you could feel it was the event of a lifetime," Angela recalled.

After securing her tickets, Angela and her boyfriend hopped in her car and drove to Knebworth and back in one night (due to Angela having to be on the Coronation Street cobbles for filming the following morning - she was playing the part of hairdresser Fiona Middleton at the time). Angela might have been one of the only sober people in the crowd, but that didn't stop her from having the time of her life, describing the whole event as "outstanding".

Oasis would carry on releasing new music throughout the rest of the 90s and 00s, but the magic didn't 'Live Forever' with the Gallagher brothers' fractious relationship eventually causing the band to split in August 2009.

16 years later, in one of the most unexpected twists in UK music history, Liam and Noel put their feuds (and egos) aside and reunited for a series of concerts, starting in July 2025.

With the band's popularity continuing to endure, could we see Oasis return to Knebworth for the concert's 30th anniversary in 2026?

While there were plenty more Britpop stars to be found in the charts of 1996 (with the likes of Blur, Pulp, Manic Street Preachers, Suede, Sleeper, and Echobelly all enjoying success) the year's biggest selling single came from an inspired cover by an American hip-hop trio.

Selling a whopping 1.3 million records, and at the time breaking the record for the most radio plays in a single week, Fugees (aka Wyclef Jean, Pras and Lauryn Hill) outsold all the competition, with Killing Me Softly.

• Watch the Fugees perform Killing Me Softly on Later... With Jools Holland (BBC Music YouTube)

Combing a cover of the 1970s track 'Killing Me Softly With His Song' (originally by Lori Lieberman, and made popular by Roberta Flack) a sample of A Tribe Called Quest's 1990 song, Bonita Applebum, a bass reggae drop, and Lauryn Hill's enchanting vocals proved to be a winning formula. It spent five non-consecutive weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart, twice knocking off football anthem Three Lions (more on that later!)

The track became an international hit, claiming the 'best-selling single of 1996' title not only in the UK, but also in Germany, Belgium, Iceland and the Netherlands.

The success didn't stop there, with Fugees bagging the 1997 Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group and the music video winning the MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B Video. The song was so successful, it was pulled from retailers despite being sat firmly in the UK Top 20, in an attempt to draw attention to their next single, Ready or Not, which went on to top the chart in September 1996. Also in 1996, the group's album The Score would peak at No.2 in the UK Album Chart.

Other acts to reach No.1 in 1996 included George Michael (Jesus to a Child and Fastlove), Peter Andre (Flava and I Feel You), Mark Morrison (Return of the Mack), Gina G (the UK's Eurovision entry Ooh Ah... Just A Little Bit) and a certain all-girl group who become THE big pop success story of 1996...

"It's crazy to think we started 1996 not knowing who the Spice Girls were," recalls Radio 2's Fearne Cotton, "And ended the year with them being the queens of the planet!"

It started with a "wanted" poster calling for streetwise, confident and dedicated 18 to 23-year-olds with the ability to sing and dance to audition for an all-new girl group. On March 4 1994, aspiring stars gathered into London's Dancework Studios where the search for a new girl band would start.

Mel, Mel B and Victoria were among the 10 girls who were narrowed down from 400 into the second round of auditions. There they met Geri (who had missed the first audition round due to a bad case of sunburn!) and were shortlisted alongside Michelle Stephenson to form a quintet. There, they moved into a house where they would receive vocal coaching and dance lessons to become the ultimate girl group.

When it became clear Michelle wasn't the "right fit" with the other girls in the group, she decided to leave. In a later interview with The Mirror newspaper she admitted "of course I regret not becoming a multi-millionaire - but I knew leaving the group was the right thing".

Emma Bunton was eventually introduced to the group and the girls formed a solid bond whilst living together in Maidenhead.

The Spice Girls were born, ready to change pop forever.

Their first single, Wannabe, climbed to No.1 in the UK Singles Chart within a fortnight of release. Fun, flamboyant and never once taking itself too seriously, it was the perfect introduction to the group, shooting them to worldwide stardom almost instantly. It wasn't long before the BBC's Top of the Pops magazine had christened each of the group with a nickname, and Baby, Scary, Posh, Sporty and Ginger Spice were born.

Fearne Cotton remembers wanting "to be them, to be their mate", while Kate Thornton, editor of Smash Hits in 1996, recalls a "gorilla-style" attack on the magazine's office, as the group demanded a front cover - something that quickly became a reality following Wannabe's success.

Two more No.1 hits, Say You'll Be There and 2 Become 1, plus a No.1 album Spice, followed in 1996, as the group became one of the year's biggest-selling stars in a matter of months. The nation was well and truly under the Spice spell!

Their success would continue throughout the next couple of years, with a follow-up album, a movie, and three consecutive Christmas No.1s, before the girls went their separate ways in the early 00s.

Football coming home, Gazza's goal - and subsequent 'dentist chair' celebration, a commanding victory over the Netherlands, Stuart Pearce's penalty redemption, and hope turning to despair at second shoot-out defeat of the 90s to the Germans.

The long hot summer of 1996 will forever be associated with Euro 96, three weeks of gripping football that saw England host the best teams and players from across the continent, as they battled it out for glory in the men's football European Championship.

Having failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup under Graham Taylor, England had turned to Terry Venables to oversee preparation for Euro 96. As host nation, this meant a couple of years of playing friendlies, and by the time the competition kicked-off, Venables was already serving notice, his successor Glenn Hoddle ready to take over for World Cup 98 qualifcaiton.

On top of this, leading striker Alan Shearer was suffering an international goal drought, and the tabloid media had turned on the team, printing photos of several players, including talisman Paul Gascoigne drinking on a pre-tournament tour of Hong Kong. A lacklustre draw with Switzerland in the opening match only added to the sense of impending woe.

But the England fans' mood changed with a 2-0 victory over Scotland, remembered for an amazing solo goal scored by Gazza, and a missed Scotland penalty where the ball inexplicably moved just before Gary McAllister struck it (apparently it was all down to illusionist Uri Geller) A 4-1 victory over the Netherlands, followed by a penalty shoot out victory over Spain, had the nation believing that England could finally match their 1966 World Cup win.

It wasn't to be though - a 1-1 draw with Germany was followed by penalty shoot-out heartbreak. Future England manager Gareth Southgate missed the decisive spot-kick, and German went on to triumph over Czech Republic in the final.

Meanwhile, Scotland’s campaign ended at the group stage, despite Ally McCoist’s goal securing victory against Switzerland. The Netherlands' goal in their 4-1 defeat to England saw them qualify for the knockouts ahead of Scotland – the two nations were tied on points and goal difference, but the Dutch had scored more.

England's men would eventually go one better and make the Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 finals, but victory in the competition has continued to elude them. Their counterparts in the women's team did finally ensure Euros success for the nation though, winning the 2022 and 2025 editions of their competition.

Every memorable summer needs an equally unforgettable soundtrack. In 1996 this came in the form of Three Lions by comedians turned football superfans, Frank Skinner and David Baddiel, alongside Ian Broudie’s Lightning Seeds.

Referencing famous moments from Gary Lineker and Bobby Moore, this very on-the-nose footy anthem summed up the national mood, mixing downtrodden pessimism with a dare to dream hope, in a way that no other sporting song seemed to have done before.

Three Lions has since gone on to become an English cultural gem, resurfacing whenever the nation appears on the brink of sporting success.

In the aftermath of the Euros, the competition's top scorer Alan Shearer secured a record-breaking move to his hometown team Newcastle United. The club were looking to bounceback from letting slip a 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League earlier in the year, when Man Utd boss Alex Ferguson's mind games got the better of Newcastle supremo Kevin Keegan.

In other sports, Nick Faldo won the Golf Masters, Stephen Hendry retained the World Snooker Championships for the fifth year in a row, Richard Krajicek and Steffi Graf triumphed in the Tennis at Wimbledon, while in Motorsport, Damon Hill won the Formula One World Drivers' Champions.

Elsewhere, Great Britain endured a fairly miserable time at the Atlanta Olympic Games, with reigning champion Linford Christie disqualified in the men's 100 metres final. Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent brought home the team's solitary gold medal, leaving Great Britain ranked 36th overall in the medal table. This disappointment proved to be the impetus for a revival of fortunes in subsequent Olympic Games.

"Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family."

Trainspotting - it's a film that defined a generation.

Following the often shocking and dark lives of drug-addicted friends in Edinburgh, Trainspotting is based on the novel of the same name written by Irvine Welsh. Following a move from the bustling streets of London back to Leith, Welsh felt like the book was his "last chance to do something creative", having no idea how successful the story would become.

Danny Boyle's film adaptation managed to capture the exciting, and sometimes harrowing, moments of being young in the '90s. Ewan McGregor's performance as Mark Renton put him on the map and led to roles such as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars franchise - a stark difference from Trainspotting's drug-addicted protagonist.

The cult-novel turned cult-film's soundtrack won a Brit in 1997, and featured the likes of Iggy Pop, Blur, Sleeper, New Order and of course Underworld's iconic Born Slippy (NUXX) - a song that quickly became the "heartbeat" of the movie.

Despite being shot in just seven weeks on a relatively low budget, the film's cultural impact holds up terrifically still, 30 years on.

• Watch the trailer for Trainspotting on YouTube

Whether you were chasing a hair-raising thriller or looking for an animated adventure suitable for the whole family - 1996 wasn't short on fantastic films for everyone.

Buzz and Woody reached UK cinemas in March 96, with Toy Story making history as the first feature-length film that was entirely digitally animated. At the time, Pixar weren't an established animation studio, and the film was a gamble for the business, but the much-loved movie proved to be a huge success with all ages and paved the way for four sequels over the years. The beautifully-produced animation changed the face of family cinema and is treasured by many 30 years on.

Movies that captivated the whole family didn't stop there. The witty adaptation of Roald Dahl's 1988 book Matilda follows a gifted child harnessing her telekinetic powers to manage her dysfunctional relationship with her family and excel in school. It brought us iconic scenes like Bruce Bogtrotter taking on an enormous chocolate cake - "you can do it, Bruce!" - to the mid-film montage of Matilda mastering her powers to Thurston Harris' Little Bitty Pretty One.

Matilda's story has since been adapted into a musical sensation by Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly, reviving people's love for Roald Dahl's modern fairytale.

American slasher franchise Scream introduced us to Ghostface for the first time in May '96. The film follows a group of friends who must put their heads together and use their horror movie knowledge to unmask a suspected serial killer. Using the perfect blend of suspense and satirical comedy, the film became a huge hit with viewers, cementing itself as a horror classic amongst fans of the genre. There have been six films in the franchise so far, with another in the works for 2026, 30 years since the first films' release.

It would be difficult to discuss films of the 1996 without mentioning action-packed spy movie, Mission: Impossible. Starring Tom Cruise, the film follows Ethan Hunt, a spy who takes the law into his own hands in a race to clear his name. The iconic soundtrack accompanied with the unstoppable stardom of Tom Cruise made the action film an instant hit. Following the success of Top Gun and Days of Thunder, Cruise found himself wanting to take action films to the "next level", and producing Mission: Impossible allowed him to do so. In an interview with Ali Plumb, he explains that the film "encompassed him to do everything he wanted as a human being and also as a film maker".

• Watch Tom Cruise on becoming Mission: Impossible star Ethan Hunt

The drama didn't stop there. Films like Fargo and Primal Fear fed the appetites of those seeking a crime thriller.

Fargo, starring Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi and William H. Macy, follows a ransom plot that unravels due to clumsy planning. It's often ranked as one of American film-making duo Joel and Ethan Coen's best films, highlighting their distinct style and winning them their first Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. The dark comedy set the blueprint for crime dramas to come, including the Fargo TV series and Breaking Bad.

Primal Fear follows Chicago's best lawyer, played by Richard Gere, who is employed to defend Aaron Stampler, played by Edward Norton, a suspect in the murder of an archbishop. The film was a box office success and earned Norton critical praise and an Oscar nomination, launching his career.

"Unfortunately, the rumours are true... from today, Take That is no more"

It's the moment that broke hearts across the nation. Following Robbie Williams' departure from the group the previous year, rumours had been swirling and the split was announced at a press conference.

• Watch the press conference where Take That announced their split.

Off the back of the announcement came the Take That helpline, something Radio 2's Fearne Cotton admitted to obsessing over for years now. Her dream? To hear from someone who actually dialled in seeking some comfort on the other end of the phone. Her wish was granted in her Sounds of 1996 special - with listeners revealing they were "reassured by the helpline" and told they "would be OK and to speak to others going through the same thing."

Gary and Mark both went on to successful solo careers, with Gary's debut single Forever Love topping the UK Singles Chart later in the year, and his 1997 album Open Road selling 2 million copies worldwide. Mark went on to win Celebrity Big Brother in 2002, beating the likes of Sue Perkins and Les Dennis in the public vote.

Fans were left yearning for a decade before Take That announced they were Back for Good - with Gary, Howard, Mark and Jason re-forming in 2006. In a shock move that delighted fans Robbie announced he was rejoining the boys for the 2010 album Progress.

Gary, Howard and Mark continue to this day as a three-piece, and will be taking their Circus tour back on the road later this year.

While the Spice Girls were breaking onto the pop scene and Take That were breaking up - dance music was continuing to dominate the UK Singles Chart, with a number of club classics crossing over into the mainstream.

As well as Underworld's Born Slippy (Nuxx), made famous by Trainspotting, Pianoman sampled Blur's Britpop classic Girls & Boys, Robert Miles released a trio of euphoric tracks Children, Fable and One & One, and Oasis star Noel Gallagher teamed up with the Chemical Brothers for the No.1 Setting Sun.

Elsewhere The Prodigy topped the UK Singles Chart for the first time with Firestarter and follow-up Breathe, showcasing Keith Flint's powerful vocals. Not only were the band a huge success in the UK, but they're often credited with helping break dance music into the mainstream in the US.

Other huge dance hits in 1996, included Faithless's Insomnia, BBE's Seven Days and One Week, Livin' Joy's Don't Stop Movin', Stretch & Vern's I'm Alive, and The Lisa Marie Experience's Keep on Jumping.

She might be the most famous sheep in the world?

Named after the country singer Dolly Parton, Dolly the Sheep achieved fame after becoming the first mammal to be cloned.

The story gained massive media attention, with global TV stations flocking to Scotland for their scoop of the story. Scientists were very proud of the experiment's success, and although it wasn't without speculation - if scientists could clone sheep, what next? The breakthrough was branded a real moment in history, with Dolly's birth representing years of hard work and a new era of medical research.

Dolly went on to have her own healthy lambs with a Welsh mountain sheep, David.

When you weren't listening to all the fantastic new music, watching future classics at the cinema, or cheering on your football team, there was plenty on offer on the small screen in 1996.

There may only have been four terrestrial channels to choose from (Channel 5 would launch in early 1997) but TV still had us hooked in this era before multiple streaming services competed for our attention.

Here are six notable TV debuts this year:

Changing Rooms - the home improvement show, famed for its unmissable room reveals at each episode's climax, which made a star of Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.

Never Mind The Buzzcocks - the music quiz where no star was safe from host Mark Lamarr's put-downs.

This Life - Andrew Lincoln, Amita Dhiri, Jack Davenport, Daniela Nardini and Jason Hughes starred in this new drama about twenty-something law graduates embarking on their careers while living in a house-share in London.

The Girlie Show - Featuring Radio 2's Sara Cox in her first TV presenting role, alongside Sarah Cawood, this Channel 4 show took over the slot vacated by early 90s favourite The Word.

TFI Friday - with then Radio 1 Breakfast Show host Chris Evans at the helm, this show marked the start of the weekend for the next four years with an archaic mix of live music, celebrity guests and offbeat features such as It's Your Letters and Freak or Unique, where audience members displayed special talents.

Silent Witness - Debuting on 21 February 1996, Amanda Burton, as forensic pathologist Dr. Sam Ryan, was the original lead in this crime drama, which returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer for a 29th series, in February 2026.

Elsewhere, The Simpsons was shown for the first time on the BBC, having built up a cult following on Sky. Meanwhile, Paul McGann starred in a Doctor Who TV movie special for one night only - it would be another nine years before the show was fully revived by the BBC. And it was all change at Live and Kicking, the BBC's Saturday morning show for kids, with Zoe Ball and Jamie Theakston taking over hosting duties.

Finally, one of the year's most memorable moments was witnessed by a TV audience of millions. Pulp's Jarvis Cocker famously invaded the stage at the Brit Awards during Michael Jackson's extravagant performance of Earth Song. If the moment couldn't get any more 90s, after being arrested Jarvis engaged the services of lawyer-turned-comedian Bob Mortimer, as Bob recounts to Radio 2's Scott Mills in this clip.