Global Celebrations for Marilyn Monroe’s Centennial

On June 6, 2026, Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday is being celebrated globally with various events honoring her legacy. Unlike the controversial gathering organized by President Trump for America’s 250th birthday, which includes U.F.C. cage fights and a self-centered rally, Marilyn Monroe’s centennial festivities focus on her enduring cultural impact.

These celebrations include a prestigious exhibition at a Paris film museum titled “Cent Ans de Fascination,” a show at the National Portrait Gallery in London, a concert in Japan, and a display featuring costumes and personal artifacts at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. In Palm Springs, a joyous look-alike contest welcomes participants of all kinds, celebrating the influence of the iconic 26-foot-tall statue, “Forever Marilyn.”

Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jeane Mortenson, overcame a challenging childhood marked by a mentally ill mother, an absent father, numerous foster homes, and experiences of sexual abuse. Despite these adversities, she transformed herself from the 1948 Castroville, California, Artichoke Queen into one of the most enduring symbols of Hollywood glamour. She famously described Marilyn as a veil she wore over her true self, Norma Jeane.

Her famed rendition of “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy remains a notable moment in American history. Marilyn’s journey through life was often difficult, similar to her character Sugar “Kane” Kowalczyk in “Some Like It Hot,” but she continues to receive admiration and love, long after her passing.