October 9 marks a shared birthday for late Beatles legend John Lennon and his son Sean Ono Lennon. John would have turned 86 in 2026, while Sean celebrates his 51st birthday.
John was born on October 9, 1940, and Sean was born on the same date in 1975, when his father was 35. Their shared birthday continues to connect two generations of the Lennon family and brings renewed attention to John’s music and legacy.
John’s eldest son, Julian Lennon, marked the occasion with a birthday tribute on Instagram, according to reports. The post reportedly included family photographs and the caption “Happy Birthday. Only Love.” The tribute brought attention to the family’s connection as fans remembered John and celebrated Sean’s birthday.
Sean also has a new family milestone to celebrate. He and his longtime partner, musician and model Charlotte Kemp Muhl, welcomed their first child, a son named Aurelius, on September 1, 2026. Sean is celebrating his first birthday as a father just weeks after the arrival of his son.
The birthday also comes ahead of the release of Power to the People, a major archival collection featuring John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s 1972 One to One concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York. The collection is scheduled for release on October 10 through Universal Music Group.
Produced by Sean Ono Lennon and his team, the collection features remixed concert recordings and previously unreleased material. Its deluxe edition includes nine CDs, three Blu-ray audio discs and a 204-page hardback book exploring the music and history behind John and Yoko’s work during that period.
The One to One concerts were held on August 30, 1972, to raise money and support efforts to improve conditions for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The recordings preserve an important part of John and Yoko’s musical and humanitarian work.
Birthday celebrations are also taking place through radio and public art. SiriusXM’s Beatles Channel is running special programming throughout the week, including a two-part programme in which Sean discusses his favourite tracks by his father and The Beatles.
Meanwhile, Yoko Ono’s Imagine Peace Tower on Viðey Island in Iceland is scheduled to light up for the 20th time on October 9. The artwork was created in memory of John and carries the message “Imagine Peace.” Its annual lighting marks his birthday and continues the peace message associated with his life and work.
More than four decades after John Lennon’s death in 1980, his music and message continue to be remembered through family tributes, archival releases and public celebrations. This year’s shared birthday also marks a new chapter for Sean as he celebrates becoming a father.
