For nearly two decades, Ringo Starr has celebrated his birthday not by asking for gifts, but by encouraging the world to pause for a simple message: Peace and Love.
That tradition continued July 7 as the legendary Beatle marked his 86th birthday with his annual Peace & Love celebration at Beverly Gardens Park in Beverly Hills, where hundreds of fans, family members, fellow musicians and special guests gathered beneath sunny California skies before joining Starr in his signature salute at exactly noon.
With cameras rolling for a worldwide livestream, Starr once again invited people across every time zone to flash the peace sign and say—or simply think—the words “Peace and Love,” creating what has become a global birthday tradition observed in dozens of countries. The annual event has grown into an international celebration since Starr first launched the initiative in 2008, turning one of rock’s biggest birthdays into a heartfelt call for unity.
Looking relaxed in his trademark dark sunglasses and flashing his familiar peace signs, Starr thanked the enthusiastic crowd before leading the countdown to noon. As the clock struck 12, the park erupted in cheers as fans raised their hands in unison, creating a sea of peace signs surrounding the former Beatle.
The birthday gathering has become one of Southern California’s most uplifting annual music traditions, attracting celebrities, longtime friends, members of Starr’s extended musical family and Beatles devotees from around the world. Last year’s celebration was highlighted by Beverly Hills officially proclaiming “Ringo Starr Day,” recognizing both his extraordinary musical legacy and decades of humanitarian advocacy.
The celebration comes during another busy year for Starr. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer recently released his latest album, Long Long Road, continuing his collaboration with producer T Bone Burnett while demonstrating that his creative energy remains undiminished more than six decades after Beatlemania changed popular music forever. He also continues touring with his ever-popular All Starr Band, bringing together an all-star lineup of veteran musicians for concerts that blend Beatles classics with hits from throughout rock history.
Although the annual birthday event lasts only a short time, its message resonates far beyond Beverly Hills. Social media fills with photos of fans making the peace sign from cities across the globe, all answering Starr’s invitation to create a worldwide wave of optimism.
At 86, Ringo Starr remains not only one of music’s most beloved icons but also one of its most enduring ambassadors of kindness. While generations know him as the drummer who helped change popular music forever with The Beatles, every July 7 he reminds the world that perhaps his favorite refrain is also his simplest:
Peace and Love.
