6 January – Gaston Thorn takes up his post as President of the European Commission.
2 February – A new newspaper, Haut, is launched.
14 February – Hereditary Grand Duke Henri marries Maria Teresa Mestre.
4 April – Representing Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Pascal finishes eleventh in the Eurovision Song Contest 1981 with the song C'est Peut-Etre Pas L'Amerique.
23 April – Rights of confidentiality that patients enjoy with doctors are applied to bankers and clients to help promote Luxembourg as a financial centre.
14 June – The Soviet Union's Yuri Barinov wins the 1981 Tour de Luxembourg.
7 July – The European Parliament passes a resolution to 'review' the seat of the Secretariat being in Luxembourg City.
31 July – A Belgian fighter jet collides with the 285 m Dudelange Radio Tower, destroying the tower and killing a couple in a nearby house.
7 August – Luxembourg files an appeal with the European Court of Justice against the European Parliament's resolution of 7 July.
15 September – Christian Calmes is appointed Grand Marshal of Luxembourg.
10 October – Communal elections are held across Luxembourg.
31 December – Camille Polfer steps down as Mayor of Luxembourg City after only two years, due to ill health, and is succeeded by his daughter, Lydie the following day.
1 June – Tessy Scholtes, kareteka
16 September - Francesco Tristano Schlimé, pianist
11 November – Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg
16 September – Émile Colling, politician
1981 in Luxembourg Wikipedia (Text) CC BY-SA
