Stemming from a collective nostalgia for 2016, the social media phrase “2026 is the new 2016” has emerged and gained popularity online. A BBC report found that searches for “2016” on TikTok have skyrocketed by 400%. A decade after 2016, the phrase reflects an urge among members of Gen-Z to return to 2016, which many consider a carefree year when daily life seemed less overwhelming and more playful. Online, the trend has appeared in a variety of ways, from relistening to music to using popular filters from that year.
Several factors have combined to make 2016 culturally distinct and memorable.
One of 2016’s most iconic characteristics was its music. Drake’s album “Views” produced songs like “One Dance” and “Hotline Bling;” Beyoncé’s album “Lemonade” also dominated streaming platforms. The Chainsmokers’ “Closer” was released the same year, spending 12 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and Rihanna’s “Work” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for nine consecutive weeks.
In 2016, Fetty Wap’s hit song “Trap Queen” rose in popularity, breaking numerous records and becoming one of the most iconic soundtracks. Now, as he returns to the music industry following his release from jail on Jan. 8, his iconic “1738” sound is resurfacing on playlists and social media. This decade-long resurgence further reminds online users of the song’s 2016 release, creating a sense of deja vu.
Even beyond today’s pop culture mirroring that of 2016, people are finding similarities between 2016 and 2026 in the natural world. Similar to 2016, when snowfall piled up to three feet in the Mid-Atlantic, 2026 has had blizzards and icy rain that disrupted travel and closed schools.
Sophomores Shou Iimi and Anderson Campello say that 2016 was nostalgic for many because of significant cultural trends. Shou explains that water bottle flipping was one of the many memorable internet trends that appeared during the year. The trend became ubiquitous, lending its name to mobile apps like “Bottle Flip 2k16” that were downloaded millions of times. Iimi also recalled the popularity of “dabbing” during the time.
Despite its simplicity, dabbing exploded in mainstream media, popularized by artists like Migos and NFL Quarterback Cam Newton, who began celebrating touchdowns with the move. By 2016, dabbing had spread globally: Hillary Clinton dabbed on the Ellen Show, and politicians dabbed in various countries’ legislatures.
Campello recalled the video game “Pokémon Go,” perhaps the most unifying aspect of 2016. Released in July of that year, the augmented reality game became a sensation. Pokémon Go also created spontaneous communities of strangers gathering at “PokéStops” and parks. Within days of its release in Sydney, a gathering attracted over 2,000 players; another in Chicago’s Millennium Park drew around 5,000; and a zoo in Bristol that held a Go event received more players than its capacity and had to turn away players.
Beyond cultural highlights, the nostalgia for 2016 may run deeper.
A report by Forbes magazine stated that “nostalgia might look like pop culture fun; in reality, it’s a symptom of workplace fatigue.” This helps explain why the wave of 2016 nostalgia is happening now – the people who spent their youth in the 2010sare beginning to feel the pressures of adult responsibilities. Furthermore, people often look to the past for comfort, which is a factor of why the 2016 culture is resurfacing in 2026. The simple thought of “ten years” or a decade may also play a factor in why people are suddenly becoming reminiscent. A decade marks a life shift and a new era. Ten years ago is distant, but close enough to remember vividly. It is far enough to feel “simpler,” but not so far that it feels irrelevant.
