About

The 2016 Trend or 2026 Is the New 2016 is a nostalgic social media trend based on the idea that 2026 is the new 2016, denoted by several micro-trends and memes, such as sharing throwback images of yourself in 2016 vs. 2026, posting videos and memes using nostalgic content from 2016 (similar to the Great Meme Reset), and more.

The phrase "2026 is the new 2016" started spreading online in December 2025, and the trend took off on sites like Instagram and TikTok shortly after 2026 began. As the trend carried on, some social media users began posting videos denouncing the idea of making 2026 the new 2016, citing problems with living in the past and pointing out bad things that happened in 2016.

Origin

Online discussions about 2026 being the new 2016 started as early as August 12th, 2025, when Redditor DependentImmediate40 made a post on the /r/genz^[1] subreddit titled, "2026 is gonna be the NEW 2016," gaining about two upvotes and 30 comments in five months. In the post, they wrote:

Maybe this is just massive amount of cope here. But I truly believe and feel 2026 may be the new 2016 but for not only us zoomers but even gen alphas too. Think about it. GTA 6. The most highly anticipated entertainment medium of this decade is releasing that years and it’s gonna be a sensational release. Not only that but battlefield also is back with the latest bf6. Like 2016 when battlefield 1 came out and it was the peak of the franchise. Not only that, but FIFA World Cup 26 is happening as well (idk for any of you sports fans out there)

Also also, shrek 5 is happening after a 15 year long absence of its last film release.

While it’s hard to predict how things will go during 2026. I can truly say with confidence that 2026 may be something special.

The idea of 2026 being the new 2016 continued to spread, inspiring several posts on Instagram^[2][3] in October 2025. On October 29th, the Antioch Community High School website Sequoit Media^[4] published an article titled, "Could 2026 be the new 2016?" about how "Trends from 2016 are slowly starting to make a comeback for the new year coming up."

The article notably highlights Kylie Jenner doing a 10-year anniversary release of her Kylie Cosmetics makeup.

On November 29th, The Teen Magazine^[5] published an article titled, "Why Does Everyone Want to Live 2026 Like 2016?"

On December 17th, 2025, Redditor DNPlourent made a post on the /r/decadeology^[6] subreddit sharing a meme parodying a "Big Shiny Tunes" album cover that reads "2026 is the new 2016," writing, "How do you feel about people trying to make 2026 the new 2016?" garnering over 750 upvotes and 375 comments in a month.

Spread

Posts about the idea of 2026 being the new 2016 gained more attention through December 2025 and January 2026, including posts criticizing the concept.

On December 20th, 2025, Instagram^[7] user lookingoverus posted a video writing, "you can romanticize it all you want but I remember what we were doing in 2016," showing several images of trends from around 2016 that they consider cringe, including dabbing, Pokemon GO and fidget spinners, garnering over 78,000 likes in a month.

On December 29th, Instagram^[8] user tayeeb.h posted a video slideshow of images that evoke a feeling of 2016, captioned, "2026 = 2016," garnering over 105,000 likes in about two weeks.

On December 31st, 2025, Instagram^[9] user calithekid posted a video edit captioned, "Goodbye 2015 hello 2016," garnering over 13 million views in about two weeks.

On January 1st, 2026, Redditor Killa_J made a post to the /r/decadeology^[10] subreddit about the trend, writing, "this trend is mostly people who weren’t even full conscious during 2016 romanticizing a year most people consider to be shit. It is great to move on and think about the future and/or live in the moment," gaining over 265 upvotes and 110 comments in two weeks.

On January 3rd, X^[11] user @toydrill posted screenshots of several indie RPGs, writing, "if people are joking about 2026 being the new 2016 or whatever can we have a 'tumblr user still makes RPG maker games the old fashioned way' renaissance," garnering over 20,000 likes in just under two weeks.

On January 11th, 2026, TikToker^[12] @_raydream posted a video criticizing the idea of 2026 being the new 2016, encouraging viewers to strive to end global warming in 2026 instead, garnering over 496,000 views in five days.

2016 Pic Trend

One of the staples of the 2016 trend involves sharing old photographs from 2016 and comparing them to photos from 2026. This trend largely took place on Instagram.

For example, on January 15th, 2026, YouTuber Jacksepticeye made a post on Instagram^[13] sharing several photos of himself and friends from 2016, writing in the description, "2016. What a year!" garnering over 441,000 likes in a day.

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References