When looking at the news these days, it can be hard to be hopeful about the new year.

So much so, that you might have noticed on social media how many have resorted to looking at the good old days of 2016 as a way to escape.

While romanticising the past is not always the best way forward, there are learnings we can gather from the younger versions of ourselves who existed back then. All may not be lost in 2026.

Some of the mentioned trends & topics to keep an eye out for in the new year:

- 10 trends for 2026 by The Economist

- The Joy Report by Intersectional Environmentalist

- Some cool movies coming out in 2026 by Rotten Tomatoes