"2026 is the new 2016" is a phrase linked to a social media phenomenon that began in late 2025 and gained attention in early 2026. It focuses on nostalgia for 2016, with people sharing photos, videos, and other posts that showcase the fashion, music, and online trends of that year.[1][2] It has appeared mainly on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram and has been followed by online users, including celebrities and influencers.[3] Many participants in the trend have shared where they were in 2016 or why the year mattered to them. It is also associated with the retro style and with oversaturated colours, including bright Instagram photos and Snapchat filters that were popular at the time and seen as fun.[2]
The phrase reflects nostalgia for a time predating the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread online misinformation, and the increasing ubiquity of artificial intelligence (AI)–generated content. Social media apps such as Dubsmash and Vine were often used in 2016, and cultural moments such as the Mannequin Challenge and Taylor Swift at Coachella took place. Successful songs by Drake, Justin Bieber, and the Chainsmokers were released.[4][5] The hashtag #BringBack2016 has become popular as people recall mid-2010s trends; TikTok has noted increased searches for "2016", over 55 million videos are using 2016-style filters, and Spotify playlists titled 2016 are seeing increased playback.[6] In narrative media, Marvels' Captain America: Civil War debuted in 2016, cementing the studio's cinematic dominance at a time when the franchise appeared unstoppable, while Netflix released the first season of Stranger Things.[2]
The phrase appeared online in late December 2025 and became popular at the start of 2026, 9-10 years after 2016, which many in Generation Z remember.[7] The phrase gained attention in December 2025 through the Great Meme Reset, a social media movement, when searches for it increased worldwide.[8] On December 31, TikTok user @taybrafang posted a video featuring a montage of popular 2016 moments and items from that year.[1] Another TikTok user @joebro909 suggested on January 1, 2026, as a "reset day" to return to internet trends from 2016.[8] People shared old photos, videos, and collections that showed trends from the mid-2010s. Common visuals included Snapchat puppy-dog and flower-crown filters, overly bright selfies, and low-resolution images typical of early smartphone cameras like iPhone.[9][4]
TikTok helped the trend spread. Users recreated or referenced viral moments from 2016, including the Bottle Flip Challenge, the Mannequin Challenge, Niantic's Pokémon Go, and internet memes like "catch me outside, how 'bout dat."[10] The BBC reported that searches for "2016" on TikTok increased sharply in the first weeks of 2026, and millions of videos used filters from that time.[11][12]
Music from 2016 also featured as part of the trend. Songs like "Panda" by Desiigner, "Black Beatles" by Rae Sremmurd, "Broccoli" by DRAM and Lil Yachty,[13] "Lean On" by Major Lazer and DJ Snake, "Lush Life" by Zara Larsson and "Starboy" by The Weeknd were used as background music. American rapper Fetty Wap was popular in 2016 and his release from jail reminded people of that year, particularly his song "679".[14] An Instagram post jokingly said, "They let Fetty Wap out of jail, it really is about to be 2016 again."[15] Fashion from that year, including chokers, skinny jeans, tie-dye shirts, and festival-style outfits, also appeared in many posts.[16]
