Having officially started the second half of the decade, our surroundings continue to progress. Meanwhile, the internet has been backpedaling. According to recent trends, “2026 is the new 2016” might be here to stay.
What gained popularity at the end of 2025 became reality as 2026 began. Internet trend participants have shared old pictures of themselves and their day-to-day photos from a decade ago, recapping the memorable time. Celebrities, companies, bands and other groups have contributed to the overnight rise of the trend through Instagram, often leaving their followers asking, “Was that really 10 years ago?”
Welcome back to 2016: Gen Z is dabbing, trading fidget spinners, taking on the bottle flip challenge and recording Vines. Teenagers popped in wired headphones and turned on Drake, Justin Bieber, The Chainsmokers or Rhianna as they dominated the music industry. Young adults styled velvet materials with skinny jeans, complemented by statement jewelry, as they ran out the door in their white and black Adidas. Sound familiar?
Some say this is not just a prediction but reality, while others claim that the internet is simply feeling nostalgic. As trends typically resurface, generations have seen a handful of 2016 gems follow this pattern and return, some identically and others with a new twist.
10 years ago, ballet flats made a full-fledged comeback. Typically with a wrap-around strap on the ankle, ballet flats were paired with skinny jeans or a skirt. On the contrary, single-strap ballet flats are now styled with ruffled socks and baggy denim jeans. Both styles have been staples in mastering the casual-chic aesthetic.
Since 2016, we have yet to find the ability to sit still. In late 2025, fidget toys resurfaced in a whole new craze. Fidget spinners, a hand toy that dominated the 2016 era, have transitioned into Needohs: colorful, squishy and textured balls that keep our hands occupied and our minds focused. While not in stock, they are certainly found in school hallways, as the latest Gen Z trend.
In Dec. 2016, Apple released the first generation of AirPods. But what was used before the wireless invention? During the entirety of 2016, wired headphones were the original experience for private audio. Since then, there are now eight different versions of AirPods. Upgrades have begun to include noise cancellation, hearing health tests and personalized spatial audio. With all of these high-tech features, why have we gone back to wired cords? Maybe it is the infinite battery life, the simplicity, as a fashion trend, or the hundreds of dollars saved; regardless, tech users have returned to their roots.
Every generation has taken on the new year in different ways. Some are eager to join in on the past trends, while others cringe at the idea of regressing. 2026 has just begun, and there is no telling what iconic trends might return. But regardless, follow the decade-old advice: Keep calm and carry on.
