Is 2026 the New 2016? All About the Throwback Trend Taking Over the Internet
- - Is 2026 the New 2016? All About the Throwback Trend Taking Over the Internet
Tabitha ParentJanuary 15, 2026 at 8:49 AM
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ambardriscoll/Instagram;Taylor Swift/Instagram;eli.rallo/Instagram
2016 is the new 2026 trend. -
People online are calling 2026 the new 2016
Almost as soon as the clock struck midnight on Jan. 1, 2026, users across social media were posting nostalgic videos and images reminiscing on 2016
It's become a viral social media trend, with everyone from celebrities to influencers getting in on the action
It's hard to believe it's been 10 years since 2016 — and it seems like the internet is having a hard time believing it as well.While the start of a new year usually marks an occasion to set sights on the future and prepare for the year ahead, this year, netizens were primed to do the exact opposite.Almost as soon as the clock struck midnight on Jan. 1, 2026, users on social media started posting content, touting 2026 as the "new 2016" and sharing throwback snaps of themselves from the year or videos of themselves using Instagram's iconic Rio de Janeiro filter (which was a staple facet of Instagram posting at the time).
Kendall Jenner/Instagram
Kendall Jenner.
The new trend has nostalgia at its heart, as those participating are often expressing a longing for what many are describing as a simpler time.It's become a viral trend — despite how antithetical it might feel to call something nearly 10 years old a trend — with users posting compilation videos of images representative of the year (think lots of oversaturated photos of palm trees, people throwing up peace signs, pics using the Snapchat dog filter and more) as well as their own photos of themselves from 2016.
In fact, the hashtag #2016 now has 1.7 million posts under it on TikTok.So what's driving this blast from the past? Read along to find out about where the viral social media trend originated from.
Why are people calling 2026 the new 2016?
Ariana Grande/SnapChat
Ariana Grande.
Since it's officially been 10 years since 2016, people online have decided we're overdue for a resurgence of the vibes of that year.The trend is ultimately rooted in nostalgia, and many online are reminiscing on 2016 as a "simpler" time.One video, posted by TikTok user @taybrafang on Dec. 31, 2025, anxiously anticipated 2026's arrival with a montage of curated clips of viral 2016 moments and relics (if you will) from the time.The video included pictures of the app Musical.ly (which later merged into TikTok), a lip-syncing app popular at the time, pictures of girls wearing flower crowns, a screenshot of the 2016 mega-hit song "Panda" from rapper Desiigner, and more."A decade ago TONIGHT," @taybrafang wrote in text over the video."Commenting to stay on 2016tok," one user, whose sentiments were echoed by many in the comments, wrote.Other videos participating in the trend see users returning to social media and viral meme culture's roots, posting pics using the Snapchat dog ear filter, doing the popular bottle flip challenge, and busting out their old skinny jeans, chokers and lace bralettes for their clips.Songs like "Panda," Black Beatles (the soundtrack to the then-popular Mannequin Challenge) by Rae Sremmurd, "Lean On" by DJ Snake and Major Lazer, "Starboy" by The Weeknd and "Love Yourself" by Justin Bieber have also made a comeback on TikTok, acting as the soundtrack to those looking to relive their 2016 dreams.
What were some of the biggest cultural events of 2016?
Taylor Swift/Instagram
Taylor Swift.
Perhaps one of the reasons why online users are seeking out the nostalgia of 2016 so intently is that it was a year of great cultural significance.In case you forgot what was going on at that time, here's a little refresher:Despite the waxing poetic going on about 2016 on TikTok at the moment, not everything that happened in 2016 was necessarily positive. In fact, the phrase "F--- 2016" was even trending during the year, making it even more interesting that the year is having such a nostalgic impact on social media users today.On a larger scale, 2016 was the year of Brexit as well as the 2016 United States presidential election, and is also remembered by many as the year that brought the deaths of such pop culture legends as Alan Rickman, Gene Wilder, Carrie Fisher, Prince, George Michael, Muhammad Ali and more.2016 was also the year that gorilla-turned-online-meme Harambe was shot and killed at the Cincinnati Zoo. Pokémon Go was huge, as millions of people across the globe searched outside together for rare Pokémons to capture.Beyoncé released Lemonade — enough said. And we can't forget about the clown sightings or Taylor Swift's "Bleachella" moment.Online, social media culture was continuously developing and expanding.Music.ly, the TikTok precursor, saw everyone getting in on the lip-syncing action. The Mannequin Challenge was everywhere, and almost every celebrity at the time got in on the action. We can't forget the “Water Bottle Flip” Challenge, inspired by one high school student's performance at his talent show.
Who is getting in on the 2016 trend?
Everyone from celebrities to content creators is getting in on the viral trend.Influencers like Eli Rallo and Brett Chody shared throwback snaps of themselves from 2016 on Instagram, and celebrities like Charlie Puth have been getting in on the fun."Heard it was 2016 again?" the singer captioned a highly-filtered video of himself lip-syncing to his 2016 hit with Selena Gomez, "We Don't Talk Anymore."Hailey Bieber made a nostalgic reference to 2016, posting a clip to her TikTok of her lip-syncing to the 2016 song by MadeinTYO, "I Want (Skr Skr)." In the video, Bieber pans to her long-time pals, Kendall Jenner and Justine Skye.Fans flooded the comment section of her video, sharing photos of the girls from when they were younger in 2016.
"BBLU 2016," Bieber captioned the post, which stands for "Bad B------ Link Up."
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
