By Isabella Pizzimenti
Four months into 2026, we have seen a resurgence in people reflecting on the happier times in their lives. Anyone who has been on social media lately has probably seen the trend “2026 is the new 2016,” and honestly, I am all for it! As much as I enjoy nostalgia, there is a question I have to ask: why now? The 2010s were the years of my childhood, and looking back, they truly hold some of my best memories from growing up. 2016 in particular stands out as a prime year for new music, entertainment, and an almost perfect balance between social media and real life. It was the era of the Snapchat dog and flower crown filters, Instagram’s rebrand, and YouTubers dominating the internet. 2016 was iconic for many reasons, but I think the 3 most important things that made 2016 the year that it was are the music, the fashion, and entertainment/pop culture.
- THE MUSIC!
The resurgence of EDM and house music, with artists like The Chainsmokers, Twenty-One Pilots, and R&B hits by Rihanna. Along with these tracks came best-selling albums like “Lemonade” by Beyoncé and “Views” by Drake, which helped shape this year significantly. The music of 2016 is nostalgic not just because we grew up with it, but also because it is widely regarded as one of the last great years for incredible music, as the most popular songs of that year alone have their own distinct sound. Influenced by dance-pop, electronic, and R&B, it created this feeling of an eternal summer.
Here are some of the top tracks of 2016:
- “Let Me Love You” by DJ Snake and Justin Bieber
- “Sorry” by Justin Bieber
- “One Dance” by Drake
- “Work” by Rihanna
- “Roses” by The Chainsmokers (Featuring Rozes)
- “Hands to Myself” by Selena Gomez
- “Can’t Feel My Face” by The Weeknd
- “Lean On” by Major Lazer and DJ Snake (Featuring MØ)
- “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” by Mike Posner
- “PILLOWTALK” by ZAYN
- FASHION!
“This was Coachella, 2016…” is a sentence spoken by model and reality star Kendall Jenner when being interviewed by Vogue in 2022. Becoming a viral TikTok audio also led to people using the sound to post their own fashion choices during this era. Mostly poking fun at themselves with these old outfits, the overall message of the trend was looking back at a simpler time when being yourself wasn’t looked down upon but embraced. The best way to describe it was the revival of boho chic, a matte makeup look (no blush to be seen and a sharp cut crease), and high-waisted jeans. Other trends going on at the time were chokers, the green bomber jacket, and denim mini skirts making their comeback (although they’re not as long this time around). Personally, I can live without the high-waisted jeans, but what I can’t live without is the confidence that defined the era where expressing yourself through fun trends, that did not make anyone feel left out and no one had to be perfect. Growing up in the early 2010s, Gen Z is the last generation to have any sort of tween media. With stores like Justice, the early days of Claire’s, and Charlotte Russe, there was a clear distinction between childhood and teenage culture. The tween space was fun, and even if we were not teenagers yet, there was a short few years where you could still be a kid and not feel like you had to grow up so fast.
- Entertainment
You may have heard of people recalling the summer of 2016 as one of the greatest summers, but what truly made it so great? Entertainment-wise, this was a record-breaking year for movies, pop culture moments from when celebrities felt like celebrities, and beyond. With the era of Vine coming to an unfortunate end, the big move onto YouTube brought creators like Liza Koshy, Zane Hijazi, Heath Hussar, and David Dobrik to the platform. This was the year when YouTube reached its peak, with top YouTubers making their way in as a new type of celebrity. Beauty gurus began to shine as well, with stars like Alisha Marie, Nikki Tutorials, and James Charles. Lifestyle YouTubers like Remi Cruz, My Life is Eva, Emma Chamberlin, and, who could forget, the Sister Squad with the Dolan twins—just to name a few. Pop culture trends also lasted way longer, like bottle flipping, the ALS ice bucket challenge, the mannequin challenge, and the massive downloading of Pokémon Go. Along with that, movies had an incredible run with blockbuster hits like Captain America: Civil War, La La Land, and the animated hit Moana. Why is the purpose of listing these moments? Well, these trends were not just trends. There were ways that people from all across the world came together with shared experiences that made everyday life feel more meaningful and a lot of fun.
Looking back, what truly made 2016 feel so special is that it is a reminder of a time that was lighter, slower, and a lot of fun. It was truly the perfect blend of pop culture moments that united people through the internet, and it was still a time when social media was balanced with everyday life. 2026, like the new 2016, is not about reliving the same year again but having the sense of simplicity and true connection with others. Living in the moment, where life was not