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grown ups summer
grown ups summer
Life > Experiences

‘Grown Ups’ Summer Is The Nostalgic, Analog Vibe For 2026

For the last couple years, everyone has been all about hot girl summer. And don’t get me wrong, every summer should be hot girl summer, if that means feeling your best and spending your days having a fabulous time. There have been quite a few different iterations of hot girl summer — in 2023, it was Barbie summer; the year after, it was Brat summer. So, with that in mind, what’s the vibe for 2026? Without a truly defining pop-culture moment on the horizon to make this summer’s niche clear, the default seems to be just generic hot girl summer. But… perhaps a change is in order. Dare I say, it’s time for a Grown Ups summer? 

Yes, when I say Grown Ups, I mean the iconic Adam Sandler movie from 2010 — one of the greatest summertime movies of all time, IMO. If you’re out of the loop and wondering WTF I’m talking about, walk with me on this one. 

I had no idea what I thought the vibe of summer 2026 would be until about a week ago, when I was sent the same TikTok by, like, six different people. The video in question is a montage of hilarious moments from the Grown Ups movie, with the caption, “Forget hot girl summer, I want a grownups summer.” This video, posted by @drawings.by.jenna_890 now has over 5 million likes and almost 22 million views. 

@drawings.by.jenna_890

#fy #grownups #hotgirlsummer

♬ Escape (The Pina Colada Song) – Rupert Holmes

Apart from just being hilarious, this video says a lot about how folks are feeling this summer, and what kind of vibes we can expect. In the movie, the group of friends spends a weekend together at a lake house, spending time together reconnecting via outdoor activities like boating, a rope swing, and a dangerous game of “arrow roulette” (IYKYK). Basically, a Grown Ups summer is all about spending time with your friends, being silly without caring how you look, and being outdoors (and just generally not on your phone). 

With the rise of everything analog, and so many people seeking nostalgia, it doesn’t really come as a surprise that the standard hot girl summer is kind of on the outs. TBH, I’d much rather play mermaids in the pool with my friends than try to create the perfect bikini photo on the beach anyway. 

All in all, Grown Ups summer is a state of mind. It’s not something you need to do or to buy; it’s just spending the summer embodying the characters of Sandler and friends in Grown Ups. In preparation, I will be listening to “End Of August” by Noah Kahan and making summer camp-style bracelets. I might even buy a pair of basketball shorts.

Julia Dwyer

Toronto MU '25

Julia is a National Life Writer and the Managing Editor for Her Campus TMU. She has lived in Toronto her whole life. She is passionate about women and the things they create, book adaptations, and really good stories with flawed, loveable characters. When she's not procrastinating, studying, or buying expensive coffee on campus, you can find her rewatching Pride and Prejudice, reading everything that Emily Henry publishes, and wishing she could be eating apple pie.