As the final chapter of 2025 comes to a close, we begin to look back on the beloved elements of pop culture from this star-studded year. Legendary albums were dropped from superstars Lorde,Taylor Swift, and more as long-awaited sequels to fan favorite films broke the box office. 2025 had a host of memorable moments in pop culture, film, television and music, including the release of the final season of Stranger Things. The conclusion of such a huge year is often hard to face; however, when feeling sad about the end of an iconic era in pop culture, it is important to remember notable projects on the horizon for 2026.
Music
Whether it’s your favorite artist’s new release or the song that has reached new heights on Tiktok, music can be a defining factor in relevant pop culture. As we already know, 2026 is set to boast exciting releases from celebrated (and brand new) artists.
Album: Charli XCX, Wuthering Heights
The ringleader of 2024’s iconic “brat girl summer”, Charli is back with a new album created for the upcoming Wuthering Heights movie starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. This time around, Charli’s fresh beats and trap style synthesizers are meant to convey emotions felt by the famous Bronte sister. Set to be released on February 13th, Wuthering Heights promises a darker, more gothic sound in relation to Charli’s earlier work, and with singles “House” and “Chains of Love” already trending online, it is projected to be a hit.
Album: Hillary Duff, Luck…or Something
The defining star of 2000s Disney Channel, Hillary Duff released her first single in ten years this November, breaking the internet. While this return to music appeared to be a huge surprise to fans, Duff claimed it was carefully planned and intricate, as she finally knew it was a time where she was “one hundred percent ready to return to music”. Luck… or something will release on February 20th, 2026 alongside a docuseries directed by Sam Wench, the mastermind behind Swift’s End of an Era. The album is believed to be her response to many fan’s questions as to how she survived the industry at such a young age and continues to thrive.
Album: Louis Tomlinson, How Did I Get Here?
Louis Tomlinson’s first album since 2022’s Faith in the Future, How Did I Get Here is to be released on January 23rd. Earlier this year, the former OneDirection star released singles “Lemonade” and “Palaces”, setting the tone for a more upbeat album than his previous works. Tomlinson has hinted that the album itself was inspired by his recent trip to Costa Rica, and he is excited to share the project with fans, claiming it has allowed him to become the artist he always hoped to be.
Movies
There really is nothing like a trip to your favorite movie theater. The past few years have yielded massive releases such as Barbie, Wicked, Superman, and more, so all eyes are on 2026 to see what the next biggest blockbuster will be. Luckily, the current schedule of releases for Disney and beyond hosts many promising and long-awaited films for 2026.
Movie: People We Meet on Vacation
Based on Emily Henry’s best-selling novel, this love story led by Hunger Games breakout star Tom Blyth and My Lady Jane’s Emily Bader will be released on Netflix on January 9th. The film follows Poppy and Alex, two seemingly opposite best friends who spend a one week vacation together annually. However, as they get older an event occurs that derails their usual routine. Audiences who love the best-friends-to-lovers trope will definitely want to tune in for this exciting romance!
Movie: Wuthering Heights
Based on Emily Bronte’s classic novel, Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi star in this gothic love story that hits screens this February. While the film has racked up some controversy for its casting choices, it has still solidified itself as a highly anticipated release, especially with Charli XCX crafting the soundtrack. Emerald Fenell, director of Saltburn and Promising Young Woman, has taken on the task of directing this classic, which will open on February 13th.
Movie: Scream 7
Do you like scary movies? After a long stretch of production and a loss of cast members, Scream 7 is finally coming to the big screen! However, Neve Campell’s Sidney is armed with a new task this time – protecting her daughter from the wrath of Ghostface. While it is unclear whether or not this movie will conclude the franchise, the star-studded cast promises has an allure for fans of all ages; alongside Campell, McKenna Grace, Matthew Lillard, Isabel May, Courtney Cox, and Joel McHale all star in the latest edition to this revered franchise.
Movie: Devil Wears Prada 2
Sequel to the beloved 2000s movie, Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep return for The Devil Wears Prada 2! With its current release date set as May 1st, the movie will likely outline the power struggle between Miranda Priestly and her former assistant Emily Charlton as they battle for advertising revenue. For a while it was unclear whether this project would come to fruition, given that the lead actresses themselves had doubts about returning, so it will be exciting to see the film come to fruition.
Movie: Supergirl
Building off of the success of Superman in theaters this past summer, Supergirl will release this upcoming summer to test the promise of this franchise. An adaptation of the comic book miniseries released in 2021, House of the Dragon’s Milly Alcock is playing Supergirl, a young woman raised on the disastrous planet of Krypto with the powers of super strength, super speed, and flight. While celebrating her 23rd birthday, Alcock’s Supergirl witnesses a terrible tragedy that sets her on a quest for revenge. Additionally, David Corenswet will reprise his role as Superman within this new installment. Supergirl is flying into theaters on June 26th.
Movie: Moana (Live action)
While it may seem like just yesterday that the original Moana came out and defined an era with its catchy tunes and gorgeous animation, Disney is adding to its ever expanding catalogue of live action remakes with Moana! Produced by Lin Manuel Miranda and original voice of Moana Auil’i Cravalho, Moana intends to make a splash in theaters on July tenth with a familiar story refurbished by stunning, new visuals.
Movie: Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey
Based on a book famously read in middle and high school classrooms, The Odyssey is a long-awaited film that will bring to life the classic Greek epic of the same name. Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Robert Pattison lead this remarkable cast, and the movie is currently the most expensive to produce of Nolan’s entire career. With filming taking place all over the world, The Odyssey is anticipated to be rich in its cinematography and likely a hit to rival 2023’s Oppenheimer. The release date is set for July 17th, 2026.
Movie: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
One of the most long-awaited films for me personally, Sunrise on the Reaping is set to follow the devastatingly beautiful story of fan-favorite character, Haymitch, during his own Hunger Games, years before Peeta and Katniss stepped into the arena. This movie has been in the works for a while and has been long requested by fans, given that a release date for the film was put out before the novel it is an adaptation was even released. Moreover, internet hype was this film has reached an all-time high, with many of the castings being announced by Instagram posts with alluring “burning page” visuals. The cast, lead by We Were Liars star Joseph Zada, includes a promising mix of newcomers to the industry as well as A-List names.
Television
With streaming apps such as Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+dominating the television scene, it is always a battle to see which one will receive the most viewers. Luckily, 2026 already promises the release of new seasons for beloved television shows (and an excuse to spend days binging).
TV: Bridgerton, season four
One of the most popular shows on Netflix to date, Bridgerton returns with season four! Premiering January 29th, this season will follow Benedict Bridgerton and his highstakes romance with Sophie. The story is meant to be an adaptation of the third book in the series; however, features of Colin and Penelope’s married life as well as Eloise will be very prevalent, with showrunners claiming they want the siblings to feel as present in relation to the main love story as possible.
TV: The Night Agent, season three
Set to release February 19th, the new season finds Peter Sutherland on a new adventure investigating a Treasury Agent with sensitive information. His mission to uncover this information is often thwarted by journalist Isabel, but the pair may need to learn to work together if they want to finally learn the truth. Season three will premiere on Netflix on February 19th and consist of ten episodes.
TV: The Boys, final season
Back for its fifth and final season, this dark satire follows a group of superheroes that are not who they seem. While little footage of this season has been teased so far, it is believed to follow The Boys’ ongoing fight with Homelander, who has taken over the United States government and will do anything to keep Supes in control. Often gory and unbelievably dark, showrunners of The Boys have based the show around real-life political events in the United States and intend to continue this motif going into its final season. The first two episodes drop April 8th.
TV: Euphoria, season three
Set to release sometime in April 2026, the third and possibly final season will be looking a little different that captured the hearts of millions. Stars Zendaya, Hunter Schaefer, and Jacob Elordi return to a version of their lives post high school. While fans are uneasy about the bizarre new plotlines as well as the absence of Angus Cloud, the finale to Euphoria is sure to draw attention.
TV: The Bear, season five
One of my personal favorite TV shows of all time, the final season of this beloved and celebrated series is set to premiere in June 2026. While not much is currently revealed about the plotline and direction of the season, season four’s cliffhanger ending has many fans curious as to what direction the show will take, especially given Jeremy Allen White’s Carmy taking a step back. However, despite many changes that may be occurring between characters, White has confirmed that the show is sticking to its rapidly paced filming schedule, with production likely beginning January 5th.
The remarkable trends that 2025 began in movies, music, and entertainment will not end as the clock strikes midnight on the 31st. If anything, 2026’s thrilling lineup for all things pop culture and entertainment can be motivated to get through the cold winter months ahead. Personally, I am beyond excited for the movie adaptation of Sunrise on the Reaping, as I have wished for this particular story to be created since I first read the Hunger Games series, but I also cannot wait to see the new seasons of Bridgerton and The Bear, and maybe even gather up the courage to go see Scream 7 in theaters!