26 Predictions for 2026

Hello! Every year in January, I like to make a list of predictions for the year. I think I started this in 2024, where I made 24 Predictions for 2024, then 25 Predictions for 2025, and now we're at 26 Predictions for 2026 (you see the pattern).

Before we get started, I wanted to take a look back at my predictions for 2025 and see if any of them came true. You can see the "25 Predictions for 2025 from a Social Scientist" here.

So which ones came true? There were some breakthroughs in cancer treatments, as well as a new breakthrough in treatment for Huntington's Disease. The USA didn't ban TikTok (and boy was the drama interesting there), there are still tensions in the Middle East and lots of global conflict, there is a rise in child-free lifestyles (DINK), obviously Swift and Kelce didn't split, but they got engaged lol, there were multiple reports of UFO sightings around the world, Melbourne saw a rise in home invasion crimes, fast fashion and AI are being boycotted, I wrote that Trump or JD Vance will do something insane but that's their whole agenda so I guess we can say that one came through, and I mistankely said Albo wouldn't get re-elected but he did. I don't think any of my other predictions have come true yet, BUT I think some of them are in the works.

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26 Predictions for 2026

1. AI slop will become ubiquitous (i.e., everywhere).

2. Trump will k*dnap someone else.

3. Someone will be able to get through the redaction on the Epstein Files (or there will be someone "corrupt" who will go ham and un-redact them on the inside.

4. Trump will come down with some awful illness and potentially pass away.

5. GTA 6 will get delayed until 2027.

6. We will see what happens between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.

7. There will be more "age verification" online, reducing the illusion of online anonymity.

8. Useless items become the new "luxury".

9. More people will turn to religion and spirituality.

10. History will repeat itself with the new beauty standards of "skinny". Yucky.

11. More and more products will start to add extra protein (food and drink).

12. Cringe is more likely to be embraced and celebrated, rather than looked down on. I hope this means more mockumentary humour and shows!

13. We will find some new living creature (either in the sea, on land, or maybe an alien).

14. There will be a major cyber attack, most likely linked to AI.

15. JD Vance and Usha will split, or Vance will cheat with Erika Kirk.

16. We will see a rise in thrifting and DIY.

17. There will be a new blind box trend.

18. I will become rich, wealthy, and healthy. Hehe.

19. Self-sufficiency skills will trend like making things from scratch, growing our own food, etc.

20. 2026 will have more bad fires around the world.

21. There will be a giant earthquake somewhere.

22. There will be another Sydney Sweeney scandal.

23. Boho fashion will make a comeback.

24. Matcha won't be as popular as it was in 2025.

25. More people will start using Substack.

26. Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau will get engaged.

What do you think will happen in 2026? Let me know in the comments!

Ash