Remember the Snapchat dog filter? It basically ruled 2016, popping up everywhere and evolving as the late 2010s went on. Alongside it were the flower crown, the rainbow-vomit filter, and the chaotic face-swap that never quite worked right. I was around eight that year, too young to be allowed on Snapchat, and I remember feeling so jealous of the girls who got to play with all those filters.
Even though I was little, the era is still so vivid in my mind. Everything felt bright and new. Clothes sparkled, fabrics were soft, and even school had its own fun feel to it. There was that specific morning feeling, you know it; the cool, sleepy air that wasn’t truly cold, just the kind that hinted a warm, sunny day was coming. Afternoons glowed, and when we came back from recess, the air smelled like warm concrete. Winters were chilly, but since none of us had cars, icy roads weren’t our problem. Summers were hot and humid, but somehow never unbearable. I don’t remember ever feeling too hot or too cold; it was like the world was perfectly tuned to my comfort.
The fashion was everything, too. Off-the-shoulder tops that I was absolutely not allowed to wear, skinny jeans that practically defined the decade, baseball caps, chokers, ankle boots, and of course, Justice. I, like many other girls, lived in Justice. The glittery hoodies, the neon, the little charms on zippers, it all felt like the peak of style. Walking into that store made me feel way cooler than I should have.
And something I should say is that none of it felt excessive back then, It was just what everyone wore, what everyone wanted. You’d see girls at school comparing the colors of their Justice leggings or showing off a new sequined backpack like it was a prized possession.
Another thing to mention is the music. People always bring that up when they talk about that era. Coldplay, Adele, Justin Bieber, The Chainsmokers, Fifth Harmony, Sia, Justin Timberlake, these artists were everywhere, shaping the mood of the mid-2010s without even trying. The feeling of 2016 songs is hard to replicate, songs nowadays are defined as “new waves of innovation” with a focus on genre-blending, while 2016 had more peak pop and trap music characterized by hits from Drake, Rihanna, and (of course) Justin Bieber.
All of that nostalgia made it easy for people to start looking back, so it wasn’t surprising when the internet decided to revive the era altogether.
The “2026 is the new 2016” wave kicked off on December 31st, 2025, when TikTok user “taybrafang” began posting clips of his younger 2016 self. Not long after, another creator, “joebro909,” suggested that January 1st, 2026, should be the cultural reset day, an open invitation to revive the trends and memes of 2016. TikTok ran with it. Suddenly, the Bottle Flip Challenge, the Mannequin Challenge, Niantic’s Pokémon Go, and old viral memes like “catch me outside, how ’bout dat” were circulating again.
Now, a few months in, the momentum has faded. The trend is slipping out of the spotlight, and plenty of people have already moved on.
But the real question is: why do we keep reaching back for the past? The answer is nostalgia. It’s that bittersweet blend of joy and sadness, the joy for the way things felt then, and sadness knowing those exact moments can’t be relived. Everyone encounters nostalgia eventually. And just as people now look back fondly on 2016, there’s a good chance that, a decade from now, 2026 will feel just as nostalgic to someone else.
I was wondering what people think about the “2026 is the new 2016” trend, and so I asked Sydney McCabe and Addison Smitley for their opinions.
Sydney McCabe said, ”I’m obsessed with this trend, and I really hope people go all-in with it. It already subsided a little, but I’m fully expecting summer to bring it back in full swing. To me, the whole thing feels like this collective exhale — like we’re finally shaking off the lingering after effects of COVID. It’s that moment of realizing that everything happening online or in the news isn’t actually shaping our day-to-day lives (at least not yet), and we’re craving happiness again. And for so many people, the last time they remember feeling that uncomplicated joy was around 2016. I was young back then, but I remember wishing I were a teenager so I could actually participate in the vibe instead of just watching it. And honestly, my favorite part of the trend is all the little nuances. The fashion is great, sure, but bring back the filters, the fun novelty snacks, the charcoal ice cream, the unicorn frappuccino, and most importantly, the music. Also, yes, dabbing and the whip and nae nae absolutely count.”
Addison Smitley simply said, “I think bringing back the past is going to do us a lot of good in the long run. Getting to relive our younger days will be really therapeutic, and I’d love to see it be fully revived this summer.”
Both of them said they loved the idea, each in their own way, and honestly, I can’t help but agree. I’ve built up some pretty high expectations for this summer, and if it doesn’t live up to them, I know I’ll be disappointed. But here’s the thing: if you want your summer to feel like the summer of 2016, you can’t just sit back and hope it happens. You have to actually make it happen.
That means putting in the effort, especially when it comes to money. The fun isn’t free, and at this point, especially for us seniors. We can’t exactly go running to our parents for cash without getting that weird, “aren’t you too old for this?” look. So if we want the same vibes, the memories, the freedom… we’re going to have to earn it.
