Is 2026 the New 2016? A Cultural Reset?

In early 2026, a trend mirroring 2016's pop culture sensibility has emerged, marked by new music from artists like A$AP Rocky and a renewed focus on figures such as Kanye West and Travis Scott. This period in 2016, which saw landmark releases from Kanye West, Frank Ocean, Rihanna, and Drake, is seen as foundational for the subsequent decade.

The shift towards streaming platforms around 2016 changed how audiences discovered music, moving from big-name stars to dispersed micro-celebrities. This era also saw the organic rise of protest anthems like Kendrick Lamar's "Alright," a feat that feels increasingly rare in today's fast-paced online culture.

Many perceive 2016 as the last time popular culture felt cohesive before fragmenting into algorithmic niches. The current fascination with this era, amplified by books like W. David Marx's "Blank Space," suggests not just nostalgia but a mourning for a lost sense of connection and a shared human lineage.

However, the current generation's focus on 2016 carries a hopeful undertone. It suggests a desire to move past the political and cultural turbulence of the 2020s, potentially offering a chance to "do over" and correct past missteps.