Why Is Everyone Obsessed With 2016 Again in 2026? Viral Nostalgia Trend Explained

The Internet has decided that 2026 is the new 2016.

All across TikTok, Instagram and Threads, users have been posting throwback edits, Snapchat dog filters and clips set to mid-2010s hits, bringing back the era of flower crowns, Pokémon Go, Musical.ly and the Mannequin Challenge.

For many people, 2016 represented the last time the Internet that felt more fun, messy and unserious, well before algorithms and more curated feeds.

“We had just started to evolve past Tumblr-era cynicism, and from a social media perspective, the algorithms were less aggressive, and surveillance was less of a concern,” Stylus trends editor Katie Devlin told Vogue of this new phenomenon.

“Of course, rose-tinted glasses play a factor, but in hindsight, there is a whimsical and carefree nature associated with that era that people are really nostalgic for.”

Celebrities and influencers like Demi Lovato, Charlie Puth and Hailey Bieber are leaning into the nostalgic trend as well, posting old photos, recreating viral moments and soundtracking clips with songs from a decade ago, tapping into that same carefree energy.

Check out some viral examples inside…

Keep reading to find out more…