Why Is Everyone So Obsessed With 2016 Right Now?
party like it's #2016
By Victoria Lewis | 15th January 2026Ahh, the good old days. 2016. It was an era of dog Snapchat filters, Kylie Jenner lip kits, Tigerlily bikinis, and the duck face. And though it may feel like it was just yesterday, 2026 marks ten whole years since the glory days of 2016, and it’s brought on a collective wave of nostalgia.
In a true blast from the past, the internet is currently obsessed with anything and everything 2016, bringing back the pop-culture moments, the fashion faux pas (velvet chokers, I’m looking at you), and the heavily filtered IG posts that shaped the year millennials collectively agree was the best of our young lives.
But for those left scratching their heads at 2016’s unexpected resurgence, we are here to answer the eternal question: What was so good about 2016 and why are we revisiting it ten years later?
Where’d this trend come from?
Brace yourselves – this year marks a full decade since 2016. Sorry, Gen Z, but Millennials need a moment to reminisce. Basically, since the clock struck midnight on December 31, social media has been flooded with posts declaring 2026 the “new 2016”, with everyone pulling pics from their 2016 archives and sharing them for the world to see (btw, we are totally here for it). We’re talking dabbing videos, VSCO-filtered flicks, and Tumblr-esque poses. The trend has exploded, racking up 1.7 million videos hashtagged #2016 on TikTok. This is not just a trend but a full-on cultural reset.
Celebs are also jumping on the trend, using it as a moment to reflect, sneak in a subtle brag about their career progression, and #throwback to some of their hottest viral moments – and we can’t help but feel nostalgic. Kylie Jenner, the real ‘it’ girl of 2016, has even go far as changing her profile picture to her with pink hair. Iconic.
A trip down memory lane
So much happened in the wonderful year that was 2016, so let us jog your memory.
In internet culture, Snapchat filters were the O.G. beauty filters; you couldn’t go more than five minutes on your phone without a quick dog-filter selfie to get tongues wagging – and the stars were in on it too.
Long before the days of TikTok, the Mannequin Challenge was a mainstay at social gatherings, and YouTubers were basically celebrities to us.
As for music, well, it was thriving. This was Ariana Grande’s ponytail era, the year of Justin Bieber’s Sorry, and the moment The Weeknd was truly taking over. Meanwhile, closer to home, Splendour in the Grass was in its prime, headlined by Flume, who also took out Triple J’s Hottest 100 with Never Be Like You.
Festivals everywhere were filled with huge names and big boho energy, and Vanessa Hudgens solidified her grasp on the “Coachella-core” aesthetic – which we then watched spread across the globe in real time.
Everywhere you looked, no outfit was complete without the shiny glimmer of a flash tattoo, a half-up, half-down ’do, a boho stack of necklaces, and ripped denim shorts.
Closer to home, here in Brisbane, 2016 marked the beginning of Instagramming your food – the era of OTT desserts, when Doughnut Time and Mr Fitz basically took over the city. It was a simpler time, and there was always room for a sweet treat and a great photo.
So, why are people saying 2026 is the new 2016?
So what does all this talk of 2016 actually mean? I think this trend is a millennial call to action – a reclaiming of our feeds and getting back to our roots.
Similar to the desire to “go analogue” or switch off from screens, this trend symbolises a collective shift to bring back the days when time moved a little slower, attention spans were longer, and, let’s be real, for millennials, high school responsibilities paled in comparison to the realities of adulting in 2026. In 2016, the possibilities felt endless.
We say, you can still recreate the carefree energy of that special summer of ’16, but in 2026 – and this is how we are doing it.
- Chuck on Triple J’s hottest 100 from 2016
- Channel your inner 2016 child and throw a 2016-themed party (mannequin challenge compulsory)
- Switch out the TikTok doomscroll and watch a YouTube vid
- Gather the group chat and book a live music gig
- Live in the moment, but take candid pics
- Indulge in dessert, you won’t regret it
And though we will still have full-time jobs, home loans, and a cost-of-living crisis to deal with when this trend is over and done – for one shining moment, we can stay dancing in a Coachella field of dreams, Snapchat flower crown overhead. Thanks for the memories, 2016 – you’ll always have a special place in our hearts. 2026, here we come!
Imagery: @kendalljenner / @rarebeauty / @jadetunchy
