It was the bottom of the tenth inning and all the Chicago Cubs needed was one out to win, presenting them with a chance to break a 108-year World Series drought back in 2016. All Cubs fans, including me, were on the edge of their seats as Kris Bryant fielded the baseball to Anthony Rizzo to get that final out. The second Rizzo threw his hands up into the air, I started screaming at the TV in joy, my Cubs hat falling off my head and onto the ground. 

Since the Cubs won the World Series, I have been longing for the same nostalgia that has been lost. Not only did the Cubs performance decline after 2016, but so did the originality of 2016’s media; the Snapchat dog filter that was a staple of every selfie, the memes online, and the bright colors that composed every outfit seemed to disappear. Everything since has seemed so basic and sterile in the media since 2016 left.

But since the clock struck midnight, welcoming 2026, the nostalgia from 10 years ago seemed possible again.

Online searches with the keyword “2016” have increased by 452 percent, according to BBC News.  On TikTok, #2016 has reached 2.4 million posts and 38.1 million posts on Instagram. These posts bring back nostalgia through compilations of photos and videos from 2016, but along with these posts, one of which the Cubs Instagram made with 2016 World Series memories, trends dating back to 2016 have been newly uncovered, according to BBC News.

The catalyst for this trend comeback may be due to Artificial Intelligence (AI), according to Forbes Magazine. The internet seemed to lose its authenticity with the introduction of AI. It has been hard to go on social media and avoid an AI deepfake, making everything online feel robotic to me. Nothing has the personal touch of 2016— no selfie-enhancing filters, no bold outfits, no upbeat pop music, just AI slop.

Since AI has become prevalent, I have been yearning for a personal touch to be brought back into the media, and I have seen that in music. Zara Larson, Zayn Malik, and Justin Bieber among many composed 2016’s soundtrack, and now, Larson’s “Lush Life” and Bieber’s “Love Yourself” have been popularized again and have been featured in new posts, according to BBC News. I have even started to look further into Larson’s discography, making specific pop music compilations to honor my 2016 self.

 In the fashion world, not only will my 2016 Cubs hat make an appearance again, but ballet flats are predicted to as well, according to Vogue Magazine. Ten years ago, black ballet flats were a staple in all my outfits, and now in 2026, I have recently bought a pair of light pink flats. Bomber jackets are also predicted to be popular again, which were my main form of warmth in 2016. Fashion seems to be gaining more of a human touch with this trend as fewer outfits seem to consist of the same look: a black top, a pair of light wash jeans, and white shoes.

Not only will I be bringing back out my Cubs hat that holds all my 2016 memories, but also constructing upbeat pop playlists run by Larson and Malik while wearing my ballet flats with pride. I will not let myself dwell on past nostalgia in 2026, but instead bring 2016’s authenticity into my life. As the Cubs said it best, 2026 is the new 2016.