A Look Into 2026

Believe it or not, 2025 is slowly coming to an end. While some of you might be sad, don’t be! 2026 is set to be one of the most exciting years this century! In this article, I will talk about the top 10 events to look for in 2026. So buckle up, grab your popcorn, and start reading!

10. 40 Years of Top Gun

This famous movie came out in 1986, 40 years ago. The storyline follows a young pilot who is accepted into the top Naval Aircraft school known as Top Gun. He starts as a brash and selfish snob, but after a crazy plot twist (watch the movie), he realizes how risky and inconsiderate he was, and transforms into a changed man. This is an oldie but a goodie, and a movie for the ages.

9. 30 Years of Pokémon

In February 1996, Nintendo released a video game that would become famous around the world decades later. Pokémon debuted as a video game, but in recent years, it has also been released as a card game, Pokémon Go!, and so much more! While the game may have died down a bit now, it is not rare to find a Pikachu sweater or a Charizard phone case on an average day. Pokémon continues to be a big part of many people’s lives today.

8. 100 Years of Haribo 

When you think about gummy bears, you immediately think of those tiny candies bursting with flavor as you suck on them. The first thing that comes to my mind is Haribo’s Goldbears, a trademark product of the successful German company. Of course, there are also many other types of Haribo, including Starmix and Sweet n’ Sour Snakes, but Haribo is a memorable brand still found in many stores, including Lakeside’s own cafeteria!

7. 80 Years of the NBA

What started as a small competition with only 11 teams has grown to one of America’s most popular sports leagues with 30 different teams. The big leagues are a dream for many young hoopers around the world, and it has produced some of the best basketball players the world has ever seen, like Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James. To all basketball fans, I hope this season is extra special for you.

6. 25 Years of the Harry Potter Films

This is a fast-paced series of movies based on J.K. Rowling’s book series Harry Potter. It follows a young boy named Harry Potter, who is a kid taken care of by his aunt and uncle, who treat him terribly. One day, Harry gets a letter from a school for magic called Hogwarts. He learns that his parents were a witch and wizard, and he attends the school, where he is, for once accepted for who he is. This thrilling tale featuring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson is a must-watch and a true classic.

5. T20 Cricket World Cup  

While not as popular as other sports in America, cricket is still a very popular sport around the globe. In fact, cricket is the second most-watched sport in the whole world! Similar to baseball (though much, much older), cricket is a popular sport in England, Southern Asia, Oceania, and Africa. The World Cup will be held in 2 countries, India and Sri Lanka. In 2024, India won it all, but the question is, who will win it next? Will India go for 2 wins in a row, or will we have a new champion? We will find out soon.

4. Super Bowl LX

The 60th edition of the Super Bowl is set to be a big one, with all 32 teams set to be in the race. It will be set in the Bay Area, in the home stadium of the San Francisco 49ers (boo!) Levi’s Stadium. Football is the most popular sport in America, and is watched by millions of fans every year. While the odds don’t favor the Seahawks, I hope that they might be able to make it this year. Fingers crossed!

3. 250 Years of America

This 4th of July, the United States of America will celebrate its Semiquincentennial, which is a fancy way to say 250 years. It will mark the day that the US officially declared independence from the British and became its own country. Since then, there have been many events over these 250 years, but America has become a nation that we call home.

2. 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympic Games  

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! 2026 will mark the year of the 25th edition of the Winter Olympic Games, held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy. This is the first time that 2 cities have shared the Winter Olympics, and we are geared up for it. Spanning from the 6th to the 22nd of February, it is set to be a crazy 17 days! I hope you're ready, because this is going to be snow fun!

1. 2026 FIFA World Cup

It’s World Cup time! The FIFA World Cup is set to start on the 11th of June and run till July 19th. It will be hosted by 3 nations for the first time. The games will be held in the US, Canada, and Mexico, and some will be in Seattle! The number of teams has also been expanded to 48, and the biggest sport in the world will be the talk of the summer here in North America. Will defending champions Argentina keep their crown? Will newly qualified teams make their mark? Who will be the champion? We will find out this summer. For more information, read “Get Ready for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the US”. 

Thank you for reading my article. I hope that you enjoyed it. Keep reading the Leo!