Top 5 Trends to Watch in 2026

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Next year will bring trips around the Moon, major football tournaments, and a heated battle for control of the U.S. Congress. Here are five key events to keep an eye on in 2026.

Climate: Will the world respond?
Global temperatures are already hitting record highs, and projections suggest things could get even warmer in 2026. Last year was the hottest on record, and the UN estimates there’s an 80% chance at least one year before 2030 will surpass that. Despite setbacks like the U.S. boycotting COP30 in Brazil, multilateral efforts on climate change show resilience. Climate advocates emphasize that 2026 must be the year international climate diplomacy transforms itself, as countries respond to Colombia’s invitation to a groundbreaking conference on phasing out fossil fuels in April. Experts are curious if worldwide youth-led protests will escalate to push more aggressive climate action.

Major football World Cup
The largest FIFA World Cup ever will feature 48 teams competing across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with the U.S. hosting 11 venues. The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, and tensions between President Trump and co-host nations over tariffs and immigration could influence the competition’s political atmosphere. France, led by Kylian Mbappe, aims to avenge their 2022 loss to Argentina’s Lionel Messi, while Spain hopes for a strong showing. Cristiano Ronaldo, age 41 during the tournament, has indicated this will likely be his last World Cup, with hopes of securing Portugal’s first global title. New entrants like Cape Verde, Uzbekistan, and Curacao will debut, but ticket prices may be steep due to dynamic pricing strategies.

Gaza, Israel, and Netanyahu’s prospects
A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began on October 10 after two years of conflict, but its sustainability remains uncertain. Trump’s peace plan for Gaza leaves many issues unresolved, such as troop withdrawals, rebuilding efforts, and governance. The UN Security Council’s endorsement could lead to deploying an international force, though both Israel and Hamas oppose the idea. Meanwhile, Netanyahu, now 76, plans to run again in elections scheduled for late 2026 amid a fragile coalition. Many Israelis want accountability for the October 2023 attack that ignited the war, and a significant portion oppose his request for a presidential pardon to escape corruption trials. To maintain support from far-right allies, Netanyahu may consider military options against Hamas or Hezbollah, risking escalation.

Control of the U.S. Congress
Voters will head to the midterm elections in 2026 amid high stakes for Trump, Congress, and the nation. While Trump isn’t on the ballot, a strong Republican showing would reinforce his influence. However, if his favored candidates falter, it could expose cracks in his movement and complicate successions. The GOP’s hold on Congress is tight, with narrow margins in both chambers depending on key battleground states like Michigan, North Carolina, and Ohio. Democrats see opportunities, especially since the party of the incumbent often loses seats in midterms. Republicans face a challenging path to maintain the House, and Democrats aim to flip four Senate seats needed to gain control. Full Republican dominance could cement Trump’s legacy, but Democratic control would slow his agenda and potentially trigger ongoing investigations.

Humans returning to the Moon and space exploration
While a manned lunar landing may not happen in 2026, NASA plans to launch Artemis II—the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon—by April at the latest. This marks a major step toward restoring American footprints on the lunar surface, a vision initially launched during Trump’s first term. China aims to land on the Moon by 2030 and is progressing with its Chang’e 7 mission, targeting the lunar south pole, along with testing its crewed spacecraft, Mengzhou, next year. India, which sent a robotic mission to the Moon in 2023, is planning to send astronauts into orbit by 2027, signaling an expanding global interest in space exploration.