Ten cultural and tech trends to watch in 2026

Reporters and editors at The New York Times highlighted 10 trends they expect to shape 2026, spanning fashion, technology, entertainment and politics. Dumb phones as status symbols: A growing market for lower-tech phones could free people from constant notifications, but may also become a class marker — raising the question of who can afford to be less reachable.

Everything is marketing: Movie promotion will extend beyond red carpets, with characters acting as social-media influencers, selling merch, posting virally and appearing in pop-up stores. The war on A.I. slop: As AI-generated images proliferate, audiences may turn away from the slick, overly polished “slop” of some machine outputs and embrace wabi-sabi aesthetics that celebrate imperfection.

The White House soap opera will continue: Reporters expect ongoing personal and romantic drama around the White House, with gossip spilling into public news and more dishy reports likely. No longer cool to be cold: Cultural shifts may favor emotional intensity over playing it cool, with intentional dating, bold declarations of love and growing distrust of AI companions.

Pipes will have a moment: Following a cigarette resurgence, 2026 could see a turn to older, bulkier tobacco rituals like pipes and snuff as a nostalgic style statement.

Key Topics

Culture, Dumb Phones, Artificial Intelligence, Wabi-sabi, Kalshi, White House