Celebrities and netizens alike are taking a collective trip down memory lane as the nostalgic “2026 is the new 2016” trend sweeps across social media platforms.
Thousands of users have been revisiting old photos, playlists, and memories as they paid tribute to the year 2016 and the trends that highlight how much has changed and stayed the same over the past decade.
Several celebrities and public figures have also joined the wave, including Miss Universe Philippines 2025 Ahtisa Manalo, Andrea Brillantes, Bretman Rock, Ryzza Mae Dizon, Joshua Garcia, Maris Racal, Gabbi Garcia, River Joseph, Ralph De Leon, Awra Briguela, and former Vice President Leni Robredo, along with many others who took part in the online nostalgia, either through their own posts or through netizens resurfacing their old content.
Social media star Niana Guerrero caught attention after fans noticed that most of her profile photos had barely changed since 2016, sparking jokes about being “stuck” in the said year.
Singer and ex-Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) housemate Klarisse de Guzman has yet to post a throwback herself, but that did not stop netizens from digging through her old Instagram posts, reviving witty captions and humorous comments that reminded fans of her early online personality.
Beauty queen Kylie Versoza also trended after her once-viral answer about not having a boyfriend at the time from an old interview clip with broadcaster Noli de Castro resurfaced.
Meanwhile, self-proclaimed “Pambansang Marites” had netizens abuzz over his throwback post that reminisced about his bond with actress Ella Cruz from 10 years ago.
Beyond celebrity posts, netizens have also been revisiting the pop culture moments that defined 2016.
The trend brought back memories of Instagram and Tumblr’s peak influence, when the platforms shaped fashion, fandom culture, and aesthetics for an entire generation.
From carefully curated feeds and wacky face filters to fandom-driven communities centered on movies, TV series, and music, many netizens credited the iconic social media networks as a major force behind their 2016 online identities.
@user.namee.aa you just had to be there. we are so back im obsessedddd #2016 #celebrities #instagrampost #nostalgic #viralvideo ♬ Lean On – Major Lazer / MØ / DJ Snake
Films and TV series, both local and international, were also pulled back into the spotlight, as fans revisited movies that once dominated theaters and social media discussions from a decade ago.
One of the most talked-about topics is the triad of former Kapamilya loveteams of the era: KathNiel (Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla), JaDine (James Reid and Nadine Lustre), and LizQuen (Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil).
All three pairs have since gone their separate ways, with each star now pursuing individual projects or working with new onscreen partners.
South Korean entertainment also made a strong comeback in online conversations, as fans revisited iconic K-dramas and K-pop hits from 2016 that once dominated playlists and still tug at heartstrings a decade later.
Pop music from 2016 is also enjoying a revival as local and international stars such as Sarah Geronimo, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, and Sabrina Carpenter were frequently mentioned by fans who have been replaying their hit songs and admired the fashion and hairstyles that defined the era.
Such topics drove music streaming platforms to feel the impact of the trend with Spotify reportedly seeing a surge in streams of decade-old tracks, as listeners actively searched for playlists centered on 2016 hits from international pop stars.
