We’re welcoming 2026 and all it has to offer with open arms — especially after the year we all had in 2025. And even though 2026 presents a fresh start, it also marks the 10-year anniversary of 2016… or as many folks like to call it, “the good ole days.”
If you had to describe the year 2016 in one word, it would probably be awesome! Just imagine where you were as Pokémon Go took over the gaming world, President Barack Obama served out his final year in office, and even the Chicago Cubs won the World Series. Oh, how times have changed. Back then, Rihanna was still releasing music, and no one had COVID-19 anywhere on their radar.
So before we jump into the future, we’re taking a look back at one of the most memorable years in recent history. Bring your popcorn and prepare for the nostalgia tour of your lifetime!
Barack Obama’s Last Year in Office
Before President Donald Trump was elected to office in 2016, triggering waves of protests and public outcry, former President Barack Obama still had one more year left in his second term. Obama’s final year was mostly focused on his foreign policy and maintaining a promising economy.
Unemployment was at a record low, racial tensions had eased and Obama was prepared to hand over a solid country to his successor. By the end of his term, the country largely approved of the first Black president’s handle on America, according to Gallup polls.
2016 Fashion
Now, let’s talk fashion.
Streetwear, ’90s nostalgia and bomber jackets all shaped the style of 2016. Just picture all of the velvet, choker necklaces and bold makeup looks. Folks like Kanye “Ye” West exploded onto the scene with his Yeezys collaboration with Adidas. And speaking of shoes, popular Nike models like Roshe, Huarache and Air Force 1 came back like they never left!
Living in a Pre-Covid World
It’s hard to imagine a world before masking in public and social distancing became the norm. But that’s exactly what 2016 was. Four years before the world was plagued with COVID-19, life on earth was free from the worries of COVID vaccinations and hybrid school learning. At the time, no living person had ever experienced a global pandemic to the degree of COVID. Instead, folks in 2016 were more focused on building community and connecting with each other —visible in global movements like the Mannequin Challenge and Pokémon Go, a virtual game that connected millions that year.
Black Film, Television Takes Over
This year also saw a wave of amazing Black films and television shows that are still referenced 10 years later. Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight” was a powerful depiction of a young Black man’s struggle with his ethnic and sexual identities.
“Hidden Figures,” starring Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson and Janelle Monáe, told the often-forgotten story of the three Black women who worked at NASA – Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson.
Director Ava Duvernay also released an eye-opening Netflix documentary titled “13th,” which explored the connection between the end of slavery and America’s current mass incarceration system.
Rihanna and Frank Ocean’s Last Albums
Ah, gone are the days when Rihanna and Frank Ocean fans had new music to listen to! 2016 also marked the last time either artist released solo albums. “Blonde” by Ocean was released on Aug. 20, 2016, and quickly debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It was the year’s third-biggest debut, following Drake’s “Views” and Beyonce’s “Lemonade.”
Rihanna’s “Anti” featured hits like “Work” and “Love on the Brain,” which would dominate the radio for years to come. Ten years later, Rihanna just celebrated the album spending 500 weeks on the Billboard charts, becoming the first album by a solo Black woman to reach this status.
New Generation of Hip-Hop on Top
From hits like “Bad and Boujee” by Migos and “Summer Sixteen” by Drake, rap music was clearly at the top of most folks’ music playlists in 2016. This is also the same year that artists like Lil Yachty, Lil Uzi Vert and Playboy Carti saw major mainstream success. These rappers and other new-age artists caused controversy within the hip-hop community for their less-than-traditional take on hip-hop and rap lyrics. Still, there’s no denying that the new wave of Black rappers perfectly captured what it meant to be young, rich and fun in 2016.
Black Icons Die Within Weeks of Each Other
While most of the year was jam-packed with excitement, hope, and freedom in America, the Black community also mourned some of the greatest Black voices of their time. Rapper Phife Dawg of the New York City group “A Tribe Called Quest” died from complications with diabetes, NPR reported. Less than a month later, singing icon Prince was found dead after an accidental overdose.
Then, only a few days after that, former Member of the Georgia State Senate Horace Ward died. He was the first Black member to ever serve in his position. Boxing and Civil Rights icon Muhammad Ali’s battle with Parkinson’s disease sadly claimed his life later that summer.
Donald Trump v Hillary Clinton
The presidential battle between Donald Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton even had non-Americans tuned in for months. On one hand, the election of Clinton would have made her the first woman to ever hold the position, but Trump represented a new wave of Republicans. His loud-mouthed nature, coupled with the MAGA movement and plans to erect a wall to stop migration through the Southern border, created a rift in the already fragile country… but we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
The 2016 race was packed with below-the-belt insults, Clinton’s notorious emails and Trump’s promises to throw her in jail if elected. While the Democratic nominee is still a free woman, Trump certainly made well on many of his other promises to fight against immigration, ban Muslims from entering the country and shift the U.S. economy.
The Crazy Rio Olympics
The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio was something for the history books. For starters, Simone “the Goat” Biles became the first female gymnast to win four gold medals at a single Olympics. The summer was dubbed the “Summer of Biles,” but outside of her accomplishments at just age 19, the games were packed with drama.
Swimmer Ryan Lochte got caught up in a scandal after falsely claiming he and his teammates were robbed at gunpoint. The lie was born from Lochte and others getting stopped by the cops after vandalizing a local gas station. According to reports, Lochte was formally charged in Brazil with falsely reporting a crime, and he was suspended for 10 months. The charges were eventually dismissed, USA Today reported.
Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, also solidified his record with another major medal win during these games. Rio marked the official last time Phelps ever competed for a title. “I had a hard time holding it together, very special being able to win 22 gold medals,” Phelps said after holding back tears on the podium. “It’s something you dream of, I’m living a dream come true. It’s exactly how I want to exit the sport.”
Kanye West’s Listening Party
Before Kanye West went full-on MAGA, posing with Trump and declaring slavery was a choice, he was still regarded as one of the most important figures in hip-hop. His 2016 album, “The Life of Pablo,” was highly anticipated ahead of its release.
This led to West hosting a listening party, which was dubbed a fashion show. Celebs like Frank Ocean, Kid Cudi, Lil Yachty and the Kardashian-Jenner clan all popped out to support the “Donda” rapper. This event set the stage for future Yeezy listening parties, all filled with theatrics and extravagance.
After Trump’s election, Ye revealed that although he supported Trump, he did not vote for him. “I told y’all I didn’t vote right? … But if I were to have voted, I would have voted for Trump,” he said during a show in L.A.
Cubs Win World Series
For the first time since 1945, the Chicago Cubs not only made it to the MLB World Series, but they won! It was one of those “You just had to be there” moments. Videos and photos painted the perfect picture of Chicago residents and baseball fans alike celebrating the historic win in November 2016.
‘Lemonade’ and ‘Seat at the Table’
The world could not have predicted that the iconic moment Solange Knowles attacked Jay-Z inside an elevator in 2014 would lead to three of the best albums of the decade, two being released in the same year. In 2016, Beyoncé dropped “Lemonade,” her response to divorce rumors and the ongoing struggles of Black America. Records like “Freedom” and “Sorry” made Black folks, especially women, feel empowered. “Lemonade” even went down as Bey’s best project to date.
Her younger sister, Solange, also released what was arguably her greatest album so far in her career. “A Seat at the Table” was an album about Black identity, empowerment, grief and healing, all while giving nods to Black culture and Black power, NPR reported.
Black Books
2016 was also a major year for Black authors. Colson Whitehead’s “The Underground Railroad” dropped in August and was immediately met with praise, even earning Oprah Winfrey’s book club sticker. Other notable book drops include Yaa Gyasi’s debut “Homegoing,” Brit Bennett’s novel “The Mothers” and “Invisible Man, Got the Whole World Watching” by Mychal Denzel Smith.
