Movies, Sporting Events, and Trials Set to Steal the Headlines in 2026
The year 2026 is shaping up to be a blockbuster year when it comes to pop culture, big celebrations, sporting events, and headline-grabbing criminal trials. Here is a look at what you can expect people to be talking about in the year ahead.
America's 250th Birthday Celebration
This year marks the country's 250th birthday. While July 4, 2026, will officially mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the entire year will feature a series of events to commemorate the anniversary. The bipartisan America250 Commission is working with the White House’s Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday to plan and carry out all of the festivities.
Some of the planned events include student contests, volunteer service campaigns, a national prayer event, the construction of the National Garden of American Heroes, and communal celebrations coined America Waves. The celebration will culminate on the Fourth of July with a full military parade, fireworks, and more in the nation's capital.
Biggest Sporting Events
The biggest domestic sporting event of the year will take place early, with Super Bowl LX kicking off on February 8 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. However, the actual game could take a backseat to the halftime show as Puerto Rican musical artist Bad Bunny takes the stage. The choice of the three-time Grammy Award winner to perform at the iconic event was met with criticism by some conservative activists. Bad Bunny has been an outspoken critic of the Trump administration.
The same weekend that the Super Bowl is held will also feature the start of the Winter Olympics. This year's Games will be contested in Italy from February 6 to February 22. This is the fourth time that the Olympics will be held in Italy. Major events to mark on your calendar include skiing, figure skating, speed skating, curling, and hockey.
Closer to home, the U.S. will play host to some of the games of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This premier soccer event kicks off on June 11 and is set to run through July 19. The expanded 48-team tournament will be cohosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. The final game will take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Most-Anticipated Movies
There is no shortage of blockbuster movies scheduled to debut in 2026. First up on the list of movies people are most looking forward to is the epic film "Wuthering Heights." Other films that are sure to be a hit this year include "Scream 7," "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie," "The Devil Wears Prada 2," "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu," "Toy Story 5," "The Odyssey," "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," "The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping," and "Avengers: Doomsday."
The end of the year will reach its cinematic climax with the premiere of the next installment of the sci-fi franchise "Dune." Timothée Chalamet reprises his role as Paul Atreides, otherwise known as the Lisan al-Gaib.
Criminal Trials
Several criminal trials are also sure to steal the headlines throughout the year. The man accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is expected to go on trial in the months ahead. Luigi Mangione has been accused of shooting Thompson on a Midtown Manhattan sidewalk on December 4, 2024. The 26-year-old Mangione faces criminal charges in a federal court, as well as state charges in Pennsylvania and New York.
Mangione last appeared in a New York state court on December 1. At this hearing, Mangione's lawyers sought to have some of the evidence recovered from the defendant's backpack excluded from the upcoming trial.
Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating conservative voice Charlie Kirk, is also expected to face trial in 2026. Kirk was shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on September 10. Robinson made his first court appearance on December 11.
It is also likely that the trial of Nick Reiner will captivate the nation in 2026. Reiner is being held without bail after being accused of murdering his parents, Hollywood legends Rob and Michele Reiner. Nick Reiner was arrested in December on charges of first-degree murder. His arraignment is coming up soon, scheduled for Wednesday, January 7.
Midterm Elections
It is another big election year with the pivotal midterms looming ahead in November. The midterm elections are scheduled for Tuesday, November 3. Control of Congress is hanging in the balance, with all 435 seats in the House of Representatives on the docket, as well as 35 Senate contests.
Republicans currently hold a slim majority in both chambers, making these midterms extremely important in determining the political landscape heading into 2027. Key Senate contests to keep a close eye on include races in Florida, Ohio, Georgia, Maine, North Carolina, Michigan, New Hampshire, and Minnesota.
Now that you’ve got the 2026 cheat sheet: Bookmark it for later, then dive into more of the latest buzz below: