15 pop-culture predictions for 2026 - from Taylor Swift's wedding date to a surprise Hollywood engagement
We went ahead and placed our bets on which makeups, breakups, and career pivots we'll see in 2026. You'll want to bookmark this page for next year.
If you had told me this time last year that 2025 would bring us Taylor Swift hard-launching her engagement via an Instagram collab post, Coldplay accidentally outing a major CEO's affair via kisscam, and Katy Perry happily in love with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, I would’ve raised an eyebrow...but I wouldn’t have dismissed it outright. Because in all my years as a self-proclaimed pop culture connoisseur, I’ve learned one timeless truth about Hollywood: expect the unexpected.
That means breakout stars will go from totally unknowns to universally cherished, completely random celebrity couples will emerge (shoutout to JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes), and films that many didn't see coming will completely dominate the box office (I’m due for my third Sinners rewatch).
But just because Hollywood drama is harder to predict each year doesn’t mean we can’t try. And by we, I mean myself and my equally pop culture-obsessed colleagues. After all the chaos 2025 has thrown our way, it’s time to start placing bets on what’s coming up next. Who knows, by this time next December, you might be calling us psychics. From some Tayvis date wedding theories to educated guesses about who Sabrina Carpenter will date next, here are our predictions for the year ahead.
"ALLEGEDLY, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are getting married on June 13, 2026. It's the only Saturday of 2026 on the 13th, which we know is her favorite number. 26 is double thirteen also... so it makes sense for them to get married next year."
— Beth Gillette, Beauty Editor
"I have a hunch Phoebe Bridgers will drop her third solo album in the second half of the year. It’s been two years since she dropped The Record with her boygenius bandmates, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker, and we’re coming up on six years since her breakout, Punisher. Come home, Phoebe. The kids miss you!"
— Sam Olson, Assistant News Editor
"[There will be] a high-profile link between Heated Rivalry's Connor Storrie and one lucky A-lister top of the year."
— Maxwell Losgar, Senior Entertainment Director
"Lindsay Lohan will release a skincare line."
— Corinne Sullivan, Senior News Editor
"I sense a new Ariana Grande relationship making headlines by Spring."
— Maxwell Losgar, Senior Entertainment Director
"Zara Larsson and her makeup artist Sophia Sinot have been widely credited for bringing back sparkly, maximalist Y2K glam. I think we'll see Zara snag a partnership with a major makeup brand in response to all of that hype. Maybe MAC?"
— Annabel Iwegbue, Associate Culture Editor
"Harry Styles will make a comeback."
— Corinne Bickel, Social Media Specialist
"Timmy and Kylie [are] getting engaged."
— Corinne Bickel, Social Media Specialist
![zendaya tom holland](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/tom-holland-and-zendaya-attend-sony-pictures-spider-man-no-news-photo-1736535599.pjpeg?crop=0.53333xw:1xh;center,top "Sony Pictures' "Spider-Man: No Way Home" Los Angeles Premiere - Arrivals")
"Zendaya and Tom will get married."
— Corinne Bickel, Social Media Specialist
"Beyoncé's rock & roll-themed Act III album is dropping. Hint #1: It was just announced that she'll be co-chairing next year's Met Gala, which feels like the perfect way to promote a new record. Hint #2: She made a surprise appearance at the Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix last month, and there's absolutely nothing more rock & roll than fast cars. Hint #3: She's been releasing each album within this trilogy (Renaissance, Cowboy Carter) two years apart from each other, and next year will mark two years since Cowboy Carter's release. The signs all point to a Bey rock era in 2026! And I would very much like the album to feature Jack White, Paramore, Lenny Kravitz, and Olivia Rodrigo."
— Annabel Iwegbue, Associate Culture Editor
"Sabrina Carpenter will start dating an NBA player."
— Corinne Sullivan, Senior News Editor
"[We'll see] a surprise Disney reunion of some kind. One that's unexpected... like Miley and Selena."
— Maxwell Losgar, Senior Entertainment Director
"Both BTS and Blackpink will have massive comebacks."
— Corinne Sullivan, Senior News Editor
"J. Lo and Ben [will get] back together."
— Corinne Bickel, Social Media Specialist
"After Sabrina Carpenter arrested Djo/Joe Keery at Austin City Limits this year—and upon learning that they’re both single—I feel like they’ll have, at least, a brief dating stint. Dare I say stranger things have happened (see: Sabrina’s entire relationship with Barry Keoghan). I would like to see it!"
— Sam Olson, Assistant News Editor
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