This school year has been one to remember. Between all the popular movies, trends, music, and everything in between, there is so much to look back on.
Just a few of the hundreds of movies released this year stuck out in comparison to the rest. “Wicked: For Good,” “Project Hail Mary,” “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” “Zootopia 2,” and many more top headline movies.
My personal favorite that I just can’t get enough of is “Wicked: For Good.” The cinematography, music, and the storyline still make this movie worth watching even outside of theaters.
Alongside movies, there were some TV shows that students across the US couldn’t stop talking about. With the last and final season of “Stranger Things” coming out, it was everywhere–social media, restaurants, billboards, and just passing conversations around the halls.
Another TV series that was very popular among the teenage audience was “Invincible.” This show combines gore, superheroes, action, and intense themes in all four seasons.
Music has always been and always will be a reflection of our world and the prominent trends. This year Bad Bunny’s halftime show was one of the most controversial and most discussed musical performances this year.
Bad Bunny used his opportunity to honor Latin American and Spanish culturegiving the audience a spectacular performance, spreading awareness, and sharing his culture.
Other artists that showed up in headlines consistently were Bruno Mars, Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Ellish, Taylor Swift, Drake (with his new triple album release), Justin Bieber, and so many more.
These artists all have something in common. They are all connected in some way to a TikTok trend or popular audio. This brings artists traction and new listeners.
Some trends that were timeless over this school year were the 2016 aesthetic, any kind of “core,” lip-syncing to any trending audio, GRWM, micro communities like booktok, gymtok, studytok, etc, and an abundance of AI everywhere.
No matter what app you were on, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, or any other social media platform, AI took over–from ASMR videos, storytelling, branding, images of celebrities, the list is endless. The impact of AI has grown exponentially in the last eight months.
Another trend that became wildly popular was NeeDoh and squishies. Children, teens, and even adults talked about finding the newest types. They flew off all the shelves at every store. Target and Five Below became even more popular than before because they were on the cutting edge of this rising trend.
Along with the bright colors coming back, sparkles and bedazzling everything has surged in popularity, allowing old trends to slowly come back and giving people permission to be more bright and fun.
Looking back at the 2025-2026 school year there was an intense feeling of nostalgia. With TikTok trying to bring back 2016 style, makeup, and aesthetic, movies using old films and bringing them to life in live action, toys and squishies, TV shows you loved when you were a kid coming back with new seasons, and the recurring theme of colorful vibes and pure nostalgia.
Nostalgia provides comfort and escapism in uncertain times and this year has seen an increase in that longing for more simple times.
People just want to feel like kids again and look back on when everything seemed easier and joyful.
Going into the 2026-2027 school year there will undoubtedly be new trends and themes that continue to add color and fun into the world!
