Cultivating optimism isn’t always easy, but there is something profoundly liberating about choosing to orient toward joy, despite any obstacles that may stand in the way.
In that spirit, Nice News is kicking off 2026 with a list of things to look forward to. From global sporting extravaganzas like the Winter Olympics and the FIFA World Cup to the plethora of beloved movie sequels hitting the big screen and a new train route traversing America, there’s so much positivity awaiting us in 2026.
So without further ado, let’s dive into all the good stuff on the horizon this year.
Social Security Benefits Will Include a Cost-of-Living Adjustment
Approximately 75 million Americans will enjoy a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment starting in January, which is slightly higher than last year’s increase. The Social Security Administration made the announcement in October following analysis of inflation data that showed an acceleration of price increases.
“Social Security is a promise kept, and the annual cost-of-living adjustment is one way we are working to make sure benefits reflect today’s economic realities and continue to provide a foundation of security,” SSA Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano said in a statement.
The agency started notifying recipients of their new benefit amounts via mail in early December — learn more here.
Disney’s Pluto and the Iconic Betty Boop Are Entering the Public Domain
While New Year’s Day may be the biggest holiday to stake its claim on Jan. 1, there’s a lesser-known event that delivers some excitement of its own on the same date: Public Domain Day.
Public Domain Day celebrates the arrival of a new batch of creative works with expired copyright protection. Practically speaking, this enables creators to “explore and reimagine” cultural icons and famous literary works without seeking permission from the copyright holders
With the arrival of 2026, works from 1930 will now enter the public domain, and this year includes such luminaries as the cartoon flapper Betty Boop and Disney’s Pluto — Mickey Mouse’s affable canine companion — alongside Dashiell Hammett’s classic detective novel The Maltese Falcon. Check out more titles and characters that will be open to all.
The Big Screen Is Welcoming Sequels Galore
This year will not disappoint when it comes to new movies, and particularly when it comes to sequels.
Slated for release is a dizzying, star-studded tsunami of reboots and follow-ups, including 28 Days Later: The Bone Temple (Jan. 16), Toy Story 5 (June 19), The Devil Wears Prada II (May 1), Air Bud Returns (summer), Practical Magic 2 (Sept. 18), and Jumanji 4 (Dec. 11). Hunger Games, Shrek, Scream, Ready or Not, Minions, Spider Man, and Dune will be delivering new chapters, too.
Other remakes coming to a cinemaplex near you include Dracula, Wuthering Heights, The Odyssey, and a live-action Moana.
The 2026 Winter Olympics
The 2026 Winter Games will prove that Elphaba isn’t the only being capable of defying gravity — watching a world-class figure skater land a quadruple axel or a ski jumper sail through the skies will always be an awe-inspiring experience. This year’s Olympics are taking place in Milan and Cortina, Italy, which means the opening ceremony will feature cauldron lightings and parades in both cities simultaneously (the two are roughly 250 miles apart).
The games begin Feb. 4, although the opening ceremony will actually take place two days later, on Feb. 6, and the closing ceremony wraps things up on Feb. 22. There will be 116 medal events in total, including some new competitions and formats: Check out the preliminary competition schedule.
The First Crewed Mission to the Moon in 50 Years
NASA hopes to send a team of astronauts on a mission around the moon as soon as February. The Artemis II mission was initially projected for April, but the agency has since expressed optimism that an earlier launch date is looking likely.
The overarching goal of the Artemis program is to once again land astronauts on the moon and eventually establish a long-term presence there. While the 2026 crew will not be landing on the moon, they will be the first to travel beyond low Earth orbit since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The four astronauts embarking upon the history-making, 10-day adventure will be NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency.
“We together have a front-row seat to history: We’re returning to the moon after over 50 years,” Lakiesha Hawkins, an acting deputy associate administrator for NASA, said at a news conference last year.
The Oscars and Golden Globes Are Introducing New Categories
If you’ve ever watched a movie and marveled at how a particular actor embodied a character and elevated the performance from ordinary to iconic, it will come as no surprise to learn that the Academy Awards are introducing a new category for the 2026 ceremony: best achievement in casting. According to Variety, it’s been 25 years since the last new category was introduced (best animated feature film). The 98th annual ceremony is scheduled to air March 15.
Meanwhile, the Golden Globes is recognizing the changing media landscape with a new category of its own: best podcast. The six nominees for this year’s award show, airing Jan. 11, are Armchair Expert With Dax Shepard, Call Her Daddy, Good Hang With Amy Poehler, The Mel Robbins Podcast, SmartLess, and Up First.
High-Speed, Transcontinental Train Between LA and NYC Will Debut
In the spring, the Transcontinental Chief is set to make its debut, thanks to a partnership between AmeriStarRail and Amtrak. This high-speed rail line will connect New York (via New Jersey’s Hoboken terminal) and Los Angeles, with major stops in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh; Cleveland; Chicago; Kansas City; and Albuquerque, New Mexico; as well as 46 intermediate stops, according to Secret Los Angeles. The full coast-to-coast journey can be completed in under 72 hours.
May 10 is the planned launch date, intended to meet the transportation needs of passengers visiting the semiquincentennial celebrations and the FIFA World Cup games (more on those events below).
2026 FIFA World Cup
When it comes to sporting events, the FIFA World Cup is about as big as it gets. Perhaps Afar magazine puts it best: “For six solid weeks (give or take), the entire soccer-loving planet comes together for a slightly unhinged all-hours party.”
From June 11 to July 19, a record 48 international teams will play in more than 100 games across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. It all leads up to the final match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — a spectacle that will feature a halftime show for the first time.
The full tournament schedule can be found on FIFA’s official site.
The 250th Anniversary of America
A word sure to be making the rounds at trivia nights in the coming months is “semiquincentennial” — the 250th anniversary of an event. Independence Day this year marks America’s semiquincentennial, as two and a half centuries have passed since the country’s founding on July 4, 1776.
Not surprisingly, Fourth of July celebrations this year will likely go larger than usual, with Philadelphia — the site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence — leading the way. The city will devote 16 days to celebrating the holiday by way of its Welcome America festival, running from June 19 (Juneteenth) to July 4.
Click here for more on the history and events surrounding the semiquincentennial.
The Inaugural Season of the Women’s Professional Baseball League
New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco will be the first cities with teams competing in the inaugural season of the Women’s Professional Baseball League this summer. Per ESPN, there hasn’t been a pro league for women since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League dissolved in 1954. (Yes, the same league that inspired A League of Their Own.)
According to WPBL’s official site, over 600 players from 10 countries attended tryouts in August. From there, the league narrowed the pool down to roughly 120 for its draft-eligible list. The draft took place Nov. 20, and according to the Associated Press, teams will cut their rosters in half, from 30 to 15, by the start of the season on Aug. 1.
Live From London, It’s Saturday Night!
Saturday Night Live has been a beloved live comedy television tradition in the U.S. for 50 years. In 2026, the sketch show will take a long leap across the pond and establish a U.K. counterpart, an effort led by SNL creator Lorne Michaels, who will serve as an executive producer on the spin-off.
With a premiere date reportedly set for March, British broadcasting behemoth Sky is promising a “star-studded lineup of hosts” and a cast list of “the funniest British comedians around,” per The Guardian.
3 States Are Rolling Out New Paid Family Leave Programs
Given that there is no federal paid family and medical leave program, progress on the state level has proven crucial to helping workers navigate the financial and emotional stress of life-changing events like the arrival of a new baby or a medical crisis. There are currently 13 states, plus Washington, D.C., offering, or soon to be offering, this support.
Three of those will commence their programs this year: As reported by New America, Delaware, Maine, and Minnesota will begin paying benefits to recipients of paid family and medical leave in 2026. Maine and Minnesota will cover up to 90% of low-wage workers’ wages during leave, while Delaware will follow an older model with a wage replacement rate of 80%.
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