2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for the United States, packed with historic anniversaries, global sporting spectacles, major political battles, and the long-awaited return to deep space exploration.
From America’s 250th birthday to the World Cup and NASA’s Artemis II mission, the year ahead will put the US firmly in the center of the global spotlight.
Super Bowl LX in California
Super Bowl LX will be held on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. While teams have yet to be decided, the event is already garnering attention with the announcement that Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny will headline the halftime show.
Awards season is back
Hollywood’s annual awards calendar will once again punctuate the year with the Grammys in February, the Oscars in March and the Emmys in September, ensuring there’s no shortage of red carpet moments amid an otherwise packed national agenda.
The FIFA World Cup is coming to North America
The United States will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Canada and Mexico, marking the first time the tournament will be held in three countries.
The tournament will run from June 11 to July 19, and 48 teams will compete in a newly expanded format with 104 matches. The games will be played in 16 host cities, including New York-New Jersey, Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas and Seattle, USA. The final will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
It will be the largest World Cup in history, both in scope and reach, and one of the most watched sporting events ever held on American soil.
America celebrates 250 years of independence
July 4, 2026 will mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a milestone that will be celebrated with year-long events across the country.
The commemorations are coordinated by America250, a nonpartisan, congressionally mandated group, along with the Freedom 250 initiative, which was launched by an executive order from President Donald Trump. Celebrations are expected to culminate in late June and early July with the “Great American State Fair” on the National Mall featuring all 50 states, a large Independence Day celebration with fireworks and military flyovers, and a nationally televised presidential address.
Other events include parades, athletic competitions called the “Patriot Games” and plans for a new monumental structure in Washington inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
NASA’s Artemis II mission is headed for the moon
NASA is expected to launch Artemis II between February and April, the first crewed mission of the Artemis program.
The mission will send four astronauts on a roughly 10-day journey around the moon, where they will test the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft in deep space. While the mission will not land on the lunar surface, it represents the closest humans have come to the moon in more than five decades.
If successful, Artemis II will pave the way for Artemis III, which aims to land astronauts near the moon’s south pole and restore a permanent American presence on the lunar surface.
Midterm elections dominate politics
The 2026 midterm elections will be a defining political moment, with voters heading to the polls on November 3.
All 435 seats in the House of Representatives will be contested, along with 35 Senate elections, including special elections in Florida and Ohio. At stake will be control of Congress, with Republicans defending narrow majorities and Democrats trying to regain some ground.
Key gubernatorial races in swing states, major ballot initiatives and redistricting battles will continue to shape the political scene.
Highly watched criminal trials
Several high-profile criminal cases are expected to hit courtrooms in 2026, including the trial of Luigi Mangion, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, as well as the trials of Tyler Robinson and Nick Reiner.
These cases are likely to attract intense national media attention as they develop.
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