Predictions for 2026 | Future timeline

Read 41 predictions for 2026, a year that will see the world transform in big and small ways; this includes disruptions throughout our culture, technology, science, health and business sectors. It’s your future, discover what you’re in for.

Quantumrun Foresight prepared this list; A trend intelligence consulting firm that uses strategic foresight to help companies thrive from future trends in foresight. This is just one of many possible futures society may experience.

Fast forecasts for 2026

Most companies implement a full return to the office. Likelihood: 65 percent.link
A new rugby tournament among South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Fiji, and Argentina is launched. Likelihood: 70 percent.link
The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) starts its definitive stage. Likelihood: 70 percent.link
The European Space Agency (ESA) officially launches the PLATO satellite, which aims to look for planets similar to Earth. Likelihood: 70 percent.link
SONY starts delivering its "smartphone electric vehicles." Likelihood: 60 percent.link
80% of multnational corporations globally have incorporated AI. Likelihood: 85 percent.link
The Transatlantic Clean Hydrogen Trade Coalition (H2TC) ships clean hydrogen from US to Europe. Likelihood: 60 percent.link
EU bans climate neutral claims to combat greenwashing. Likelihood: 85 percent.link
The Middle East travel sector grows by 40 percent. Likelihood: 70 percent.link
Southeast Asia and India become the most valuable luxury beauty market in Asia Pacific. Likelihood: 75 percent.link
Environmental supply chain risks cost firms worldwide USD $120 billion if there are no efforts made to boost sustainability. Likelihood: 75 percent.link
Low-emissions hydrogen global production grows 25%. Likelihood: 60 percent.link
Institutional investors allocate 5.6% of their portfolios to tokenized assets. Likelihood: 60 percent.link
The Hybrit consortium of European steelmakers builds a commercial-scale plant in Sweden, producing 1.3 million tons of fossil-free iron annually for high-quality steel production. Likelihood: 70 percentlink
The global virtual reality (VR) in healthcare market size and share revenue reach USD $40.98 billion, up from USD $2.70 billion in 2020. Likelihood: 60 percentlink
The global Agriculture Internet of Things (IoT) market size and share revenue reaches USD $18.7 billion, up from USD $11.9 billion in 2020. Likelihood: 60 percentlink
The global exchange-traded fund (ETF) industry's asset under management (AUM) doubles since 2022. Likelihood: 60 percentlink
The global market for cell and gene therapy has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 33.6% since 2021, reaching approximately USD $17.4 billion. Likelihood: 65 percentlink
Volvo mass produces cars with green steel, the first automaker to do so. Likelihood: 60 percentlink
Startup Aska makes the first deliveries of its four-passenger air-mobility vehicles (e.g., flying cars), pre-sold at USD $789,000 each. Likelihood: 50 percentlink
The European Space Agency (ESA) launches the Plato Mission, using 26 telescopes to search for habitable planets like Earth. Likelihood: 70 percentlink
90% of online content will be artificial intelligence (AI)-generated. Likelihood: 60 percentlink
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Italian Space Agency, the Canadian Space Agency, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency jointly launch a Mars mission to explore the near-surface ice deposits. Likelihood: 60 percentlink
25% of online users will spend at least 1 hour per day in the Metaverse. Likelihood: 70 percentlink
Consumers spend over USD $937 billion globally for ride sharing. Likelihood: 70 percentlink
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration launches a rotorcraft to study Saturn's icy moon, Titan. Likelihood: 60 percentlink
The European Union implements the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with an option to defer until 2028. Likelihood: 70 percentlink
Thanks to new legislation approving the use of drones and autonomous robots for delivery, select retailers begin expanding their business territories into tough-to-reach locations (especially rural) to deliver packages to customers more efficiently. (Likelihood 90%)link
Due to a resurgent Russia and mounting tensions, most European nations have now reintroduced mandatory conscription into their militaries (or at least conscription into government service). (Likelihood 90%)link
Construction of Sagrada Familia to be completed. link
First 3D Fast Bus, the Land Airbus, is tested on Chinese roads. link
The Great Firewall of China can no longer block its citizen's access to the internet. link
The European Union's experimental, International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is activated for the first time link
China's economy will overtake the US for the first time link
First 3D Fast Bus, the Land Airbus, is tested on Chinese roads link
Google contributes to speeding up the Internet, to make it 1000 times faster link
Near-infrared goggles help surgeons view cancer cells and see tumors as small as 1mmlink

The European Union implements the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with an option to defer until 2028. link
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration launches a rotorcraft to study Saturn's icy moon, Titan. link
Consumers spend over USD $937 billion globally for ride sharing. link
25% of online users will spend at least 1 hour per day in the Metaverse. link
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Italian Space Agency, the Canadian Space Agency, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency jointly launch a Mars mission to explore the near-surface ice deposits. link
90% of online content will be artificial intelligence (AI)-generated. link
The European Space Agency (ESA) launches the Plato Mission, using 26 telescopes to search for habitable planets like Earth. link
Startup Aska makes the first deliveries of its four-passenger air-mobility vehicles (e.g., flying cars), pre-sold at USD $789,000 each. link
The Hybrit consortium of European steelmakers builds a commercial-scale plant in Sweden, producing 1.3 million tons of fossil-free iron annually for high-quality steel production. link
Volvo mass produces cars with green steel, the first automaker to do so. link
The global market for cell and gene therapy has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 33.6% since 2021, reaching approximately USD $17.4 billion. link
The global exchange-traded fund (ETF) industry's asset under management (AUM) doubles since 2022. link
The global Agriculture Internet of Things (IoT) market size and share revenue reaches USD $18.7 billion, up from USD $11.9 billion in 2020. link
The global virtual reality (VR) in healthcare market size and share revenue reach USD $40.98 billion, up from USD $2.70 billion in 2020. link
The European Union's experimental, International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is activated for the first time link
China's economy will overtake the U.S. for the first time link
First 3D Fast Bus, the Land Airbus, is tested on Chinese roads link
Google contributes to speeding up the Internet, to make it 1000 times faster link
Near-infrared goggles help surgeons view cancer cells and see tumors as small as 1mm link
Cost of solar panels, per watt, equals 0.75 US dollars link
World population forecasted to reach 8,215,348,000 link
World sales of electric vehicles reaches 10,526,667 link
Predicted global mobile web traffic equals 126 exabytes link
Global Internet traffic grows to 452 exabytes link