As we kick off 2026, we’re looking back at the moments that defined 2025. From huge releases, performances, viral trends, and the occasional scandal, 2025 was definitely a year to remember.
- In November, Stranger Things Season 5 premiered, smashing Netflix Records and uniting fans across all ages. The internet is, and will continue to be, flooded with fan theories, edits, and reactions, proving once again the show’s popularity to create shared moments that everyone just understands.
- Another big moment this year for those into Pop was Taylor Swift’s engagement to the Kansas City Chiefs football player Travis Kelce, announced in August. The news sent fans into a frenzy, sparking heartfelt reactions to the now-engaged couple. Just a couple of months later, in October, Taylor Swift’s release of The Life of a Showgirl topped charts almost immediately and became a global pop phenomenon, proving that music brings people together even when you aren’t a fan. It’s hard not to like the annoyingly catchy songs from the album, like The Fate of Ophelia or Opalite.
- TV shows and movies also dominated the scene. This summer, The Summer I Turned Pretty released its final season, putting an end to the three-year-long Team Conrad Vs. Team Jeremiah debate. With an episode being released every week, fans flooded TikTok with edits, reaction videos, and countdowns to the finale, proving how invested fans had become, and many people jokingly saying how they would say no to a “tinfoil” looking ring, even if it was Jeremiah proposing.
- The Summer I Turned Pretty wasn’t the only hit this summer. The Netflix Original, Kpop Demon Hunters, took the internet by storm with its release, even generating fans before and after its release. The fictional Group HUNTRIX and the movie itself broke numerous records, with the movie becoming Netflix’s most-watched movie of all time. Its soundtrack also made history, being the first to have four songs in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100.
- 6-7 became popular towards the latter half of the year, popularized by rapper Skrilla’s song Doot Doot (6-7), which referenced a 6’7 basketball player. This went massive from little kids to teens, all saying the same phrase in conversations unrelated to the basketball player, so be warned if you say the numbers 6-7 anywhere you’ll earn a laugh or two.
- What would 2025 be without Wicked? Though the movie was released in 2024, the press tours, interviews, and release of Wicked for good were a defining moment this year, becoming the second biggest opening of 2025 after the Minecraft movie. With merch releases and social media clips of moments between Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande and cast drama, Wicked definitely left its mark.
- This year has also seen a lot of trends come and go, many becoming staple references that almost anyone on social media would recognize. One of the year’s most popular trends was what some call “ugly” but somewhat cute furry plushies: The Labubu’s. They’re collected, customized, and shared online, and have had all ages obsessed, from adults to little children, some videos even showing people going to the extent of stealing the limited edition Labubu’s from other people.
- Speaking of trends, one that seemed to be everywhere is the Dubai chocolate craze. Videos showcased people traveling to Dubai just to bring home boxes of the viral treat. Consisting of pistachio cream and knafeh, the crunchy and addictive chocolate started the “Dubai chocolating” everything trend, from desserts like brownies and cookies to drinks and Dubai chocolate-covered strawberries. What started as a simple treat skyrocketed and has become a global trend, even causing a global pistachio shortage due to the high market demand.
- A viral audio emerged from an unlikely source: A Jet2Holidays ad. The airline’s phrase “Nothing beats a Jet2Holiday,” set to Jess Glynne’s song Hold My Hand, quickly became viral on TikTok. Users paired the tagline to chaotic moments, creating a wave of videos that turned the ad into a viral audio. By summer, the company Jet2 even embraced the trend, encouraging users to share their own Jet2 Holiday experiences, good or bad- a tactical move by blending social media culture and marketing to appeal to people.
- During a Coldplay concert, an innocent couple was caught on the kiss cam and suspiciously ducked to avoid the screen as soon as they popped up on screen. Except they weren’t very innocent, people on social media used their sleuthing skills to find out that the couple was the then Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR Chief Kristin Cabot in an embrace, sparking accusations of an affair leading to Byron’s resignation. The event quickly became a cultural moment with digital exposure.
Honorable Mention: Summer 2025 was filled with reality TV shows, but Love Island USA took the number one spot with the drama and chaos of the show. It quickly became a fan favorite. Fan clubs for contestants even emerged, and online debate quickly grew as people took their favorite contestants’ side, making up many people’s summer.
Honorable mention: Music and Celebrities have also continued to dominate headlines throughout the year. Abel Tesfaye’s or better known as The Weeknd, released his final album: Hurry Up Tomorrow, under his alias this year in May, serving as the final chapter of his album Trilogy that began with After hours continued by Dawn FM. The album was met with excitement from listeners worldwide. Tracks from the album quickly climbed charts, and its dark, cinematic production reminded listeners why The Weeknd has remained the most influential artists of the decade. To support the Trilogy, he launched his After Hours till Dawn 2025 stadium tour, kicking off in May and travelling across major cities in North America. The Tour featured immersive visuals and guest appearances from Mike Dean and Playboi Carti, turning each concert into an unforgettable experience for fans.
Honorable Mention: The year kicked off with Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show, a performance praised for its high energy, visuals, political commentary, and the featuring of alternative R&B artist SZA. Fans replayed moments of the show for weeks, going viral on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, quickly becoming one of the most talked-about recent halftime shows.
Honorable Mention: “Italian Brainrot” was and still is a TikTok trend featuring AI-generated characters with gibberish Italian-sounding names. Popular characters being Tung Tung Sahur and Tralero Trala, sparking a whole universe of lore, with many other characters joining the fan created stories.
Overall, 2025 felt like a year everyone experienced together. Whether it was staying up late binge-watching a season finale, hearing the same annoyingly catchy song everywhere you went, or seeing a viral clip pop up on social media for the hundredth time, these moments became a part of everyday life. Pop culture wasn’t just something you listened to or watched; it was something people talked about at school, shared online, and bonded over with people.
As we move into 2026, these defining moments don’t just stand out because they were so popular, but because of how they connected people. They captured what we laughed at and joked about, debated over, and shaped our obsessions throughout the year. Looking back, 2025 was truly an unforgettable year and a reminder of how entertainment and internet culture continue to shape our experiences and memories in ways that feel personal, familiar, and moments where you just had to be there to understand.
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