Happy New Year. As 2026 dawns, what are the themes and trends to watch? Our annual publication, The World Ahead, considers the outlook across politics, business, technology and culture. Our journalists, joined by guest writers, provide a range of predictions, analysis and insights to prepare you for the next 12 months. Here are some of the themes that we think should be on your radar, including America’s 250th birthday, India’s economy overtaking Japan’s and the world reaching “peak wine”.