(This article first appeared in the January print edition of the Hendersonian.)
We’ve turned the calendar and reset the clock on a new year.
Each year has its own personality. Things that make the days of the year stand out and give us fodder for conversations.
Here are some oddities, notable events and possibly newsworthy things to talk about coming up in 2026.
Super Bowl 60
Let’s start with the first big party event of 2026, the one that likely sells more pizza and wings (and possibly beer) than any other day of the year.
That’s Super Bowl Sunday, and this year it hits the big 6-0.
The big game it will take place on Sunday, Feb. 8, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
The halftime show will be headlined by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, and the choice generated a controversy when it was announced back in the fall.
Also noteworthy about Super Bowl 60 other than its big birthday (and Bad Bunny)? The Kansas City Chiefs, the team that won three of the last six, will not be there.
Speaking of February …
The shortest (and often the most wintery) month often has several days that have a “holiday” feel (including Super Bowl Sunday), and this year several of them are all jammed up together.
Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) is on the Friday of President’s Day (Feb. 16) weekend, which might make it a popular day for 2026 weddings.
The day after the President’s Day holiday (Feb. 17) is both Mardi Gras and Chinese New Year. On Feb. 18 (Ash Wednesday), those who observe Lent will have to chill.
The Chinese New Year is the Year of the Fire Horse with focus on dynamic energy, freedom and ambition.
If you haven’t already, it might be an appropriate time to read the Geraldine Brooks novel “Horse.”
Fun dates
The numerology of every year often offers some interesting dates. Memorable dates that fit that billing in 2026 for special events (such as the aforementioned wedding day), are 2-6-26, 2-26-26 and 6-26-26.
More big sporting events
Starting in conjunction with Super Bowl Weekend, the 2026 Winter Olympics (officially named Milano Cortina 2026) will open on Feb. 6 and close on Feb. 26 in Italy featuring sports like figure skating in Milan and alpine skiing in the Dolomites.
A new Olympic sport is ski mountaineering. NBC will have the broadcasts.
Note: That region of Italy is 12 hours ahead of Central Standard Time.
Then, in the summer, the United States, Canada and Mexico will host the FIFA World Cup. It takes place every four years (the first took place in 1930) and the reigning champion is Argentina, which has won three championships. (Brazil holds the record for most at five.)
The big draw for the World Cup recently took place in Washington, D.C. Matches start on June 11.
Times for accolades
If you’re a fan of awards season shows those kick off on Jan. 11 with the Golden Globe Awards which honor the best work in movies and television.
The show will be hosted by Emmy-nominated comedian and actress Nikki Glaser and broadcast by CBS from the Beverly Hilton. Nominations were announced in December.
Other events:
• The 68th Grammy Awards: Show will air on Feb. 1. Nominations honoring the best in music were announced in November.
• The 98th Academy Awards (Oscar): Show honoring the best in films will air on March 15. Nominations will be announced on Jan. 22.
• The 79th Tony Awards: Show honoring the best in theater is tentatively set for June 7 at Radio City Music Hall and nominations will take place in the spring.
• The 78th Emmy Awards: Show honoring the best in television is set for Sept 14 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Food for thought: Can you name an EGOT (Someone who has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony)?
Looking back
Every year has its share of milestone anniversaries and 2026 is no exception.
Let’s start with the biggest first.
July 4 will mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Sounds like a good time to watch (or re-watch) the recent Ken Burns documentary “American Revolution” on PBS.
And, no doubt, many festivities across the nation have already been planned.
Other notable milestones this year:
• 25th Anniversary of 9/11, the terrorist attack that rocked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001 when the World Trade Center in New York City was destroyed when two hijacked jetliners flew into them and a third crashed into the Pentagon outside of Washington, D.C. A fourth hijacked plane crashed in central Pennsylvania when passengers sought to take control of the plane from the terrorists. Nearly 3,000 people died on that day.
• 50th Anniversary of Apple Computer which resulted in a computer evolution that eventually produced iPhones, iMacs, iPads and iPods and countless other similar devices.
• 100th Anniversary (on May 1) of Hall of Fame pitcher Satchel Paige’s professional baseball debut with the Chattanooga White Sox of the Negro Southern League.
• 150th Anniversary of author Mark Twain publishing “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.”
Look to the skies
We got all excited around these parts in 2017 and again in 2024 when we were in the path of a total eclipse of the sun.
One of those is going to happen again on Aug. 12, but you’ll have to travel to Spain or Iceland to be in totality.
Other events for stargazers this year include a “parade of six planets” on Feb. 28 with Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune in alignment. There’s also a total lunar eclipse on March 3 that will be visible in North America.
One last thing to note …
It’s a mid-term election year, and also a big one for local offices. Candidates in Kentucky have until 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9, to file nomination papers. Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 19. The General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
