In the last two years, the world has become increasingly chaotic. Surprisingly, I’ve become the one offering reassurance. The one who says that you can find logic in chaos and that a forward forecast can be made. Last week, I presented my forecast for 2026 on stage. The task was not easy. The raw materials: Trump in Washington, Mamdani in New York, the vintage trend on one hand, and artificial intelligence and its implications on the other, required kneading, understanding, and creating one coherent story. Eventually, I found it. I define the last few years as years of “unease”. We observe events that mainly cause us a feeling of unease. This is not just about global politics, but also about technology. The thought that everything we were raised on, the need to be educated, valuable, and knowledgeable, is collapsing in real time, causing great unease about our future. Recent data published in the United States shows that people with academic degrees are unemployed for the same duration as people without a degree. And this, as we know, is only the beginning. The discomfort with what the world is bringing has created a few plot twists. One of them was the strengthening of the political right in Western countries. The narrative of returning to the past, to our roots, to live like we used to, and to restore the country to how it was, was a story people connected with. Yet, the Edelman Trust Barometer report for 2025 shows that about 60 per cent of people in dozens of countries feel distrust toward state leaders, business leaders, and the rich, a record high in the index. This global index also shows a significant increase in the question: Do leaders lie? Do business leaders lie? Do journalists lie?. People asked this in dozens of countries and answered yes, and with a significant increase from previous years. People feel there is no one to look out for them. In a world where the planet is heating up, technology is highly disruptive and likely to take our jobs in a few years, and where it is difficult to distinguish between authentic and fake, and between truth and lies. The question is, where do we go from here? I named my forecast for 2026 “FREEISM”. This forecast deals with liberation from the current reality and is motivated by actively taking control and initiating change. It is essentially about liberation from a reality that doesn’t offer a relevant future to the younger generation, who feel they must look out for themselves and their future anyway. The forecast describes three main trends:
Return to the Past
Trends of nostalgia and vintage have already become mainstream. The human need for framework, stability, and clarity creates a return to nostalgic places. As the world becomes blurred, the demand to return to familiar anchors increases. This is not only the strengthening of the political right, but also social trends returning: a renewed revival of vintage fashion and a renewed peak for the 90s, which were years full of certainty. The vintage clothing market is estimated to reach 79 billion dollars by 2029 in the US. This is not just a rational purchase, but a deep connection to security and a longing for the old days: 77 per cent of Americans say they see nostalgia as a source of security in a world of uncertainty.
Disconnect from the Present
Technological overload, the borderline ethics of AI, and the difficulty in distinguishing between truth and lies create erosion and saturation. The unbinding here is expressed in an active effort to disconnect from the noise. We are fighting over what is considered quality of life. “Disconnect from the Present” means taking control over our time with technology and the role it plays in our lives. We are seeing new formats of clubs without screens and technology, people who actively seek to disconnect and experience analog experiences. Phenomena like analog phones at home for children have become a new trend. The desire to
stay in control is also expressed in other areas: a record low in alcohol consumption in the US, and it turns out that 40 per cent of people worldwide avoid consuming news! If you are also in the trend, feel comfortable. This is a global phenomenon.
Change the Future
The third trend is active in every sense. After understanding what is bothering us (unease) and after trying to find security in the past and in disconnecting from technology, it is time to act. “Change the Future” means actively taking control of the change in the world. A global survey hows that 53 per cent of young people (18-35) think hostile activism drives change. And the intention is (among others): attacking people online or spreading disinformation. In practice, in recent months, we have seen protests by young people of Generation Z in various countries around the world, such as Madagascar, Indonesia, Nepal, and the Philippines. Activist activity attempting to change the future of young people in these countries. In my opinion, the election of Zohran Mamdani as the mayor of New York a few weeks ago, when high percentages of young people voted for him (about 80 per cent of young women in New York), also indicates a desire for change expressed by choosing a new political candidate. Mamdani offered young people an economic alternative. He himself is young (34-years-old), and his campaign addressed what is important to young people today: creating a future for them. A different kind of future.
What next?
What all these trends have in common is taking control. In a world where the future is unclear, and the feeling of unease only strengthens, people choose to take control of their lives. Over the future of their work, over what is considered a good life for them, over their wellbeing, and generally, over the kind of world they want to live in. The opportunities in light of these trends are first and foremost to build trust. In a world without trust, build trust. Tell the truth. People are looking for trustworthy business figures. And at the same time, allow people to choose. To decide. To navigate. People want to control their future. This is how relevant business leadership for 2026 is built. The unbinding trend is not a luxury, but a strategic necessity. The winners will be those who actively choose to shed what isn’t working and adopt new solutions.
Adi Yoffe is a leading Israeli Business Futurist and a popular keynote speaker. She is the author of the book Next and a lecturer at the Reichman University Business School in Israel.
