The Simpsons’ uncanny writing somehow seems an eschatological portal that in numerous occasions than one, has strangely come true, including the Donald Trump presidency (season 11, episode 17, 2000), Twitter’s transformation to X (season 23, episode 21, 2021), the Ebola outbreak (season 9, episode 3, 1997), the Apple Vision Pro (season 28, episode 2, 2016), and more.
Created in 1989 by animator Matt Groening, The Simpsons is currently running its 37th season with 798 episodes since inception.
As unsettling as it may sound, predicting the future based on one of the longest-running sitcoms in television history, we are gonna dive into our annual tradition of tuning in and asking the cartoon Nostradamus how 2026 will turn out to be.
Season 7, Episode 5, 1996 | Veganism 2.0?
It has never been scarier than it was 30 years ago, as the wealthiest hoard wealth, travel in jets, and generally dgaf about the underprivileged; the normies bear the brunt of every looming crisis, especially nutrition. While the poorest are deprived of protein, the wealthiest flaunt a lifestyle purportedly condemning animal cruelty, following the doctrine of veganism. In some manner, season 7’s aforementioned episode, entitled Lisa the Vegetarian, innocuously foresaw the future. The veganism movement has always been here and more so in the past decade. But will it revive as a tokenism trend under the banner of PETA in 2026? Hope not.
Season 4, Episode 21, 1993 | Pandemic 2.0?
The episode entitled Marge in Chains eerily showcases the global pandemic that sent the world into lockdown in 2020. Will it revive? We hope not. But do we have a say in how events unfold in the future?
Season 4, Episode 3, 1993 | Climate Catastrophe?
With more volcanoes erupting than ever, the sun erupting coronal mass like a drunk, unseasonal floods, melting glaciers, ever-rising levels of pollution, and more crises, The Simpsons’ episode entitled Homer the Heretic was never farther from being materialized in 2026. The weather pattern is altering. The fuel crisis will only grow. Shortage of critical materials means no chips, no EV batteries. The utopian future envisaged by the billionaires (then trillionaires) might only be confined to their underground nuclear-safe bunkers.
Season 8, Episode 10, 1998 | Alien Contact?
The episode entitled The Springfield Files shows the titular character in the animated show run into an alleged ET. [SPOILER ALERT] it was not! With more disclosures happening than ever in the history of mankind, one wonders if these are red herrings or if intelligent life is truly out there. As the third-ever recorded interstellar object, 3I/ATLAS makes its bizarre maneuver in the solar system, believers have their fingers crossed, hoping it turns out to be anything but a mere comet.
See Also: ‘The Simpsons’ Parodied ‘Stranger Things,’ And Of Course, Lisa Was Eleven
See Also: ‘The Simpsons’ Came Eerily Close To Predicting The Coronavirus And Murder Hornets
Cover: The Simpsons