Zara Larsson Summer of ‘26

Unless you’re living under a rock, ‘2026 is the new 2016’ is a phrase you must’ve come across at least once this year. Nostalgia has become one of the most prominent factors in building our aesthetic perception as the decade steps foot in the second half of the 2020s, and this same nostalgia has caused us to reminisce over and try to chase the feelings which seemingly belonged to the previous decade. IBCO Magazine previously stated that trends traditionally operate on a 20-year rule, but have recently been accelerated by social media into 10-year loops. Moreover, the trajectory of the Covid-19 pandemic has created stark before and after parallels of the period, making 2016 appear as a simpler, relaxed and more positive period, inducing a revival of the rose-coloured filters, pop-heavy makeup looks and fashion trends from the 2010s. 

Keeping all this in mind, one can say that after several vintage-retro, quiet-luxury and coastal-granddaughter themed summers, the waves on the beaches were ready to receive some bright, colourful and aggressively positive Zara Larsson energy. The singer started gaining traction once again at the end of 2024 through the Symphony meme which started surfacing on the internet. She then released her album Midnight Sun in 2025 with an enormous aesthetic evolution, and then in 2026 the nostalgia and reminiscence for the previous decade paved the way for her hit song Lush Life to turn into a huge trend globally. 

Photo: Pinterest

Teens could be seen performing the song’s dance routine all over Instagram and Tiktok, while the singer’s concert crowds were full of people in their denims, unapologetic neons, cut creases and colourful beachwear to relive the carefree, playful undertones in a way that lets them be absolutely themselves. There was an atmosphere of remembrance, if not complete application, of the fashion trends and statement pieces from 2016 such as slimmer silhouettes, colourful chokers, and chunky footwear. 

When she released Midnight Sun in 2025, Larsson brought about a sudden turnaround from her usual style palette and reintroduced herself as someone the media is calling the ‘cyber y2k Scandinavian barbie’, playing a huge part in revamping the y2k aesthetic in a way that blends excellently with the 2016 nostalgia that fans have been associating her with. Apart from being known for her outstanding vocal range and energetic choreography, she has also played a significant role in setting a palette for this year’s summer through an unapologetic burst of colour and beach-coded accessories in the shapes of dolphins, starfishes and hibiscus flowers, which reflect 2016’s free, playful energy without necessarily following its color palette. The aesthetic paired with her maximalist make-up and rhinestone décor makes her looks seem currently trending, as well as something people would’ve absolutely worn all the way back in Coachella 2016.

Photo: Pinterest

The artist has made her digital footprint almost impossible to forget. At the brink of fall, one can still open Instagram and find a teen group dancing to Lush Life, captioned ‘still not ready to let this go’. She hasn’t just helped in bringing 2016 back, but has reminded us why we loved it in the first place. And we will be forever grateful to her for adorning this summer with her tropical energy and expressive flair. 

XOXO, The Fashion Stock Market