2016: Year

The year was designated as the International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly.

January

• January 3 – Following the fallout caused by the execution of Nimr al-Nimr, Saudi Arabia ends its diplomatic relations with Iran.
• January 8 – Joaquín Guzmán, widely regarded as the world's most powerful drug trafficker, is recaptured following his escape from a maximum security prison.
• January 10 – Singer, musician and actor David Bowie died of cancer two days after his 69th birthday.
• January 16 – The International Atomic Energy Agency announces that Iran has adequately dismantled its nuclear weapons program, allowing the United Nations to lift sanctions immediately.
• January 28 - WHO announces an outbreak of the Zika Virus.

February

March

• March 22 - 34 people are killed in bombings in Brussels.

June

• June 22 - The majority of United Kingdom residents vote to leave the European Union.

July

• July 10 – Brum released after 1991, 1994, 2001 and 2002.
• July 15 – BabyBus released on YouTube.

August

• August 5 – August 21 – 2016 Summer Olympics are held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

October

• October 13 – Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of Thailand, dies aged 88 after more than 70 years on the throne. He was the world's longest-serving head of state at the time of his death.

November

• November 8 – Donald Trump wins the United States Presidential election while Republicans retain control of Congress.
• November 25 - Former President of Cuba Fidel Castro dies aged 90.

December

• December 31 – The last United States troops withdrew from Afghanistan, bringing the War in Afghanistan to an end.

• April 4 – Square root day.
• May 9 – Transit of Mercury
• June 11 – July 3 – 2016 European Football Championship (Host scheduled to be picked in May 2010)
• June 29 – Analog shut-off in Brazil

Unknown dates

• European Capital Of Culture 2016 – European Union choose two European cities, from Poland and from Spain to become the European Capitals Of Culture in this year.
• The right for the U.S. forces to use Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands as a military base will end at this year, but there will be a provision for an automatic extension for another 20 years for the US forces to remain stationed on the island.
• Start of unmanned test flights of Altair for future U.S. lunar landings.
• ITER, an international scientific experiment (2nd largest worldwide ever) into developing nuclear fusion as an energy source will boot up for the first time.
• Files concerning Rudolf Hess made open to the public
• The Centralia, Pennsylvania time capsule will open
• NASA Juno, Jupiter orbiter
• The world's largest suspension bridge will be completed, connecting Sicily and main land Italy.

Computer and video games

• Games set in 2016:
  • Body Harvest (1998)
  • Metal Gear Acid (2004)
  • Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (2005)
  • Terminator Salvation (video game) (2009)
  • Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
  • Ace Combat 6 (2008)

Movies

• Ghostbusters II (1989): According to a guest on Peter Venkman's talk show, the end of the world will occur on February 14.

Television series

• Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995–1996): The controversial completion of the top-secret Human Instrumentality Project brings about the apocalyptic Third Impact, merging all human individuals into a single consummate being.
• In an episode of Phil of the Future, Phil states that chores were banned in the year 2016.
• The Vampire Dairies Elena/ Nina Dobrev will come back!