2016

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 12 - Praising ISIS, Omar Mateen shoots up a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, leaving 49 dead and 53 hurt in the deadliest act of terrorism against the LGBT community since the September 11 attacks and the 2nd deadliest overall mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
• June 13 - U.S. President Barack Obama gives a televised address to the nation from the White House following the attack on a gay nightclub in which a gunman killed 49 people and calls the gunman a crazed lunatic who had a bad childhood and blamed the shooting on Grand Theft Auto 6.
• 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 2 – The Chicago Cubs win their first World Series championship in 108 years, defeating the Cleveland Indians in seven games. This ended the longest championship drought in North American sports.
• 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.

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 Archived 2016-11-20 at the Wayback Machine will come back!