Presidents, world war and outer space: The Simpsons' chilling 2026 predictions – and the series has been right before

The Simpsons is one of the longest running series ever and throughout its 17 seasons and 803 episodes (can you believe that), it's made some scarily accurate predictions.

From Presidents to pandemics, the animated sitcom's satirical look at life has actually resulted in many things eerily true.

So, what could the show predict is in store for 2026?

The rise of AI and robots

In 2012 episode "Them, Robot", AI quickly takes over the jobs of many Springfield residents.

Mr Burns replaces all his workers at the power plant except Homer with robots that rise up and try to kill him.

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While it's no secret that AI is shaking up job markets around the world, hopefully we're still a ways off murderous metal co-workers.

Smart technology running our homes

Long before any of us could check in with our fridge while we're out and about, The Simpsons predicted that would be the case.

In 2001, back when a fridge was just a fridge, the "Treehouse of Horror XII" episode saw the Simpson family move into a smart house that can take care of all the housework.

Unfortunately, the house takes a liking to Marge – and driven mad by love, attempts to kill Homer. We're learning Homer and technology do not mix well.

Smart technology is increasingly popular and while at this point it seems unlikely any of it will fall in love with us... you can never rule it out.

Space tourism

We've already seen billionaires and Katy Perry go to space. Could you be next?

Way back in 1994, an episode titled "Deep Space Homer" predicts space travel for the general population.

Homer is chosen by NASA to go to space with Buzz Aldrin to try and make space travel more appealing to your average Joe.

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The Simpsons has already had one space-related prediction come true. In 2014, it showed Richard Branson kicking back in his own spaceship, seven years before he actually made a voyage with Virgin Galactic.

World War III

Sorry. We told you these predictions were grim.

There is a lot of global instability at the moment, but here's hoping a third world war isn't on the horizon.

It has been referenced multiple times during The Simpsons' run though, with the show predicting that that UK will be a key player in a future conflict.

The 1995 episode "Lisa's Wedding" takes place in a future where Lisa is marrying her British fiancé, Hugh Parkfield.

Hugh visits Moe's Tavern with Homer and Bart, where conversation turns to world wars.

Moe tells Hugh the Americans "saved their arse in WW2", but Hugh responds: "Well, we saved your arse in WW3".

What has 'The Simpsons' correctly predicted before?

President Donald Trump

It's perhaps the show's most well known prediction, made way back in 2000.

In "Bart To The Future", Lisa becomes President of the United States and is tasked with rebuilding the country and its foreign relationships following the previous administration...

"As you know, we've inherited quite a budget crunch from President Trump," she says.

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Spooky. Of course, Trump was elected President for real in 2016 (and again in 2024).

Things got super meta during the show's first episode following the 2016 Presidential election.

In the opening sequence, Bart's chalkboard punishment phrase was "Being right sucks".

A global pandemic

Springfield was struck by a flu in the 1993 episode "Marge in Chains" and parallels were quickly drawn as the world grappled with COVID-19.

In the episode, residents become sick after being infected by an illness via packages from Osaka, Japan.

But what was most reminiscent of our lives in 2020 and 2021 was the portrayal of the social breakdown that happened in the wake of the disease.

London's The Shard

Now this one is WEIRD.

In the "Lisa's Wedding" episode, the show featured a futuristic London skyline with a very distinctive building.

Years later, the city's famous The Shard skyscraper was built – and it happened to be in the very same location.

Hopefully in 2026, it's successful predictions turn out more Shard than killer robot.

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