Twenty years ago, 2006 was a year that defined a generation. From groundbreaking albums to viral internet chaos, here are the cultural touchstones celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2026.
Brangelina Mania
REUTERSPascal Lauener
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie reached peak celebrity supercouple status in 2006. In January, Angelina confirmed she was pregnant with Brad's first biological child, and in May, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt was born. The media obsession with "Brangelina" was inescapable — they were the most talked-about couple on the planet.
"Get a Mac" Campaign
Apple's iconic "I'm a Mac / I'm a PC" ads debuted in 2006, with Justin Long as the cool, casual Mac and John Hodgman as the nerdy, uptight PC. The campaign ran for years and became one of the most memorable advertising series ever.
Twitter Launched
REUTERSDado Ruvic
In July 2006, Twitter was born. What started as a simple idea to share short status updates would eventually change how we communicate, break news, and consume information forever.
TomKat Tied the Knot
REUTERSRobert EvansHandout (ITALY)
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes got married in November 2006 in an extravagant Italian ceremony. The "TomKat" nickname was everywhere, and their relationship — complete with Tom's infamous couch-jumping Oprah moment from 2005 — was tabloid gold.
Facebook Opened to Everyone
REUTERS Robert Galbraith
In September 2006, Facebook stopped being just for students and opened registration to anyone over 13 with a valid email address. By the end of the year, 12 million people had accounts. The social media revolution was officially underway.
Nintendo Wii Dropped
Issei Kato Reuters
In November 2006, Nintendo revolutionized gaming with the Wii and its motion-control remote. Wii Sports came bundled with every console, and suddenly grandmas were bowling in their living rooms. The Wii became a cultural phenomenon and one of the best-selling consoles ever.
MUSIC THAT DEFINED 2006
Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds
REUTERS Max Morse
JT's second solo album dropped in September 2006 with Timbaland and Danja producing. The album gave us "SexyBack," "My Love," and "What Goes Around...Comes Around" — all massive hits that defined the sound of 2006.
Beyoncé - B'Day
REUTERSMario Anzuoni
Released on her 25th birthday, B'Day sold 541,000 copies in its first week. Big tracks included "Déjà Vu," "Irreplaceable," and "Beautiful Liar."
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
REUTERS Kieran Doherty
This album won five Grammys and made Amy a global icon. "Rehab," "You Know I'm No Good," and "Back to Black" became instant classics with her retro-sound.
Nelly Furtado - Loose
Kieran Doherty
Nelly's third album debuted at #1, giving us "Promiscuous," "Maneater," and "Say It Right" — all massive hits produced by Timbaland.
MOVIES THAT DOMINATED 2006
The Devil Wears Prada
Reuters Erin Siegal
Meryl Streep's icy portrayal of Miranda Priestly and Anne Hathaway's journey as her assistant became an instant classic. The fashion-world drama gave us countless quotable moments and cemented itself as a cultural phenomenon. And yes, a sequel is finally coming in 2026 — 20 years later.
Cars
REUTERSDavis Turner
Pixar's 7th film celebrated the studio's 20th anniversary in 2006. Lightning McQueen, Mater, and the town of Radiator Springs captured hearts and launched a merchandising empire that's still going strong.
Night at the Museum
REUTERS Eric Thayer
Ben Stiller brought the American Museum of Natural History to life in this family comedy that became a surprise hit, spawning two sequels and making museum sleepovers seem way cooler than they actually are.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
REUTERSToru Hanai
Johnny Depp returned as Captain Jack Sparrow in the sequel that became one of 2006's highest-grossing films. The Kraken, Davy Jones, and that iconic chest kept audiences hooked.
The Departed
REUTERSKeith Bedford
Martin Scorsese finally won his Best Director Oscar for this Boston crime thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Jack Nicholson. The film took home four Oscars total, including Best Picture.
TV SHOWS THAT LAUNCHED IN 2006
Hannah Montana
REUTERS Shannon Stapleton
Miley Cyrus became a household name as the teen living a double life — regular girl by day, pop star by night. The Disney Channel show launched in March 2006 and turned Miley into a global superstar, proving the power of the Disney machine.
Dexter
Michael C. Hall's portrayal of a blood-spatter analyst who moonlights as a serial killer premiered on Showtime in October 2006. The show's dark premise and compelling anti-hero made it one of the most talked-about series of the era.
30 Rock
REUTERS Mario Anzuoni
Tina Fey's behind-the-scenes comedy about a sketch show premiered in October 2006. With Alec Baldwin as the scene-stealing network executive and a stellar ensemble cast, the show became a critical darling and comedy gold.
Heroes
REUTERSFred Prouser
"Save the cheerleader, save the world." This NBC drama about ordinary people discovering they have superpowers debuted in September 2006 and became an instant phenomenon, capturing the zeitgeist of comic book culture going mainstream.
Friday Night Lights
"Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose." This small-town Texas football drama premiered in October 2006 and became a critical favorite, praised for its realistic portrayal of high school life and heartfelt storytelling.
2006 was a year that shaped pop culture as we know it. From the music we still play to the technology we use every day, these moments continue to influence us 20 years later. What did we miss that's turning 20 in 2026?
