If last year was anything to go by, 2026 will be a whirlwind. Insurgent political parties, new trade barriers and unreliable allies have upended the old world order. In the face of such tumultuous change, it feels impossible to even try and imagine what lies in store in 2026.

Yet, as our 2026 collection shows, signals are often hiding in plain sight. Every year, Nesta publishes a series of articles predicting the shape of things to come. These can be data points, observations or insights from the field that carry significant, if uncertain, implications for the future. They surface ideas and innovations that might be missed at first glance but are nonetheless important. 

Take sand crime - who would have thought that there would be profit in stealing something that can be found in abundance in many of the world’s deserts and coasts? It turns out that only certain types of sand are appropriate for construction, where this resource is being used in spades to build cities across the globe. With some predicting that supplies will run out much sooner than one might think, this could be the year that efforts to change how sand is tracked, governed and even manufactured gain real momentum.

Another example of something we now take for granted is GPS, which powers the maps on our phones. Jamming, spoofing and even storms on the sun can disrupt the GPS signal needed for everything from meeting our friends at a new restaurant to taking money out of cash machines. To help prevent overreliance on the system, innovators are developing devices that use quantum technologies to aid navigation. 

Talking of space, in the past year, government agencies and billionaires have doubled down on plans to colonise other parts of the solar system. Reusable rockets, commercial space flights and long-distance missions have captured the public imagination. But will the more human aspects of space colonisation soon come to the fore - can humans live beyond Earth for sustained periods? We've captured this question by exploring whether one factor necessary for living beyond Earth, human reproduction in space, will start to transition from theory to reality in 2026.

These are just three of the trends, technologies and innovations showcased in our 2026 Signals. Alongside emerging technology to fix potholes, advertising messages targeting us in our homes through appearing on our fridges and other household appliances, crowd-sourced bus routes, AI ministers and new citizen collectives to manage data, there are surely more developments sitting right under our noses. Do take the time to dive into the collection to uncover what the year ahead might hold.

Want to learn more about our 2026 Future Signal collection?

Join us live at our 2026 Future Signals event hosted by BBC Technology Editor Zoe Kleinman on 29 January in central London. Hear from the authors, network with foresight experts, and explore our immersive cinema that brings to life our 2026 collection.