The new year means one thing for Simpsons fans: time to dig through Springfield’s episodes and claim Matt Groening predicted the world again.
With 37 seasons and roughly 800 episodes under its belt, The Simpsons has a long history of “predicting” major events—from Donald Trump’s presidency to the Covid-19 pandemic.
And now, people are saying some of the show’s eeriest forecasts are unfolding in 2026.
The ‘Osaka Flu’
Back in 1993, the episode Marge in Chains saw Springfield hit by the fictional Osaka Flu. Fast forward to today, and fans are linking it to the current H3N2 flu outbreak in the US.
According to the CDC, around 11 million Americans have fallen ill this season, 5,000 have died, and 120,000 have been hospitalised.
Smart Homes Gone Wrong
In the 2001 Treehouse of Horror XII, Homer turns the family home into a high-tech paradise—but the smart house goes rogue and tries to kill him.
With Alexa plugs, smart fridges, and fully automated homes now part of everyday life in 2026, some viewers say Springfield was warning us early.
World War III?
Season 6’s Lisa’s Wedding jokingly references a future World War III. While we can’t say this one’s happened yet, fans are nervously holding out hope it stays fictional.
AI Taking Over Jobs
In 2012’s Them, Robot, Mr. Burns fires his workers and replaces them with robots, which quickly go haywire. Fast forward to today, and AI is moving into roles humans used to do—something tech experts, including Google’s Geoffrey Hinton, are warning could be a real-world risk.
Whether it’s coincidence, clever writing, or a crystal ball only Matt Groening has access to, one thing’s clear: fans will never stop hunting for Springfield’s next prediction.
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