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Let’s be real, it’s a little bit hard to look forward when what’s in front of us feels like a continual series of earthquakes. But we gotta keep living! Here are some of our predictions, hopes, dreads, and dreams for 2026. —Alicia Chesser
The Written Word Is Back, Baby!
With the resurrection of Oak Tree Books, the recent opening of Meadow Market Books on Cherry Street, and the surprising pop-up Bygone Magazines, I’m feeling better than ever about people holding words in their hands, as God intended, instead of on a screen, as Jeff Bezos intends. I’d love to see more bookshops and magazine shops all across the city; the more time people spend in bookshops, the less time they have to do things like run our education system into the ground, dump chicken shit in our rivers, or goon. All net goods for society! —Zack Reeves
The Music Industry Is Changing, And So Is Tulsa Hip-Hop
In 2026, I'll be paying attention to how artists release music. In 2025 a few major artists, such as 2 Chainz and Chance The Rapper, started selling more physical music, which has me wondering whether this will cause a trickle-down effect with more independent artists following suit, especially with the ethical concerns from Spotify's founder's investments. Also, with the rising costs of streaming, will pirating make a comeback?