2021 will proved mysteries, Huge hope in between huge infection
The Tokyo Olympics
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics were put on pause because of the pandemic, but are now scheduled for July 2021. It may not look like Olympics past -- the IOC says it will be a "simpler, more restrained approach," -- but that won't stop us from indulging in the communal joy of pretending to know how gymnastics is scored.
Eurovision Song Contest
Remember concerts? Remember music shows? Remember seeing big, undulating throngs of overly energetic people enjoying the vibes without a care in the world? Those may be coming back, and that includes the uber-popular Eurovision Song Contest, which was postponed from 2020.
NASA's Perseverance rover lands on Mars
Mars will get a new little inhabitant when NASA's Perseverance rover touches down in February. Like its charming rover predecessors in the Mars Exploration Program, Perseverance will no doubt have an entire Earth-bound fandom rooting it on.
Traveling and large gatherings
Raise your hand if the most exotic sight you've seen this year is literally anything outside your own home. Even if you're not planning a huge getaway once the pandemic gets better, just the idea that you could is kind of comforting.
Widespread Covid-19 immunity
Of course, for any of this exciting stuff to happen, we need safe pandemic practices, and a Covid-19 vaccine that's available to everyone. Several countries are starting to roll out vaccination plans, and it looks like there are more vaccine authorizations on the way.
UEFA Euro Championship
The quadrennial football tournament was supposed to be held in 2020, and it was supposed to be a special one marking the 60th anniversary of the contest. But don't worry, it will still be special when it kicks off this summer! Instead of one host region, the games will take place in 12 host countries around Europe, from Spain to Romania to Russia.
T20 Cricket World Cup
In other sports news, the International Cricket Council's Men's T20 World Cup will be back on -- postponed from 2020, of course -- in India in the fall. Americans, if you need a primer before you dip your toe in the waters of cricket fandom
The 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World
Speaking of milestones, October 1 will mark the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World. The park will also be unveiling lots of new things to do, including a "Ratatoiulle" attraction, a "Guardians of the Galaxy" ride and a "Tron" ride.
New climate policies and action
2020 was supposed to be the year the world's climate plans got on track. But ... they didn't. Next year may be better! The EU has put a seal on plans to reduce carbon emissions and pour billions into clean energy alternatives. China, the world's biggest polluter, has pledged to go carbon neutral by 2060.
The presidential Inauguration
No matter your politics, a presidential inauguration is a piece of history. So all eyes will be on the US in January when Joe Biden assumes the presidential duties. Kamala Harris, meanwhile, will make all kinds of history when she takes office as the first woman and first woman of color to serve as vice president.
New TV shows
If you've Netflixed all there is to Netflix, never fear! It will be a very fruitful TV year. The long-awaited "Friends" reunion is set to air in March. A "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" reboot is coming to Peacock, Netflix is developing a live-action version of the classic anime "Cowboy Bebop.
New movies
Where to start? Take a deep breath: "Dune" with Timothee Chalamet!" "Cinderella" with Billy Porter! A new "Coming to America" with Eddie Murphy! A new Bond film, "No Time to Die!" A new "Fantastic Beasts!" "Black Widow!" Oh, and Warner Brothers will stream their new movies on HBO Max the same day they drop in theaters.
Tom Cruise going to space
In addition to starring in the upcoming "Top Gun: Maverick," Tom Cruise will blast off -- literally -- when he works on the first narrative movie to be filmed in outer space. With the help of NASA and Elon Musk's SpaceX, Cruise will travel to the International Space Station to work on the project this year.
The largest brood of cicadas
Hope you like bugs, because billions of them will swarm parts of the US when Brood X, the largest and widest-ranging of the 15 US cicada broods, pops out of the ground in the spring. This is a once-in-17-years event, people! It's a cultural moment! It will take months to get the crunch crunch crunch sound of their abandoned shells out of your head.
6G
Now is the time to fess up if you don't actually know what terms like 4G, 5G and 6G actually mean. It refers to different generations of technology standards for cellular networks. In other words, it's the level at which your cell phone, internet and lots of other telecommunications architecture perform. That's why lots of people were excited about 5G.
Artificial intelligence. Everywhere
AI technology has been a huge focal point for a while now, but in 2021 we'll see it pop up in even more places. And no, not in a scary "Black Mirror" sort of way. Imagine, for instance, everything AI can do to help us interpret and use medical and scientific data if.
Drone delivery
Walmart, Amazon, UPS and others companies are stepping up their drone game, so don't be surprised if packages start landing at your door soon. The Federal Aviation Administration just released new rules about "unmanned aircraft," which will advance "the integration of drones into the national airspace system." Amazon's drone delivery service Prime Air got the go-head from the FAA earlier in 2020.
The Queen of England turns 95
Queen Elizabeth II is already the longest-reigning monarch in British history, and in 2021 she'll celebrate a similarly impressive accomplishment: Turning 95! Her birthday is April 21.
Highly anticipated concerts
ostalgia is going to have quite a year in 2021 with all of the reboots, remakes and reunions. Could we be getting another dose with a potential Spice Girls World Tour? There have been rumors swirling about a 25th anniversary tour, and Spice Girl Mel C herself hinted that it could be happening. Meanwhile, The Doobie Brothers will hit the road for their 50th anniversary tour in July.
New albums
Want your music a little more socially distanced? Evanescence, Kendrick Lamar, Kacey Musgraves, Lorde, Cardi B, Adele, the Foo Fighters and The Cure are all confirmed or heavily rumored to be releasing new albums this year.
Hugs
may we can get a feel a worm hug of our near and dear if we relief by corona.