Look Back To 2016: What Happened That Year

Leicester won the league, Britain voted to leave and a lot of people died.

Here's 2016 in full - the music, the news, the screen, the sport and the ordinary details. Good for a birthday card, a party quiz round or a reminiscence session.

In the charts in 2016

• David Bowie died on 10 January, two days after releasing Blackstar; Prince died in April; George Michael died on Christmas Day.
• 'One Dance' by Drake was the year's best-selling single.
• Clean Bandit's 'Rockabye' was the Christmas number one.

In the news in 2016

• The EU referendum on 23 June voted to leave; David Cameron resigned and Theresa May became Prime Minister in July.
• Donald Trump was elected President in November.
• The Chilcot report on Iraq was published in July.

On screen in 2016

• Planet Earth II drew audiences that beat The X Factor.
• Bake Off moved to Channel 4, and Mel, Sue and Mary Berry stayed behind.
• Stranger Things made Netflix a talking point.

In sport in 2016

• Leicester City won the Premier League from 5000-1.
• Britain finished second in the Rio Olympic medal table with 27 golds.
• England lost to Iceland at Euro 2016.
• Andy Murray won Wimbledon again and ended the year world number one.

Everyday life in 2016

• Pokemon Go had the whole country walking about in July.
• The pound fell sharply after the referendum.
• The word Brexit became unavoidable.

If you were born in 2016

• Anyone born in 2016 was born the year Leicester won the league.
• They arrived in the referendum summer.
• Anyone born in 2016 turns 30 in 2046, 40 in 2056, 50 in 2066, 60 in 2076 and 70 in 2086.
• For a milestone card, the strongest line is usually the number one from the week they were born rather than the year's biggest events - it's personal, and it takes two minutes to find.
• For a reminiscence session, read one section at a time and stop on whatever gets a reaction. The point is the conversation, not the facts.

Shop birthday cards

How to write it so it lands

• The number one from the week they were born beats the year's headlines on a card.
• Read one section at a time in a reminiscence session and stop where the conversation starts.
• Use it as a guess-the-year round by reading three facts and hiding the date.

Where to shop next

• Look back to 2019
• Look back to 2018
• Look back to 2017
• Look back to 2015
• Look back to 2014
• Look back to 2013
• The 2010s: the whole decade
• 2010s party playlist
• Phone party games
• How to run a quiz night
• Decade music round questions
• Guess the year quiz
• The 2020s so far
• The 2000s: the whole decade
• The 1990s: the whole decade
• The 1980s: the whole decade
• The 1970s: the whole decade
• The 1960s: the whole decade
• The 1950s: the whole decade
• The 1940s: the whole decade
• The 1930s: the whole decade
• The 1920s: the whole decade
• Decade calendar: every year from 1920
• Decade trivia: fun facts by era
• Decade trivia game: play for points
• Decade guides: books, films and TV by era
• Decade recipes: dishes and food trends by era
• Decade travel: destinations and holidays by era
• Decade tech: gadgets and computers by era
• Decade films: best movies and directors by era
• Decade art: artists, styles and trends by era
• Decade books: best novels, authors and reading trends
• Music by decade: albums, artists and songs
• Decade fashion: clothes, hair and accessories by era
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• Retro party supplies
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• Care home reminiscence quiz
• Reminiscence gifts for grandparents
• Milestone birthday cards
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• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What was the EU referendum result?

On 23 June 2016, 51.9 per cent voted to leave and 48.1 per cent to remain.

What was the Christmas number one in 2016?

'Rockabye' by Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul and Anne-Marie.

How old is someone born in 2016?

Subtract 2016 from the current year. They turn 40 in 2056, 50 in 2066, 60 in 2076 and 70 in 2086.

Do you sell anything to do with this year?

We make greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK, including milestone birthday cards. This page itself is free to read and free to copy.