# Americans head into 2026 with a mix of hope and worry

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/culture/americans-head-into-2026-with-a-mix-of-hope-and-worry/

> Indexed question in Culture.

## Reading

Americans enter 2026 with worry and hope at almost the same level. Four in ten feel at least somewhat worried about the year, including 20% who are very worried, and 40% feel at least somewhat hopeful, including 15% who are very hopeful, according to a Verasight survey conducted Dec. 22, 2025 to Jan. 5, 2026.

The remaining one-in-five (20%) call their outlook for the year neutral.

## Topline

When you think about 2026 overall, which best describes your outlook?

Americans head into 2026 with a mix of hope and worry.

- Somewhat hopeful: 24.9%
- Somewhat worried: 20.9%
- Neutral: 19.9%
- Very worried: 19.5%
- Very hopeful: 14.7%

## Methodology

- Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population: United States adults
- Field dates: 2025-12-22 → 2026-01-05
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.1%
- Module: predictions
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight for AI and predictions questions; weight_popculture for pop culture questions
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Source

- Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-predictions#outlook-for-2026](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-predictions#outlook-for-2026)

## Citation

2026 Predictions Survey #2025-183, fielded December 22, 2025-January 5, 2026, N=1,000 United States adults, +/- 3.1%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-predictions#outlook-for-2026](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-predictions#outlook-for-2026)