A lot happened this year, and it’s tough to pinpoint the top moments when it feels like there are just too many to choose from. But culturally, a few stood out and cut through the noise. Beyond making headlines or merely going viral, many of these sparked wider cultural conversations, marking pivots and breakthroughs—and did more than just add shock value to our timelines.

We’ve narrowed down the top moments across sports, music, beauty, film, and fashion that changed the cultural landscape and transformed their industries. Although this year raced by, here are some moments to press pause on.

Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show

What made Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance iconic boiled down to a few key elements. Aside from being one of the most powerful voices in music today, he also took the Super Bowl halftime stage—which attracted over 133.5 million viewers, an audience even larger than the game itself—to deliver a political and symbolism-rich message. From red, white, and blue dancers forming a US flag to playful jabs woven into his diss track “Not Like Us,” Kendrick made it clear he had something to say. His performance in New Orleans also included a few unexpected special guests, featuring a dance cameo from Serena Williams and duets with SZA.

Latin Music Continues to Top Charts

Earlier in January, Bad Bunny released his sixth solo album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, which instantly became a global masterpiece. Following this success, it was just announced that in 2025, he was Spotify’s top artist globally, with 19.8 billion streams. Similarly, Rosalía’s November release, LUX, also attracted widespread attention. Many outlets ranked her album among the year’s best, praising its use of 13 languages, genre fusion, and incorporation of religious, feminine, and cultural imagery. Together, these releases are expanding the genre’s presence on international stages.

Elf Acquired Rhode for $1 Billion

While this news sent shockwaves through the beauty industry, was it really all that surprising? In May, Hailey Bieber’s multi-category beauty brand Rhode was acquired by Elf Beauty for $1 billion. Known for its signature “glazed-donut” look, powered by hydrating, milky, dewy formulas, the brand launched in 2022. This acquisition has quickly become one of the most high-profile beauty deals in recent years for a company so young (yet so innovative). Since its debut, Rhode has rapidly established itself as a disruptor across content, commerce, and community. This year in particular, the brand grew rapidly, landing in Sephora stores across North America and the UK. We’re eager to see what Mrs. Bieber brings to the table in 2026. Rumour has it—based on a recent TikTok GRWM—it might be a cream bronzer.

The Wicked Era

With constant snippets of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande peppered across social media explore pages, 2025 felt like the year of the never-ending Wicked press tour. Last year’s film Wicked became the most successful Broadway film adaptation of all time and earned 10 Academy Award nominations. For its final chapter, the release of Wicked: For Good was revealed a year later in November 2025. Directed by Jon M. Chu, an award-winning director, and starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who have just been nominated for the 2026 Golden Globes for their performances as Elphaba and Glinda, the film has grossed over $750 million worldwide to date.

Met Gala Theme of ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’

This year, the Met Gala looks truly delivered (which is sadly a rarity). Typically, it’s the moment when fashion critics weigh in on the best and worst-dressed guests—with the latter usually being the longer list. But this year, it felt like the theme was actually interpreted with intention. The theme centred on black dandyism, an aesthetic and cultural movement that emerged in the 18th century, allowing Black men and women to use clothing to redefine their identities and explore new political and social avenues. On the carpet, that history was expressed through menswear-inspired silhouettes, sharp tailoring, and ample suiting. Many guests arrived in custom looks by Black designers, grounding their interpretations in the theme’s full history and richness.

Feature image courtesy of Rhode.