2016 (twenty sixteen) (MMXVI) was .

The year was designated as the International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Events

January
 January 3 – Following the fallout caused by the execution of Nimr al-Nimr, Saudi Arabia ends its diplomatic relations with Iran.
 January 8 – Joaquín Guzmán, widely regarded as the world's most powerful drug trafficker, is recaptured following his escape from a maximum security prison.
 January 16 – The International Atomic Energy Agency announces that Iran has adequately dismantled its nuclear weapons program, allowing the United Nations to lift sanctions immediately.
 January 28 - WHO announces an outbreak of the Zika Virus.

February

March
 March 22 - 34 people are killed in bombings in Brussels.

June
 June 22 - The majority of United Kingdom residents vote to leave the European Union.

July
 July 10 – Brum released after 1991, 1994, 2001 and 2002.
 July 15 – BabyBus released on YouTube.

August
 August 5 – August 21 – 2016 Summer Olympics are held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

November
 November 8 – Donald Trump wins the United States Presidential election while Republicans retain control of Congress.

December
 December 31 – The last United States troops withdrew from Afghanistan, bringing the War in Afghanistan to an end.

Predicted events
 April 4 – Square root day.
 May 9 – Transit of Mercury
 June 11 – July 3 – 2016 European Football Championship (Host scheduled to be picked in May 2010)
 June 29 – Analog shut-off in Brazil

Unknown dates 
 European Capital Of Culture 2016 – European Union choose two European cities, from Poland and from Spain to become the European Capitals Of Culture in this year.
 The right for the U.S. forces to use Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands as a military base will end at this year, but there will be a provision for an automatic extension for another 20 years for the US forces to remain stationed on the island.
 Start of unmanned test flights of Altair for future U.S. lunar landings.
 ITER, an international scientific experiment (2nd largest worldwide ever) into developing nuclear fusion as an energy source will boot up for the first time.
 Files concerning Rudolf Hess made open to the public
 The Centralia, Pennsylvania time capsule will open
 NASA Juno, Jupiter orbiter
 The world's largest suspension bridge will be completed, connecting Sicily and main land Italy.

Deaths

In fiction

Computer and video games 
 Games set in 2016:
 Body Harvest (1998)
 Metal Gear Acid (2004)
 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (2005)
 Terminator Salvation (video game) (2009)
 Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
 Ace Combat 6 (2008)

Movies 
 Ghostbusters II (1989): According to a guest on Peter Venkman's talk show, the end of the world will occur on February 14.

Television series 
 Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995–1996): The controversial completion of the top-secret Human Instrumentality Project brings about the apocalyptic Third Impact, merging all human individuals into a single consummate being.
 In an episode of Phil of the Future, Phil states that chores were banned in the year 2016.
 The Vampire Dairies Elena/ Nina Dobrev will come back!

References

Other websites