Top Viral Trends and Videos Take Over India in January 2026
From nostalgia-driven reels to blockbuster trailers and heart-warming street moments, January 2026 has delivered a fresh wave of viral content across India’s social media platforms. Here’s a clean, verified roundup of the top 10 viral trends and videos dominating Instagram, YouTube, and X.
1. “2026 Is the New 2016” Nostalgia Trend
The biggest social media movement of the month.
What’s Going Viral
- Old, blurry photos and throwback carousels from 2016
- Aesthetic “flashback dumps” with lo-fi filters
Celebrity Boost
- Kangana Ranaut
- Dia Mirza
- Bipasha Basu
Trending Tags:
#2026IsTheNew2016, #NostalgiaCore, #Flashback2016
2. Border 2 Official Trailer
The most-watched Indian trailer of January.
Why It’s Exploding
- Patriotic high-budget visuals
- Star power featuring:
- Sunny Deol
- Varun Dhawan
- Diljit Dosanjh
Release Date: January 23, 2026
Tags: #Border2Trailer, #SunnyDeolIsBack
3. Yogi Adityanath and the “Chips” Toddler
A rare wholesome political moment.
The Viral Moment
At Gorakhnath Temple’s Khichdi Festival, Yogi Adityanath asks a toddler what he wants. The child softly replies: “Chips.”
Why It Worked
- Unscripted
- Human
- Meme-friendly
Tags: #ChipsToddler, #YogiAdityanathViral
4. Pawan Singh – Odhaniya Ae Gori
Bhojpuri music continues its YouTube dominance.
Stats
- 50+ million views in record time
- High-energy choreography
Artists
- Pawan Singh
- Shilpi Raj
Tags: #OdhaniyaAeGori, #BhojpuriBanger2026
5. The 26km Birthday Run
Romantic — and controversial.
The Story
A Mumbai man runs 26 km for his girlfriend’s 26th birthday, without earphones, documenting the mindful journey.
Audience Reaction
- Half calling it “relationship goals”
- Half calling it “too much effort”
Tags: #26kmRun, #BirthdayGestureViral
6. Amitabh Bachchan & Sachin Tendulkar’s Finger Cricket
Pure internet gold.
Why It Went Viral
Two Indian legends playing finger cricket across a table:
- Amitabh Bachchan
- Sachin Tendulkar
Tags: #FingerCricket, #LegendsOnly
7. “Purple Rain” & “Heroes” Revival
Music nostalgia meets pop culture.
Trigger
The Stranger Things finale pushed classic tracks back into Reels.
Trending Audio
- Purple Rain
- Heroes
Tags: #StrangerThingsFinale, #80sReels
8. The “Chipkali Dress” Fashion Fail
Comedy content wins again.
What Happened
A woman attempts a “lizard-inspired” avant-garde outfit — which literally starts falling apart mid-walk.
Why It Works
- Visual comedy
- Meme adaptability
Tags: #ChipkaliDress, #FashionFail2026
9. Minecraft “Elemental God” Challenge
Gaming still owns Gen-Z attention.
Trend
Indian creators dominate with “Birth to Death” elemental gameplay challenges.
Popular Niches
- Minecraft SMP
- GTA 5 roleplay
Tags: #MinecraftIndia, #ElementalGod
10. Delivery Rider Surprise Birthday
The month’s most emotional viral clip.
The Moment
A Mumbai family surprises their food delivery rider with a cake and birthday celebration at their doorstep.
Why It Resonated
- Kindness
- Relatability
- No scripting
Tags: #DeliveryHero, #HumanityFirst
Trending Keywords for Creators (Jan 2026)
Entertainment:
Border 2, Pawan Singh, Stranger Things Finale
Social Media:
2016 Throwback, Finger Cricket, 26km Run
Politics / Current:
Yogi Adityanath, Khichdi Festival
Lifestyle:
VisionBoard2026, TravelNostalgia
⚠️ Security Advisory
Avoid viral links claiming “Fatima Jatoi Leak” or “7:11 Viral Video.”
Cybersecurity experts have flagged these as phishing and scam bait designed to steal personal data.
