360The future, 60 words at a time
What is already known about the years ahead, from events that are confirmed to eclipses calculated to the minute. Each entry says how certain it is, and moves to History once it has happened.
Calculated by science, such as eclipses, comets and calendar dates. Almost certain.
Officially awarded or scheduled, such as tournaments and world fairs. Dates can still shift.
Milestones that follow from history, such as centenaries.
Official goals and plans. They may change.
Expert forecasts, such as population. Uncertain.
The next 10 years
- 2026Confirmed
COP31 climate summit in Antalya, Türkiye
From 9 to 20 November 2026, the United Nations climate conference, COP31, meets at the Antalya Expo Center in Türkiye. Governments from nearly every country will negotiate how to cut emissions and adapt to a warming world. World leaders gather on 11 and 12 November. Climate talks often run past their scheduled closing day.
- 2027Confirmed
Saudi Arabia hosts the AFC Asian Cup
From 7 January to 5 February 2027, Saudi Arabia hosts the AFC Asian Cup, the championship of Asian national football teams, for the first time. Twenty-four teams will play in eight stadiums in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar. It is the first of several major tournaments the Kingdom will host on the road to the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
- 2027Anniversary
300 years since the founding of the First Saudi State
Founding Day 2027 marks 300 years since Imam Muhammad bin Saud founded the First Saudi State in Diriyah in 1727. Three centuries on, the Kingdom celebrates its deep roots every 22 February with heritage, traditional dress and national pride.
- 2027Planned
Artemis III tests moon landers in Earth orbit
NASA plans Artemis III for mid-2027: a crewed mission of about two weeks in Earth orbit to practise meeting and docking with the two lunar landers being built by SpaceX and Blue Origin. NASA has said the mission is running behind schedule, so the date may slip. Its results will help decide which lander goes to the Moon first.
- 2027Predicted
The century's longest total solar eclipse on land
On 2 August 2027, the Moon will completely cover the Sun along a path crossing Spain, North Africa, Egypt and western Saudi Arabia, including Jeddah and Makkah. Near Luxor in Egypt, totality will last about six minutes and 23 seconds, the longest total eclipse on land this century.
- 2027Confirmed
Australia hosts the Rugby World Cup
From 1 October to 13 November 2027, Australia hosts the men's Rugby World Cup. For the first time, 24 teams take part, up from 20, with a new round of 16 knockout stage. Matches will be played in cities across Australia. It is the first time Australia has hosted the tournament alone since 2003.
- 2027Confirmed
Southern Africa hosts the Cricket World Cup
In October and November 2027, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia host the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, the one-day international championship. Fourteen teams will compete. It is the second time the tournament has been held in Africa, after 2003, and Namibia's first time as a host.
- 2028Planned
Artemis IV aims to land astronauts on the Moon
NASA plans Artemis IV in 2028 as the first crewed Moon landing since Apollo 17 in 1972. Astronauts would travel on the Orion spacecraft and descend to the surface near the lunar south pole in a SpaceX or Blue Origin lander. Space schedules often slip, so the date is a target, not a promise.
- 2028Confirmed
The Olympic Games return to Los Angeles
In July 2028, Los Angeles hosts the Summer Olympic Games for the third time, after 1932 and 1984. The programme includes new sports such as cricket, flag football and squash. The Paralympic Games follow in August.
- 2028Predicted
A total solar eclipse crosses Australia and New Zealand
On 22 July 2028, the Moon's shadow crosses Australia from the Kimberley in the northwest to Sydney in the southeast, then passes over New Zealand's South Island. Along the path, day will turn to twilight for several minutes. Sydney will see its first total solar eclipse in more than 150 years.
- 2029Predicted
Asteroid Apophis passes close to Earth
On 13 April 2029, the asteroid Apophis, about 340 metres wide, will pass about 32,000 kilometres above Earth's surface, closer than many satellites. It poses no danger. It will be visible without a telescope from parts of Europe, Africa and Asia, and a NASA spacecraft will study it afterwards.
- 2030Planned
Saudi Vision 2030 reaches its target year
2030 is the target year of Saudi Vision 2030, the national plan launched in 2016 to diversify the economy, grow tourism, culture and sport, and raise quality of life. Many of its goals, from new industries to giga-projects such as NEOM and the Red Sea destinations, are measured against this year.
- 2030Confirmed
The French Alps host the Winter Olympics
In February 2030, the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games come to the French Alps, with events spread across mountain resorts and the city of Nice. It is France's fourth Winter Olympics, after Chamonix in 1924, Grenoble in 1968 and Albertville in 1992.
- 2030Confirmed
The World Cup celebrates its 100th year
The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain, marking 100 years since the first tournament in Uruguay in 1930. To celebrate the centenary, the opening matches are planned in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
- 2030Confirmed
Expo 2030 opens in Riyadh
World Expo 2030 is planned to open in Riyadh on 1 October 2030 and run for six months, under the theme 'The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow'. Countries from around the world will present ideas and innovations, and the Kingdom expects tens of millions of visits.
- 2030Planned
The International Space Station is retired
NASA and its partners plan to retire the International Space Station around the end of 2030 and guide it to a controlled re-entry over a remote part of the Pacific Ocean in 2031. Commercial space stations are being developed to take over its role in orbit.
- 2031Anniversary
200 years since Faraday learned to make electricity from magnetism
On 29 August 2031, it will be 200 years since Michael Faraday showed that a changing magnetic field creates an electric current. His discovery, electromagnetic induction, still powers the world: every generator in every power station works on the same principle.
- 2032Confirmed
Brisbane hosts the Olympic Games
In 2032, the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games come to Brisbane, in Queensland, Australia. It will be Australia's third Summer Olympics, after Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000.
- 2032Anniversary
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia turns 100
On 23 September 2032, Saudi National Day marks 100 years since King Abdulaziz Al Saud proclaimed the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932. A century after its founding, the Kingdom celebrates its journey from unification to a modern nation with a growing global role.
- 2032Predicted
Asteroid 2024 YR4 passes close to the Moon
On 22 December 2032, asteroid 2024 YR4, about 60 m wide, will pass about 21,000 km from the Moon's surface. Soon after its discovery, it briefly had a small chance of hitting Earth, which was ruled out in 2025. In March 2026, James Webb Space Telescope observations also ruled out a Moon impact. It poses no danger.
- 2034Confirmed
Salt Lake City hosts the Winter Olympics again
In February 2034, Salt Lake City and the mountains of Utah in the United States host the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, 32 years after they first held them in 2002. Organisers plan to reuse venues from 2002 rather than build new ones.
- 2034Confirmed
Riyadh hosts the Asian Games
In 2034, Riyadh hosts the Asian Games, the largest multi-sport event after the Olympics, with thousands of athletes from across Asia. The Olympic Council of Asia awarded the Games to Riyadh in December 2020. They will be the first Asian Games held in Saudi Arabia.
- 2034Confirmed
Saudi Arabia hosts the FIFA World Cup
In 2034, Saudi Arabia hosts the FIFA World Cup, the world's most watched sporting event. Forty-eight teams are expected to play in 15 stadiums across Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha and NEOM. It will be the first men's World Cup hosted by Saudi Arabia.
- 2035Predicted
A total solar eclipse crosses China, Korea and Japan
On 2 September 2035, a total solar eclipse will sweep across northern China, including near Beijing, then the Korean Peninsula and central Japan, before heading out over the Pacific. Hundreds of millions of people live close to the path of totality.
- 2035Planned
LISA, an observatory for ripples in space, is due to launch
Around 2035, the European Space Agency, working with NASA, plans to launch LISA: three spacecraft flying in a triangle 2.5 million km on each side. Lasers between them will detect gravitational waves, tiny ripples in space-time from colliding giant black holes across the universe.
Later this century
- 2038Predicted
The Year 2038 computer clock problem
At 03:14:07 UTC on 19 January 2038, older computer systems that count time as seconds since 1970 in a signed 32-bit number will run out of space, a little like the Year 2000 bug. Engineers have been updating systems to 64-bit time, which will not run out for billions of years.
- 2038Anniversary
100 years since oil was discovered at Dammam
March 2038 marks 100 years since the Dammam No. 7 well, the Prosperity Well, struck oil in commercial quantities in 1938. The discovery transformed the Kingdom's future and made it one of the world's leading energy producers.
- 2045Predicted
A great total solar eclipse crosses the United States
On 12 August 2045, a total solar eclipse will cross the United States from northern California to Florida, then continue over the Caribbean and South America. At its longest, the Sun will be hidden for more than six minutes, one of the longest total eclipses seen from the US.
- 2047Anniversary
The transistor turns 100
On 16 December 2047, it will be 100 years since the first transistor worked at Bell Labs in New Jersey. That small piece of germanium led to the computer chip. By its centenary, the world will have built more transistors than any other object in history.
- 2053Anniversary
100 years since the first ascent of Everest
On 29 May 2053, the world marks 100 years since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay stood on the summit of Mount Everest. Thousands of climbers have reached the top since, but the first ascent remains one of the great moments of exploration.
- 2060Planned
Saudi Arabia's net zero target
Under the Saudi Green Initiative, announced in 2021, the Kingdom has set a target of reaching net zero emissions by 2060. The initiative also aims to plant 10 billion trees across Saudi Arabia and greatly expand renewable energy such as solar and wind power.
- 2061Predicted
Halley's Comet returns
Halley's Comet, which returns about every 76 years, will next pass closest to the Sun in mid-2061. Edmond Halley first predicted its return using Newton's laws in the 1700s. Its last visit was in 1986, so for many people alive today, 2061 will be their first chance to see it.
- 2069Anniversary
The Suez Canal turns 200
On 17 November 2069, the Suez Canal reaches 200 years since it opened, joining the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. Widened and deepened many times, it remains one of the busiest shipping routes in the world.
- 2075Anniversary
400 years of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich
On 22 June 2075, it will be 400 years since King Charles II founded the Royal Observatory at Greenwich. The line of longitude zero, the Prime Meridian, still runs through it, and the world's time zones are still counted from it.
- 2080sProjection
The world's population is projected to peak
United Nations projections published in 2024 suggest the world's population will grow from about 8.2 billion today to a peak of around 10.3 billion in the mid-2080s, and then slowly decline. Projections this far ahead are uncertain and depend on future birth rates and life expectancy.
- 2100Predicted
The year 2100 has no 29 February
Under the Gregorian calendar, a year divisible by 100 is a leap year only if it is also divisible by 400. So 2000 had a 29 February, but 2100 will not: 28 February 2100 will be followed directly by 1 March. The rule keeps the calendar in step with the seasons.
The 22nd century and beyond
- 2117Predicted
Venus crosses the face of the Sun
On 10 and 11 December 2117, Venus will pass directly between Earth and the Sun, appearing as a small black dot crossing the Sun's disc. These transits come in pairs more than a century apart. The last was in 2012, and the next after 2117 will be in December 2125.
- 2134Predicted
Halley's Comet returns again
After its 2061 visit, Halley's Comet will return again around 2134. Astronomers expect it to pass much closer to Earth than in 1986, which could make it a brighter sight in the night sky.
- 2178Predicted
Pluto completes its first orbit since its discovery
Pluto takes about 248 Earth years to travel once around the Sun. Discovered in February 1930, it will complete its first full orbit since its discovery around 2178, returning to roughly the same point in the sky where Clyde Tombaugh first spotted it.
- 2186Predicted
The longest total solar eclipse for thousands of years
On 16 July 2186, a total solar eclipse will darken the sky for up to about seven minutes and 29 seconds, near the coast of South America. Astronomers calculate it will be one of the longest total eclipses in thousands of years, close to the maximum length possible.
- 2287Predicted
Mars comes closer to Earth than in nearly 60,000 years
In August 2003, Mars came closer to Earth than at any time in nearly 60,000 years. Astronomers calculate that this record will be beaten on 28 August 2287, when Mars will be slightly closer still and shine brightly in the night sky.