We're starting off Valentine's week with a huge case of the heart eyes, partly due to Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance (more on that in a sec) but also because it means we get to speak to you again 💚
Though rizz is clearly not our strong point, social trends definitely are, so here goes our attempt at winning your heart with all the latest from Culture Lab 💌
What’s Gone Viral? 🔥
Here’s your quick scan of the biggest viral conversations before things get a little more unhinged.
Bad Bunny stole the show at Super Bowl LXI
We hereby pledge allegiance to Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, newly proclaimed Man of the Moment and King of Everything Ever.
If you haven't yet seen Bad Bunny's halftime performance, this roundup will catch you up on all that went down, from surprise cameos, cultural symbolism and a real-life wedding to the final rallying cry widely shared online as a sign of hope and optimism.
Culture was the star of the show - Bad Bunny celebrated his native Puerto Rico in its rawest form, magnifying the influences he grew up on rather than toning them down for global consumption. Here’s hoping for more authenticity and humanity in 2026 💚
The Milano Cortina Winter Olympics are here
The Winter Olympic Games began on Friday 6th and we've already seen history made as American figure skater Ilia Malinin became the first person to legally land a backflip at the Olympics in 50 years... and on one leg, no less. It was a feat so impressive it even brought Novak Djokovic to his feet… as the internet is saying, GOAT recognises GOAT 🤝
The drama continues as many athletes have also found themselves with broken medals, causing organisers to investigate potential production issues.
With 11 more days to go, here's all you'll need to know about what's still to come over in the Italian Alps.
Wuthering Heights is coming back to the big screen
ICYMI, the Emily Brontë classic has been re-adapted for film and is due to hit UK cinemas on Friday 13th February, just in time for Valentine's weekend.
Directed by Emerald Fennell and starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, Wuthering Heights has somehow already become 'the most divisive film of the year' before even being released, so expect LOTS of internet chatter early next week when critics and fans have their say.
As remakes of familiar heritage tales continue to grace our screens, we're seeing these cultural touchpoints connect cross-generational audiences, both setting and reviving trends. Nostalgia core is going absolutely nowhere and we're here for it.
Trending Format Alert 🚨
This one had us fooled. More than once. Actually, very many times.
A creator talking over a background green screen video is such a normal TikTok occurrence that it’s almost become unremarkable, but that’s exactly where this latest trend is catching us all off-guard.
Instead of using a real green screen, users are now filming with their real-life background, stopping us in our tracks while also making us question everything we ever believed.
Brand Champion 🏆
One brand caught our eye this week and their work is seriously cold in all the best ways 🥶
Winter Olympics fever has hit social hard and Airbnb is right at the heart of it with a series of short documentaries that feel intentional, emotive and distinctly human in equal measure. As brand partner to the Games, it would have been easy to lead with visuals of epic aerial skills and packed-out arenas, but what we actually got was something far more wholesome. The docu-series explores athletes’ backgrounds, desires and even emotions as Airbnb looks to show how a good ‘home away from home’ leads them closer to their Olympic goals.
This kind of observational storytelling is shifting more and more towards grounded optimism and emotional comfort, and it’s a satisfying step back towards content that connects rather than promotes. Now that social feels less ‘social’ than ever, who’d have thought brands would be the ones answering our mortal cravings for intimacy?!
More Industry News 🗞️
Hunting for a particular industry or niche? Say less. Here are a few extra newsworthy moments and trends doing the rounds.
Travel & Hospitality ✈️
Mintel releases its predicted travel trends for the next 5 years for each generation
Here are 2026's most popular travel destinations for the Lunar New Year
The first weeks of the new year have hinted at new behavioural trends amongst long-haul travellers
Fashion & Lifestyle 🌟
Pistachio is the latest colour trend and is anyone else craving ice cream?
Fashion month is nigh - here's all you need to know ahead of AW26's runway debut
Here's how fashion reigned supreme at the Super Bowl this year
Sports & Events 🏟️
England beat Nepal by four runs in their opening Cricket IT20 World Cup match
Jutta Leerdam, fiancée of social media star Jake Paul, wins speed-skating gold in Milan
An Apple Originals film about Pickleball has been announced for premiere in July, complete with a very interesting cast
Community & Identity 👥
A Ghanaian model is changing perceptions of disability using her country’s famous fabrics
A new wheelchair camera system marks a major milestone for disabled film makers
A record number of out LGBTQ athletes are competing in this year's Winter Olympics
Music & Entertainment 🎶
Brace yourself, a sequel to KPop Demon Hunters is allegedly "in process"
The cast of the UK spin-off of Saturday Night Live has been announced
Here are the best and worst moments from the 2026 Grammy Awards, according to Rolling Stone
Trending Format Alert 🚨
Whatever’s going on in retail and service environments at the moment… we like it.
Cafés, restaurants, shops and bars are going all-in on social formats, joining and even creating trends that use dry, observational humour.
We’ve seen depictions of everyday scenarios that are almost definitely based on true stories, wordplay that takes unexpected turns and workplace games that verge on bribery… all linked by their lo-fi filming style and use of real employees to front the content.
And that’s all for another dose of internet culture! We’ll be right here listening to DtMF on repeat for the foreseeable, but we’d LOVE for you to interrupt us to talk all things social 🌟
Con besitos y amor,
The Culture Lab team 💚
