What’s ‘in’ and what’s ‘out’ for Sacramento in 2026. (Only locals will get it) | Opinion
Happy New Year, Sacramento! January offers us a chance to wipe the slate clean and start building a better future for ourselves and our community. With that lofty goal in mind, here’s my personal list of what’s “in” and what’s “out” in 2026. What’s on your list?
What’s IN?
Driving slow and saving lives, because there’s already been too many deaths. Slow down, Sac.
Finally getting a Real ID (because you can’t fly without it now.)
Movies filmed in Sacramento or by Sacramentans.
Those viral, bright orange empanadas, handmade locally, with love. (They’re delicious!)
Calling the NBA and NFL “men’s sports,” and calling women’s sports just “sports.”
Going to see the world’s cutest baby animals, born at the Sacramento Zoo.
Dining out at one of Sac’s many award-winning restaurants.
Going to the public library. (This one is always in style!)
The Sacramento Kings finally winning the Western Conference Finals. (Hey, a girl can dream.)
Standing up and showing out for our neighbors.
Major league baseball, peanuts and a cold beer in the hot summertime — now conveniently just across the river!
And what’s definitely OUT
Tule fog. I’m tired of it. You’re tired of it. We’re all tired of it. (And we deserve sunshine!)
Pretending like Gov. Gavin Newsom is ever in town; y’know, actually governing.
Illegal fireworks, especially in inappropriate public places where it sounds like gunfire and causes a panic.
For-profit environmental disasters, approved by a lazy local government.
Sideshows at 2 a.m. that just make everyone in the neighborhood sleep-deprived at work the next day.
Low-rise jeans. (This one isn’t limited to Sacramento; I just personally hate them and so should you.)
Masked men acting with federal impunity and kidnapping our neighbors and friends.
Copper theft. More specifically: Copper theft from public transit, because it makes everyone’s day that much harder.
Government-sanctioned harassment of our neighbors living in homelessness.
Imaginative (and illegal!) interior decorating.
This story was originally published January 23, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
