Indians Bullish on 2026, to prioritize Family, Wellbeing and Personal Transformation: Ipsos Predictions 2026 Survey Optimism around Argentina’s FIFA World Cup prospects, global economic recovery and an end to Ukraine war shape expectations Indians most hopeful of Trump winning Nobel Peace Prize in 2026 

New Delhi/Mumbai, Dec 19: As the year draws to a close, how will 2026 unfold? The Ipsos Global Predictions 2026 survey indicates that Indians are among the most optimistic globally about the year ahead. Over eight in ten Indians, or 85%, expect 2026 to be better than 2025. This strong sense of optimism is mirrored across the 30 markets covered in the study, pointing to a broader wave of global confidence. Indians also continue to hold a positive long-term outlook for their country.

This optimism stands out sharply against perceptions of the outgoing year. At least 62% of Indians describe 2025 as a bad year, both for the country and for their own families.

Looking ahead, Indians’ priorities for 2026 are strongly centred on personal wellbeing and relationships. Most Indians, 82%, say they would like to spend more time with family and friends in the coming year, a sentiment that is even more pronounced in markets such as Indonesia, Romania and Malaysia. Physical fitness and personal appearance also feature prominently, with eight in ten Indians planning to exercise more in 2026 and an equal proportion intending to devote time to improving their appearance, which many feel was neglected in 2025. In addition, a significant share of citizens plan to spend less time on social media in 2026 compared to the previous year, reflecting a growing desire for balance and personal renewal.

With 2026 marking the FIFA World Cup, enthusiasm for the global sporting event is evident among Indians. Nearly six in ten plan to watch the tournament. Interest is even higher in markets such as Argentina, South Korea, Colombia, South Africa and Peru, while citizens in Canada and the United States appear to be the least interested. When it comes to expectations around the defending champions, optimism about Argentina winning the World Cup again is strongest among Argentinians themselves, with 87% confident of a repeat victory. This optimism is also widely shared in India, where 68% hope Argentina will lift the trophy once more. In Indonesia and Peru, one in two citizens are similarly backing Argentina.

Commenting on these findings, Suresh Ramalingam, CEO, Ipsos India, said,

“The year 2025 has marked the end of an extremely tough year for Indians, shaped by economic pressures, a full-blown war through Operation Sindoor, extreme weather conditions, Trump tariffs and job cuts, among other challenges. Indians are stepping into the new year with considerable optimism, believing 2026 will be better than 2025. They are keen to prioritise bonding with family and friends, focus on wellbeing and pay greater attention to personal appearance. The FIFA World Cup has consistently been a major draw for Indians, with a strong fan following for global football icons such as Lionel Messi, Maradona, Pele, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Mbappé.”

Expectations for 2026 extend beyond personal priorities to global and national developments. Eight in ten Indians expect the global economy to rebound in 2026, a view also shared by citizens in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Chile. More than half of Indians, 57%, believe their disposable income will be higher in the coming year. On geopolitics, one in two Indians expect the prolonged Ukraine war to end in 2026 as peace talks continue. Compared to other markets, Indians are also the most hopeful of US President Donald Trump conferred the Nobel Peace Prize in 2026.

Views on artificial intelligence remain nuanced. While 62% of Indians believe AI will make some jobs redundant in 2026, 57% simultaneously expect it to create new employment opportunities, underlining perceptions of AI as both a risk and an opportunity.

Environmental concerns continue to feature in public consciousness. Six in ten Indians expect global temperatures to rise further in 2026, although their level of concern is lower than in markets such as Indonesia and Singapore, where nine in ten citizens anticipate increasing global warming. One in two Indians fear extreme weather events in 2026. Against this backdrop, there is an expectation that governments will tighten regulations and set more demanding targets to reduce carbon emissions.

Despite overall optimism, Indians also identify several potential threats in 2026. These include fears of a major terror strike, the possibility of an economic recession, concerns around safety in their local area, and anxieties related to public unrest and illegal immigration.

Reflecting on the environmental outlook, Ramalingam noted,

“Post COP30, where nations recently reviewed progress towards net zero and lowering carbon emissions, and in light of deteriorating air quality levels across several Indian cities, governments are likely to intensify efforts to move away from fossil fuels towards greener alternatives, particularly targeting the largest polluters.”

Technical note: For this survey, Ipsos interviewed a total of 23,642 adults aged 18 years and older in India, 18-74 in Canada, Republic of Ireland, Malaysia, South Africa, Türkiye, and the United States, 20-74 in Thailand, 21-74 in Indonesia and Singapore, and 16-74 in all other countries between Friday, October 24, and Friday, November 7,2025.

The sample consists of approximately 1,000 individuals each in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, and the U.S., and 500 individuals each in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Hungary, Ireland, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Romania, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Thailand, and Türkiye. The sample in India consists of approximately 2,200 individuals, of whom approximately 1,800 were interviewed face-to-face and 400 were interviewed online.