26’s big project to launch us into 2026 with a bang is on the brink of going public. Some 70 of you have signed up, chosen a year and have written or are in process of writing your submissions to the 20:26 Project. That’s going to keep us all intrigued for the first quarter of the new year when we release them daily on Substack. There might even be an audio dimension but listen out.
A big thank-you to Karina Stolf for our project identity.
Just a reminder
Back in September, we invited the 26 community to take part in a project to mark 2026. The brief was simple. But also, we learned, it would take many writers to places they haven’t been in years.
Choose a single life-shaping event between 2000 and 2025. You have just 20 words to bring the event to life for your reader, and another 26 to reflect on how it helped shape the person you are today.
As we said in the brief, we hope to create a powerful record of 26 years pivotal to global society, and our own lives. Often moving and touching, at times charming and funny, our writers’ responses will invite you to explore what it means to be human.
Are you in it?
Read fears and joys around the birth of a first child. Longing for love and family lost. Friends finding their voices in older age. New starts in countries far away. Even the story of how 26 began.
Visit our Substack for a new piece each day of 2026, or dip in whenever you have time. You might find your own life shaped as you read.
And if you’re tempted
You haven’t missed out completely. You might feel inspired to contribute your own written piece to the project – what would be your special year? If you’d like to take part, email 2026projectinfo@gmail.com and we’ll share the brief. It’s all very simple and we’d love to receive writing from every member of 26. That would really make 26 in ’26 special.