‘De Vooruitblik’ outlines the big questions of tomorrow
What can we expect in 2026 – and, more importantly, why? That question is central to 'De Vooruitblik' (The Outlook), an initiative of the University of Flanders, the five Flemish universities, Pelckmans publishers and the VRT. In this project, eleven VUB researchers, together with colleagues from other universities, provide insight into the themes that will dominate public debate in 2026. No predictions, but sharp analyses of the major issues that lie ahead, why they are so urgent right now and what the world order looks like in which these challenges play out.
Female VUB academics in the video podcast
Elisabeth De Waele
Head of Clinical Nutrition
Will we be eating fatty foods again this year without feeling guilty?
For years, fat was seen as the enemy: the silent killer in our veins, the reason we wanted everything to be 'light'. Skimmed milk, low-fat yoghurt, fat-free crisps... as if fat were evil incarnate. But in 2026, something new emerged from laboratories and universities: fat was back. And not just the so-called 'healthy fats', but all fats, from cholesterol to saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Because all fats seem to play a role in how healthy and sharp our brains remain. Together with Jerome Hendriks (immunologist) - Hasselt University
Ine van Zeeland
Communication scientist
Are we all cancelling our Spotify subscriptions this year?
Spotify has been under pressure for some time now. In the summer of 2025, many artists removed their music from the platform because they were barely making any money from the many streams. But also because they questioned the ethics of Spotify CEO Daniel Ek's military investments. And so the question arises: if things continue like this, will Spotify go under in 2026? Together with Edith Van Dyck (musicologist) - Ghent University
Ann Nowé
Computer scientist
Are you still allowed to post photos of your children online?
The first generation of people whose entire lives, from birth onwards, have been online are now reaching adulthood. Thanks to new AI technologies with facial recognition, sometimes all photos can be found online, complete with names and surnames. Is it still acceptable to engage in sharenting, posting photos of your children on the internet? How can you share baby (and other) photos wisely in a world where the right to be forgotten no longer exists? Together with Michel Walrave (communication scientist) - University of Antwerp
Want to take a look ahead? Pick up the book at Standaard bookshops, order it online or listen to the podcasts.
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