Everyone’s nostalgic for 2016. Here are 6 very Atlanta moments from that year.
2016 is back.
One glance at your social media feeds this month will likely transport you to a decade ago, with images of skinny jeans and Snapchat dog filters. The new trend (with everyone from Kylie Jenner to Serena Williams participating) appears to be the latest example of Gen Z and millennials yearning for nostalgia and a carefree internet age in a memorable era for pop culture amid political unrest.
It was the year Beyoncé surprise-released “Lemonade” and “Suicide Squad” was a box office hit. Drake had everyone on the dance floor with “Hotline Bling” and “One Dance,” Instagram launched its stories feature, Harambe became a meme and Pokémon Go ruled the summer.
It was also the year the U.K. voted to leave the EU, and Donald Trump became president. David Bowie died. Black men Philando Castile and Alton Sterling were killed by police officers and a mass shooting occurred at a gay nightclub in Orlando.
Here are six key moments that defined Atlanta’s 2016.
1. Donald Glover’s ‘Atlanta’ premieres on FX
Before 2016, Donald Glover was mainly known for rapping under his Childish Gambino moniker and for his comedic work on shows including “30 Rock” and “Community.” But “Atlanta” expanded the breadth of his talents. Glover, who was raised in Stone Mountain, wrote, produced and starred in the hit FX series, a surrealist ode to Atlanta culture. The show, following a rapper pursuing his dreams in the city, won multiple Emmy and Golden Globe awards throughout its four-season run.
2. Atlanta is chosen to host the 2019 Super Bowl
For the third time in history, Atlanta was selected as the site of the NFL Super Bowl, the city’s first time hosting since 2000. The news coincided with the arrival of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which opened in 2017. The 2016-2017 season was a notable one for the Atlanta Falcons. Quarterback Matt Ryan was named the NFL’s MVP, leading the team to win the NFC South for the first time since 2012. In 2017, the Falcons played in the Super Bowl, ultimately losing in overtime to the New England Patriots. About a decade later, Ryan is playing another pivotal role for the Falcons: president of football.
3. Migos drops hit single ‘Bad and Boujee’
You couldn’t escape 2016 without hearing Migos’ “Bad and Boujee.” The single, produced by Metro Boomin, was the simple, catchy track that helped transform the Lawrenceville-bred trio into rap superstars. “Bad and Boujee” (anchored by a nursery rhyme-esque chorus) is a quintessential trap anthem — so good that Donald Glover named it the “best song ever” during his Golden Globes acceptance speech the following year. Shortly after, “Bad and Boujee” reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the trio’s first and only No. 1 hit.
4. Atlanta Braves say goodbye to Turner Field
The Braves played their final game at Turner Field on Oct. 2, 2016, ending a two-decade run at the stadium. The team beat the Detroit Tigers, 1-0. The venue was later converted into Georgia State University’s Center Parc Stadium, and the Braves moved to their current home at Truist Park in Cobb County.
5. Prince performs his final concert
On April 14, 2016, Prince played two shows at the Fox Theatre as part of his Piano & a Microphone Tour. During the performances, previously postponed because of Prince’s flu diagnosis, the Purple One breezed through his iconic discography, including “Little Red Corvette” and “I Feel For You.” A week later, Prince died of an opioid overdose. His Atlanta stop marked his final public shows.
“Prince is indeed a musical religion, and at the first of his two sold-out Atlanta concerts … he took his disciples to church with a set that resonated intensely,” former AJC music critic Melissa Ruggieri wrote of the shows.
6. ‘Stranger Things’ debuts on Netflix
“Atlanta” wasn’t the only Georgia-filmed show that premiered in 2016 and became a hit. “Stranger Things” (shot around metro Atlanta but set in Hawkins, Indiana) is a coming-of-age series set in the 1980s that blends horror and supernatural mysteries. Over five seasons aired over the past decade, “Stranger Things” instantly became one of Netflix’s most-watched shows. It officially ended 2025.
About the Author
DeAsia is a music and culture reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She focuses on the intersection of arts, culture and diverse communities, as well as how emerging social trends are being expressed through the lens of the Atlanta aesthetic. DeAsia's work can be seen in Pitchfork, Essence, Teen Vogue, Elle and more.
