2026 Online Trends

Keeping you connected

Planning ahead for seamless surfing

Connectivity remains the backbone of daily life as streaming platforms continue to take over traditional broadcast media. Why do we think traffic is going to continue its spike in 2026? Easy. More and more people are using devices to watch content – with phones, tablets and laptops steadily replacing TVs as the screen of choice. And even in homes where you’re watching on TV, other devices are being used for second-screening as you scroll on social media while tuning into your favourite shows.

We’re already looking ahead at the likely traffic spikes online over the next year to help us ensure our customers have seamless connectivity throughout 2026, whatever your usage demands are.

Check out our plans here

Football frenzy

May and June will be alive

Key takeaways:

The 2026 Men's FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico
The tournament has expanded to 48 teams and 104 matches, increasing bandwidth demands
UK kick-off times (9pm-4am) mean home streaming and different usage patterns are expected
Network usage spikes of 8% (group stage) to over 10% (knockout) are predicted.
The UEFA Champions League final is May 30, 2026

Football dominates traffic spikes every year, and 2026 is set be no different. It’s a Men’s World Cup year, kicking off from 11th June through to 19th July. It’s the biggest tournament ever, hosted across USA, Canada and Mexico and involving 48 teams – that’s a jump from 32 and means the number of matches jumps from 64 to 104.

For UK fans, time differences vary 5-8 hours, meaning you could be watching any time from 9pm to 4am, depending on the game. This could mean fewer people watch at home instead of the pub, which is why we’re predicting a potential increase of up to 8% in network usage around the opening ceremony and group games – with bigger spikes expected for England, Scotland and home nation games. We expect this spike to jump to 10% during the knockout stages, and even higher for the final.

Before the World Cup even kicks off, things ramp up in the UEFA Champions League as the knockout rounds reach their crescendo. January through to February usually sees up to 15% higher network traffic for Champions League matches, with major spikes tied to the fortunes of the UK teams involved – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City. The tournament’s final is on 30th May, which is likely to deliver higher spikes.

Gaming galore

Prep for peak performance - Key takeaways

Call of Duty 2026

Release date: (Late October – Mid-November)
Predicted Impact: 10-12% rise in total network usage
Insight: Historical data shows that CoD launches remain one of the most consistent drivers of Day 1 patch downloads

Grand Theft Auto (GTA) VI

Release date: Late 2026
Predicted Impact: 15% increase in network demand
The Hype Factor: With the second trailer surpassing 475 million views in 24 hours, the sheer volume of simultaneous 100GB+ downloads makes this the year’s most significant "Zero Hour" event

Fortnite Chapter Finale

Release date: Late November
Predicted Impact: 12% surge in traffic
The Event: Annual refreshes and map overhauls trigger massive, simultaneous player spikes and significant backend updates

Later in 2026, the competition moves from the pitch to the digital battlegrounds, with new releases for several of the biggest games in history.

Firing the first shot in late October to mid-November, the Call of Duty 2026 launch is set to cause a significant spike, with previous titles driving a 10-12% rise in network usage.

Not long after that it’s the hugely anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6. The game’s trailer alone racked up 93 million views in 24 hours, with the second hitting over 475 million views in the same space of time. This record-breaking hype means we’re predicting a 15% increase in network demand.

Last, but by no means least, the once-a-year launch of Fortnite Chapter Finale drops in late November and is expected to drive a further surge of up to 12%. Every year, the launch introduces game refreshes, new maps, and significant overhauls that draw millions of eager players to download and jump straight into the action simultaneously.