There is no credible evidence that World War III has been officially predicted to begin in 2026 by any recognised authority, including scientists or governments. What’s spreading on social media about World War III in 2026 linked to prophecy or current events is largely speculative or based on old mystical predictions resurfacing online.

The so-called prediction attributed to Bulgarian mystic Baba Vanga — claiming 2026 would see a global war and destruction — is widely shared online but not confirmed through authenticated sources. Such posts typically recycle vague prophecies and connect them to current geopolitical tensions without any factual basis.

Baba Vanga is often cited in viral content, but many of the predictions attributed to her — especially specific years or detailed global events — lack reliable documentation and are debated among researchers and historians.

What about current geopolitical events like Trump and Venezuela?

There are real geopolitical developments that are making news and are separate from any prophecy or “World War III prediction”:

• The United States reportedly seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker (the Marinera, also called Bella-1) in the North Atlantic in early January 2026 as part of enforcing sanctions related to Venezuela. This operation did not lead to military conflict and was described as enforcing U.S. sanctions, not an act of war.

• Separately, reports indicate that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were detained by U.S. forces and flew to New York, where they appeared in a federal court on charges — a rare and high-profile international legal case. This event has raised diplomatic tensions, but it is not confirmation of a global war.

• Comments by U.S. political leaders concerning strategic locations such as Greenland or relations with other countries have generated headlines and concern, but none constitute a formal announcement of invasion or the start of global conflict. Denmark’s leaders have publicly rejected the notion that the U.S. could take over Greenland.

These developments reflect ongoing international friction and diplomatic tension — not the outbreak of a world war.

Why are people connecting it to Baba Vanga or Trump?

On social media and in some news reporting, vague or symbolic predictions and recent events are linked together, often without verifying facts. Examples include:

• Viral claims tying protests in Iran, U.S. policy remarks about Greenland, and the seizure of oil tankers to a world war prophecy. In reality, these events are not formally coordinated in a way that signals an imminent global war — they are separate geopolitical and legal/military news stories.

• Misleading or unrelated videos and images are sometimes shared online to suggest dramatic or military actions that are not actually occurring, as fact-checking organisations have shown with some Maduro capture footage.