The Simpsons celebrates 800 episodes with 10 uncanny predictions

The long-running animated series has an uncanny ability to predict the future, from global pandemics to US presidencies.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Across 37 seasons and now almost 800 episodes, 'The Simpsons' has continued to surprise viewers by seeming to predict the future. Gags that start as nothing more than jokes ultimately manifest into reality years later, including global pandemics, US presidencies and international sports scandals. While the show's writers have downplayed the predictions as 'educated guesses,' loyal fans consider the iconic cartoon a modern-day Nostradamus.

Why it matters

The Simpsons' ability to predict future events has captivated audiences and sparked discussions about whether the show's writers have special foresight or if the predictions are simply coincidences. As the series celebrates its 800th episode, these uncanny predictions highlight the show's cultural impact and lasting influence.

The details

The Simpsons has made a number of predictions that have come true over the years, including the 1993 'Marge in Chains' episode that seemed to foreshadow the COVID-19 pandemic, the 1995 'Lisa's Wedding' episode that predicted the Rolling Stones would still be touring in 2010, and the 2000 'Bart to the Future' episode that depicted Donald Trump as a future US president. Other predictions include the show's depiction of a Disney-owned 20th Century Fox in 1998, as well as its accurate portrayals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and subsequent FIFA corruption scandal.

  • The 'Marge in Chains' episode aired in 1993, 27 years before the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The 'Lisa's Wedding' episode aired in 1995, predicting the Rolling Stones would still be touring in 2010.
  • The 'Bart to the Future' episode aired in 2000, 16 years before Donald Trump was elected president.
  • The 'You Don't Have to Live Like a Referee' episode aired in 2014, the same year Germany won the FIFA World Cup.
  • The 'West Wing Story' short was released in 2019, two years before Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were elected president and vice president.

The players

Matt Selman

The showrunner of The Simpsons who has commented on the show's uncanny ability to predict the future.

Bill Oakley

A co-writer of the 'Marge in Chains' episode who has spoken out against comparisons between the episode and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mick Jagger

The lead singer of the Rolling Stones, who guest-starred in a 2002 episode of The Simpsons.

Donald Trump

The 45th president of the United States, who was depicted as a future president in the 'Bart to the Future' episode.

Joe Biden

The 46th president of the United States, who was paired with Kamala Harris as running mates in the 'West Wing Story' short.

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What they’re saying

“It sort of makes you think maybe we live in a simulation or something like that.”

— Matt Selman, Showrunner (Page Six)

“It was meant to be absurd that someone could cough into a box and the virus would survive for six to eight weeks in the box. It is cartoonish. We intentionally made it cartoonish because we wanted it to be silly and not scary.”

— Bill Oakley, Co-writer (The Hollywood Reporter)

The takeaway

The Simpsons' uncanny ability to predict future events has captivated audiences and sparked discussions about the show's cultural significance and the nature of coincidence. As the series celebrates its 800th episode, these predictions continue to cement the show's legacy as a modern-day oracle, blurring the line between fiction and reality.