Record holders share New Year's resolutions as they admit hopes and dreams for 2026
There are probably lots of people out there who’d make ‘break a Guinness World Records title’ their New Year’s resolution.
And if you’re one of those people, here are some ideas to get you started.
But what if you already have one, or two, or even hundreds of world records to your name? What do you do then?
Well, we asked a host of our record holders what goals they’re setting themselves for 2026.
Perhaps one of them can inspire you this New Year’s Eve…
Serial record breaker David Rush (USA) has around 200 records at the time of writing, including the longest duration balancing a guitar on the chin (1 hr 35 min) and the most juggling catches while on an unicycle in one minute (450), but he’s hungry for more.
He told us: “My New Year’s resolution is getting in good enough shape to attempt several multi-hour Guinness World Records titles that are physically demanding.”
Joel Strasser (USA) has broken over a dozen records by filling his beard with various items.
Among his accolades are the most chopsticks in a beard (520) and the most toothpicks in a beard (3,500).
For next year, he said: “My 2026 New Year’s resolution is to be there for my kids more than ever. They're starting to get older and it won't be long before they start leaving the house. I want to soak up all the experiences I can with them!”
Another record collector, Rocco Mercurio (Italy) has big plans for the coming year.
His current records include most cups balanced on the forehead (1,700) and fastest time to flip three water bottles (0.97 sec).
He said: “2026 will be a year full of records, especially those involving punches with gloves, with weights in hand, with one and two hands, at full extension, and full contact. I'll push every limit by competing with the best boxers and martial artists in the world.”
Halima Cissé and Abdelkader Arby, parents of the Mali nonuplets, the most children delivered at a single birth, also shared their hopes as we head into a new year.
They said: “For 2026, our family approaches the new year with gratitude, unity and hope. Our wishes are simple and essential: to see our children grow up healthy, continue to learn every day and flourish in an environment filled with love, patience and joy.
“We aspire to strengthen family ties, encourage curiosity and benevolence, and transmit values of solidarity and respect.
“May 2026 be a year of serene progress, shared laughter and dreams that take shape, step by step, together.”
Eating champ Leah Shutkever (UK) holds a string of records, including fastest time to eat a yule log (1 min 42.63 sec) and fastest time to eat a Chocolate Orange (57.145 sec).
She told us: “2026 is going to be a HUGE year for momentum and I'm excited! My resolution is to use that New Year energy to break some EPIC records, get stuck into some creative projects and make some amazing content! Happy New Year, everyone, make it count.”
Doogie Sandtiger (USA) owns the world’s largest collection of Crocs shoes (3,569 pairs), and said that breaking a record and being in the Guinness World Records book were on his bucket Iist.
With those goals achieved, he said: “I'm not just big on resolutions, I'm big on completing goals and working on my bucket list any opportunity that I have.
“I've been creating moments and memories for myself my entire life with the help of my bucket list. It gives me vision, motivation, and glorious purpose. So my New Year's resolution is to not only work towards more of my bucket list items, but to continue adding more adventures to it, seeking out new goals, and creating new memories.
“I call it rewriting my life, a life that I missed out on so many experiences because of my childhood spent in foster care. My New Year's resolutions have transcended over the years into every day, lifetime resolutions of living a life that I love.”
Doogie added that he wants to grow his Crocs collection to 4,000 pairs and to get enough new Jibbitz charms to reach the 15,000 mark. He also hopes to conquer his fear of flying so he can travel outside the United States for the first time.
Read about more record-breaking collections in our dedicated section.
Flexible UK performer Liberty Barros has broken a host of records, including the fastest 20 m backbend knee lock walk (22.53 sec) and the most extreme back bend push ups in 30 seconds (female) (17).
When asked about her goals for next year, she said: “My New Year's resolution is to start a 'Wonder Journal'. Once a week I will write a blog on my website about the coolest, most surprising, or most beautiful thing I learnt or encountered. It could be about a place, scientific fact, person I met or even a line of a poem. My aim is to show the wondrous beauty of life and what the world offers!”
She added that she’d also love to break a world record on Guinness World Records Day.
Young magician Cillian O’Connor (Ireland) says 2026 is the year he’s going to “level up”.
He already holds records including the most magic tricks performed in one minute (Under 16s) with 35.
He told us: “Magic is my passion and now my voice which I will continue to use to encourage, inspire and bring awareness to autistic people like me, because if I can help someone feel less alone, then I’m already winning. This year I’m pushing myself to grow more independent, face my fears, and finally learn to drive.
“After the unbelievable ride that was 2025, I’m carrying two legacies with me: my love for magic, and the legacy of my dad. He supported me from my first little card trick all the way to my top three finish on Britain’s Got Talent and achieving my first Guinness World Records title. Everything I do now, I do with him in mind.
“My goals for 2026 are big: break a new Guinness World Records title, keep performing and travelling, spread autism awareness so people feel understood, and grow, heal, and stay surrounded by positivity.
“This year is about courage, independence, and making a real impact, while making dad proud, the way he always made me feel proud of myself.
“2026 is our year, Dad.”
Constantine Adams (USA), owner of the world’s largest collection of The Legend of Zelda memorabilia (3,918 items), said: “I'm a software developer by trade and when I was in college I used to produce electronic music. I have a nine-year-old son that is very much into video gaming and wants to make his first Roblox game. We've already begun the learning process and are excited to really get it going! I would also produce the music that would go along with the game."
The world’s tallest man Sultan Kösen (Türkiye), who stands at 251 cm (8 ft 2.8 in), has big dreams of his own for 2026.
He told us: “My dream would be to get re-married and have a happy family life. I also want to continue travelling the world... I've been to 132 countries and want to add more to my list!”
Tallest woman Rumeysa Gelgi (Türkiye), who is 215.16 cm (7 ft 0.7 in) tall, also shared her goals with us.
She said: “For me, 2025 has been a year of reflection, exploration, cherishing small moments, and taking a few steps toward a new chapter.
“In the coming year, I hope to bring these steps to a meaningful conclusion, travel more, and accomplish the new goals I’m working on.”
Read about more human body records in our dedicated section.
Speed eater Mike Jack (Canada) holds records including the fastest time to eat 50 Carolina Reaper chilli peppers (6 min 49.20 sec) and the most hot sauce eaten in three minutes (1.49 kg; 3 lb 3 oz).
Looking forward to 2026, he said: “One New Year's resolution I have is to train myself better to get faster at eating. I can handle the heat better than anyone, but if I can get faster, I can earn more spicy and non-spicy speed-eating Guinness World Records titles.
“I would also like the opportunity to set a record incorporating the new world's hottest pepper, Pepper X. There currently isn't a title for eating Pepper X and only the creator, Smokin Ed Currie, has Pepper X, so we'd have to make some very special arrangements to make that record attempt happen.
“My final resolution is to do whatever I can to get a Silver Play Button for my YouTube channel, Mike Jack Eats Heat, by reaching 100,000 subscribers.”
Liesel Benecke (Australia), owner of the world’s largest collection of Minions memorabilia (1,035 items), said: “In 2025 when I set the world record I had no idea how many people my story would reach and how much joy could come from sharing my love of minions.
“In 2026 I want to continue to spread joy and make people smile. I will even dress up in my inflatable Minion costume and wave to people from the side of the road!”
Osman Gürcü (Türkiye) is another serial record breaker.
Among his titles are the farthest behind-the-backboard basketball shot (11 m; 36 ft 1.07 in) and the longest cornhole shot (28 m; 91 ft 10.36 in).
He said that breaking Guinness World Records titles had brought him opportunities he never imagined getting, such as being a question on a quiz held in his home country, and appearing as a contestant on Kim Milyoner Olmak İster?, the Turkish version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
He said: “For me, 2026 will be another record-filled year.
“Some of my records were broken by just a centimetre, and I will continue my efforts in 2026 to reclaim them. Breaking records with Guinness World Records makes me very happy and motivates me greatly.”
Wildine Aumoithe (USA), the world’s shortest woman (non-mobile), who stands at 72 cm (2 ft 4 in), has a lot of goals she wants to achieve next year.
Listing them for us, she said: “Graduate college with excellence: I'll be graduating from Liberty University with my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design in the spring, land a post-grad job, launch my freelance graphic design business, return to modelling: manifest model in NYFW again and a campaign shoot.”
She added that she wants to collaborate with more beauty brands, treat social media like a real business, travel like it’s a lifestyle, not a luxury and break another world record.
Serial collector Sonny Molina (USA) already has a few records to his name, including the largest collection of skull drinkware (307) and the largest collection of Pringles tubes (1,262).
In 2026, he hopes to add to his collection of records, with titles for his plethora of Top Trumps, Beanie Babies, Superman memorabilia and more.
He’s also planning to eat more healthily and exercise more because, as he says, “I’m not getting any younger”.
Sonny added: “My goal is to someday be a GWR ICON, God willing. I’m doing this to inspire ordinary people like me to believe in themselves that nothing is impossible if you put your mind and heart in all things you do with great passion.”
Lexi Alyx Chambers (UK) has broken a string of impressive records so far, including the greatest distance covered in 12 hours by manual wheelchair (female) (7.20 km; 47.96 mi) and the most ultra marathon distances completed in a non-racing wheelchair in one week (female) (6).
Sharing her goals, she told us: “I want to complete my next event in 2026 and meet my fundraising target for this event, finish plans for a huge 2027 event, and give up eating Jelly Belly jelly beans - it’s a bit of an obsession!”
What will you do in 2026?