The seven records you should set in 2026
"New year, new me."
How often have we heard that sentence in the past few weeks?
January is always a time for New Year's resolutions: the new calendar year feels like a fresh start, and, although some might argue New Year's resolutions are merely a social media trend (and a great way to boast about goals we'll inevitably abandon by February), there are some undeniable benefits to setting new goals.
Identifying new objectives we're excited about can spark positive growth, encouraging motivation and momentum.
They help us visualize what kind of person we'd like to become next year, materializing a new narrative and identifying the areas of our life we'd like to invest in.
That is why many choose to say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new one by finding ways to reinvent themselves a little (or a lot), embracing new hobbies and fostering self-growth.
However, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to goals: depending on what you're passionate about, next year you may want to elevate your workout routine, learn how to cook homemade meals, travel the world, or nurture your inner artist.
The possibilities are endless, and so are the records you could break.
Here's the ultimate list to inspire your New Year's resolutions: seven fun, never-before-set record ideas to embrace your future self, celebrate your everyday wins, and rock 2026 in full Guinness World Records style.
Whatever your next era will be, we’ve got you.
Complete the fastest 400m sack race
January is definitely that time of the year: everyone's talking about their workout plans.
Whether you're training for a marathon, looking for a way to step up your fitness regime, or simply looking for a way to use that gym subscription you've ignored for months, it might be time to enrich your training with a record attempt: fun and versatile, records are a fantastic way to boost motivation and include little, tangible milestones in your workout.
If you're a sporty person or someone looking for a creative way to make exercise more enjoyable, you might enjoy balance and speed-based records such as the fastest 400 metres sack race.
Spanish record holder Christian Roberto López Rodríguez proved his super skills with a similar record title, breaking the record for the fastest 100 metres sack race on GRW Day 2020.
Determined to push his limits to join the Guinness World Records family, Christian completed the course in only 25.96 seconds.
Do you have what it takes to be a fitness powerhouse?
Set the longest marathon playing air guitar
If "awaken my inner rock star" is part of your New Year's resolutions, we've got you.
Being ambitious is great, but let's be realistic: learning to play an instrument at a pro level takes dedication and, sometimes, we just can't fit a new hobby into our already busy schedule.
So, if you have what it takes to rock a stage (minus learning to play an actual instrument), the yet-to-be-set record for the longest marathon playing air guitar might be right up your alley.
Although the record title for the air guitar category remains unbroken, in 2011, Irish guitarist David Browne made music history.
Proving to have crazy guitar skills and resilience to spare, he broke the record for the longest marathon playing guitar by an individual: David and his guitar powered through a jaw-dropping concert that lasted 114 hours, six minutes and 30 seconds, securing him a place in Guinness World Records' history.
The unique performance covered various genres and took place in Dublin, at the Temple Bar Pub, where the guitar champion played non-stop from 12 to 17 June. He eventually eclipsed the previous record by over one hour.
Amazingly, witnesses report that he didn't break even one guitar string!
If you have a rock'n'roll soul like David, this is the year to pour all your commitment into the performance of a lifetime.
Most potatoes peeled in one minute
You don’t need to enter a record-smashing cooking marathon like Evette Quibia (Australia) or Hilda Baci (Nigeria) to set a record in the kitchen.
Although some culinary creations have left us speechless in the past - and continue to do so, like Nick DiGiovanni's giant creations or chef Amaury Guichon's hyper-realistic chocolate statues - if you're a newbie looking to improve your culinary skills in 2026, the best approach is to start with basic ingredients and simple recipes.
That's also true for records.
For example, as you try out new recipes and grow confident in your potato-peeling skills, you might become the first person to set a world record for most potatoes peeled in one minute (individual): all you need is a stopwatch, precision, a knife or potato-peeler, and potatoes. Lots of potatoes.
No matter the outcome, you’ll get to brag about embarking on a record-setting challenge.
Complete the tallest stack of Guinness World Records books in 30 seconds
Reading challenges are a popular way to develop a reading habit, and most of us are preparing to reset our trackers for 2026.
For over 70 years, the Guinness World Records book has been the ultimate source of inspiration for curious minds and ambitious hearts, inspiring the record-breakers of tomorrow and showcasing the marvels of the world.
However, the book can also become a tool for breaking records.
That's the case, for example, of the tallest tower of Guinness World Records books: a giant construction measuring six metres (19 ft 8.22 in), created in 2019 by Russell Books (Canada).
On a smaller scale (but not less ambitiously), you can liven up your reading goals for 2026 by trying to set a record at home: for example, the tallest stack of Guinness World Records books in 30 seconds.
Gather your collection of Guinness World Record books, clear your mind, and race against time to stack as many books as you can in a freestanding tower.
When you need extra motivation, nothing shakes up your routine like record breaking!
Most coffeehouses visited in one month
Travelling is an ever-present element in most New Year’s resolutions.
Be it on the other side of the world or the nearby town you never got to visit, attempting to set the record for the most coffeehouses visited in one month is the perfect challenge for coffee lovers and, in general, for everyone who wants to sprinkle their 2026 with little discoveries every day.
If you enjoy a warm drink and cosy coffee shops, this is the record title for you.
And, while planning your 2026 trips, you might even stumble upon the largest café (seat capacity) in the world: Positive Space 566, a massive coffee shop with 2,190 seats and a hugely varied menu.
This record-breaking heaven for coffee lovers was inaugurated in Gyeonggi-do (Republic of Korea) on 6 September 2022.
If you're on a quest to sample the most coffeehouses in a month or you plan to enjoy travelling in the new year, Positive Space 566 is a must for your 2026 bucket list.
Most items caught by a cat in one minute
Is your cat a cathlete in disguise?
Does your furry best friend have what it takes to smash a world record? This might be the purrfect time to find out.
Every pet owner knows that spending quality time with an animal is already a guaranteed mood booster, but you and your cat could include new tricks and games in your daily life while working toward a goal together.
If you'd like to level up your cat's training and find new, pet-friendly ways to keep your feline friend active and entertained, you can both embark on a fun (but rewarding) adventure as you team up to set the record for most items caught by a cat in one minute.
You'll spend lots of time together, get into new routines, and what started as a way to liven up your usual playtime might reveal a secret talent.
Don’t forget to give your cat extra cuddles and treats: they deserve it!
Try the fastest time to climb the height of Everest on stairs
Have you ever thought, "Hey, I might break this crazy record"?
Great! Now is your time to go for it.
If you're looking for wild ideas that feel both fun and ambitious, you could try to set the fastest time to climb the height of Everest on stairs: the ultimate try-at-home challenge to test your resilience and physical preparation.
In September 2021, UK record holder Sean Greasley powered through a similar attempt.
The gruelling physical effort saw the record holder climb up and down the stairs in his Las Vegas house for 22 hours, 57 minutes, and two seconds, smashing the title for the fastest time to ascend and descend the height of Everest.
Sean's efforts raised money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Standing at a whopping 8,848.86 m (29,031 ft 8 in) above sea level, Everest is the tallest mountain on Earth and every mountaineer's dream.
It may not be easy to summit the equivalent of the tallest mountain in the world in flights of stairs, but it'll surely kick off your 2026 with the right foot!
The 70 Unclaimed Records
To celebrate seven decades of record-breaking in style, we have curated a very special list of records: 70 exciting record titles that you can try at home, alone or with your friends, covering a wide range of skills.
The best part? YOU might be the first one to set one of these records.
Created for the Be Part of It campaign and paired with a fun interactive quiz to identify what kind of record breaker you are, these titles are designed to be fun and accessible: 70 yet-to-be-claimed challenges to empower everyone to set goals, believe in themselves, and take part in record-breaking.
The first to claim one of the titles was Vincenzo Alfano, a longstanding Guinness World Records fan from Italy who smashed the record for most anchovies eaten in one minute in September 2025.
The anchovies enthusiast gobbled down the jaw-dropping amount of 201 g (7.09 oz) in 60 seconds.
Other notable record titles set for the very first time during the 70th Anniversary celebrations were:
- the fastest time to blow a stamp 10 metres (13.98 seconds, achieved by Joshua Saunders)
- the most kisses in 30 seconds by a pair (146, this time by the pair formed by Joshua Saunders and Jenny Troy)
However, there are still many records waiting to be set.
From Roblox marathons and Minecraft buildings to the fastest time to push oranges with the nose, whether you're looking for a solo challenge or a team endeavour, there’s something for everyone.
Explore the full list of 70 unclaimed records here: supercharge your New Year's resolutions, and be part of something amazing.