Myanmar in 2026: Military Dictatorship in Traditional Burmese Jackets

Let’s be honest about 2026 as it begins. We are not standing at a joyful turning point. We are standing at a juncture—a cold, transitional space—in which the regime will try to call a costume change a transformation. Throughout 2025, the people have learned again what the generals want the world to forget: that not every election leads to democracy, and not every “transition” is a step forward. What we feel about what lies ahead is not hope. It is numbness.

In 2026, Myanmar will not face a transformation—it will face a rebranding of military authoritarianism.

This year, what can we expect for Myanmar—moving forward, or backward, or stagnation? My answer is numbness, after reflecting on 2025 and the years before it. This reflects both the collective feeling of the people of Myanmar and a realpolitik assessment of the country’s situation.

Looking back at 2025, it has been another difficult year for our country—and for the world as well. For the people of Myanmar, this year was neither a year of victory nor a year of defeat. They endured and overcame the hardships and brutalities of natural disasters, war and man-made calamities. Our people suffered greatly.