COVID-19 pandemic in popular culture

The COVID-19 pandemic swept the world in the early months of 2020, causing massive economic and social disruption. In addition to the disease itself, populations have often dealt with lockdowns, shortages and pandemic fatigue, political and cultural turmoil. This made the pandemic a time of exceptional stress, driving some people to seek peaceful escapism in media and others to consume media concerning fictional pandemics (i.e., zombie apocalypses) in an effort to make sense of the event. Themes include contagion, isolation and loss of control. The pandemic also impacted people's use of social media as well as the sports industry.

Some commentators have referred to the pandemic as a "distinct cultural era".