In 2026, tropical cyclones have been forming in seven major bodies of water, commonly known as tropical cyclone basins. Tropical cyclones will be named by various weather agencies when they attain maximum sustained winds of . So far, 111 tropical cyclones have formed (excluding 3 unofficial tropical/subtropical depressions and 1 subtropical storm), and 74 of which have received an official name and/or attained tropical storm-force winds. The strongest system so far was Hurricane Polo in the eastern Pacific basin, which attained a minimum barometric pressure of 892 hPa (26.34 inHg). The deadliest system so far was Tropical Storm Maysak in the Western Pacific basin, which caused 171 deaths, while the costliest system was Typhoon Dolphin which caused US$4.12 billion in damages mainly in China, both systems in the Western Pacific basin. The accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index for the year (seven basins combined), as calculated by Colorado State University (CSU), is 756 units overall, as of September 25.

Tropical cyclones are primarily monitored by 10 warning centers around the world, which are designated as a Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) or a Tropical Cyclone Warning Center (TCWC) by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). These centers are: National Hurricane Center (NHC), Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC), Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Météo-France (MFR), Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), Papua New Guinea's National Weather Service (PNGNWS), Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS), and New Zealand's MetService. Unofficial, but still notable, warning centers include the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA; albeit official within the Philippines), the United States's Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), and the Brazilian Navy Hydrographic Center.

Global atmospheric and hydrologic conditions

Global tropical cyclone activity during 2026 was shaped by a transition in the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phase. The year opened under weak-to-neutral La Niña conditions continuing from late 2025, which contributed to heightened tropical cyclone activity across the Southern Hemisphere basins—including the South-West Indian Ocean and Australian region—during January and February.

By mid-2026, sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific indicated a rapid transition toward El Niño conditions. This warming trend suppressed early-season activity in the Atlantic basin, where high vertical wind shear led to a slow start with only two named tropical storms (Arthur and Bertha) forming through July. Conversely, the warming equatorial Pacific enhanced environmental conditions in the Eastern and Central Pacific and the Western Pacific, supporting rapid intensification events such as Super Typhoon Sinlaku in April and Major Hurricane Genevieve in July.

Sustained marine heatwaves across the Northern Hemisphere during the northern summer contributed to well-above-average sea surface temperatures in the Western Pacific and Northern Indian Ocean, fueling early basin activity and high accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) totals relative to long-term averages by midyear.

Summary

North Atlantic Ocean

On June 17, Tropical Storm Arthur formed in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico after emerging off the Texas coastline. On July 19, Tropical Depression Two formed in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. On July 20, the storm became Tropical Storm Bertha. It would then make landfall in St. Bernard Parish on July 22 and again near Lake Charles, Louisiana on July 23 before dissipating over Texas. Quiet conditions resumed until August 12, when Tropical Storm Cristobal formed well east-northeast of Bermuda. Once again, a period of calm would occur until August 27, when an area of low pressure became designated as Tropical Storm Dolly. The name was a coincidence with the passing of Dolly Parton. Due to high shear, the storm dissipated over the Lesser Antilles and brought heavy rains to the area. The unseasonable quiet remained until the end of the month, when Tropical Storm Edouard developed in the Gulf and made landfall in Louisiana before causing tremendous flooding in the region. On September 19, Tropical Storm Fay developed in the subtropical North Atlantic; despite briefly approaching hurricane intensity, strong wind shear rapidly degraded the system. On September 24, a weak tropical depression formed near the Cabo Verde Islands and was designated Tropical Storm Gonzalo the following day. On September 28, Tropical Storm Hanna formed southeast of Bermuda, remaining a lopsided tropical storm before becoming post-tropical on 30 September.

Eastern and Central Pacific Oceans

Tropical Depression One-E formed in the open Pacific on June 2, eventually strengthening into Tropical Storm Amanda the following day. Tropical Depression Two-E formed near Mexico on June 7, rapidly approaching towards it. It intensified into a tropical storm and got named Boris. Tropical Depression Three-E formed near Central America on June 8, intensifying into a tropical storm and being named Cristina shortly after. Boris affected southern Mexico while Cristina dumped torrential rain in Central America. On July 1, a disturbance in the Pacific developed into Tropical Storm Douglas and would meander around before dissipating by July 3.Tropical Storm Douglas Discussion Number 9 On July 14, another storm formed and was named Tropical Storm Elida, would impact Clarion Island, before it would degenerate into a remnant low on July 20. On July 19, Hurricane Fausto formed, becoming the first hurricane of the season a day later. Hurricane Genevieve formed soon after on July 24. It later became the first category 5 hurricane of the season. On August 13, tropical storms Hernan and Lala formed, the latter of which being the first storm of the season to form within the Central Pacific basin. Lala later rapidly intensified and became a category 4 major hurricane after affecting Hawaii. Tropical Storm Moke formed after the rapid intensification of Lala.

Activity escalated further into September, driven by exceptionally high sea surface temperatures from an intensifying El Niño. On September 20, Hurricane Odalys and Hurricane Polo formed off the Pacific coast of Mexico , the latter underwent explosive rapid intensification, adding 110 mph (180 km/h) to its wind speeds over a 24-hour period. Polo peaked as a Category 5 major hurricane on September 22 with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph (290 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 892 mb (26.34 inHg). This made Polo the second-most intense Pacific hurricane on record by central pressure, behind only Hurricane Patricia in 2015. Concurrently, Tropical Storm Nolo formed south of Hawaii on September 24, bringing threat of localized flooding to the Hawaiian Islands.

Western Pacific Ocean

A tropical depression formed east of the Philippines on 13 January, marking the start of the season. The depression was subsequently named Ada by PAGASA and later Nokaen by the JMA respectively on January 14 and 15, marking it the earliest start to a season since 2019. A tropical depression formed near Guam on February 3, it later entered the PAR and was named Basyang, it was named Penha the following day. Tropical Storm Nuri formed northeast of Yap on March 10. Tropical Storm Sinlaku formed west of Pohnpei on April 8, later intensified into a typhoon on April 10 and was recognised as a super typhoon on April 12, it later reached a peak of 115 knots (215 km/h) and . Tropical Storm Hagupit formed near Chuuk on May 5, it entered the PAR on May 9, gaining the name Caloy. Tropical Storm Jangmi formed on May 26 and entered the PAR on May 28, gaining the name Domeng, it slowly intensified into a category 1 typhoon on May 30 before making landfall in Wakayama on June 3. A tropical depression formed on June 3, it entered the PAR on June 4, gaining the name Ester, a few hours later, JTWC classified it as a subtropical depression before making landfall in Taiwan. On June 18, Tropical Storm Mekkhala formed south of the Mariana Islands, it rapidly intensified into a Category 4 typhoon on June 22. Tropical Storm Higos formed the same day.

Activity accelerated sharply in July with Maysak forming on July 1, tracking across Hainan Island and northern Vietnam before dumping catastrophic rainfall over southwestern China that caused US$3.28 billion in damages and 39 fatalities. Immediately following, Bavi developed on July 4, passing very near Rota and the Mariana Islands with destructive winds and flooding. After tracking over the islands, Bavi caused 26 deaths in the Philippines, before hitting Zhejiang, China, on July 11.

Mid-to-late summer saw additional moderate and weak systems, including Tropical Storm Haishen, Typhoon Noul, Typhoon Dolphin, and a cluster of weaker systems including Tropical Storm Kujira, Severe Tropical Storm Chan-hom, Tropical Storm Peilou, and Tropical Storm Nangka. By late August and September, monsoonal activity fueled several short-lived systems across the South China Sea and Philippine Sea, including Typhoon Saudel, Tropical Storm Narra, Tropical Storm Gaenari, Tropical Storm Atsani, Typhoon Bang-Lang, Tropical Storm Etau, and Tropical Storm Krovanh (locally named "Pilandok"), the latter of which enhanced monsoon rainfall and caused widespread flooding across the central Philippines.

This stretch of minor activity culminated in late September with the development of Typhoon Dujuan. Forming east of the Philippines on 19 September, Dujuan rapidly organized as it tracked north-northwestward along Japan's eastern Pacific coastline on September 21–22. The massive system brought record-breaking rainfall across the Kanto region and the Izu Islands, including a September-record 600 mm (23.6 in) of rain within 24 hours on Oshima, prompting a Level 5 landslide special warning from the Japan Meteorological Agency. Dujuan's torrential rainfall and powerful wind gusts up to 144 km/h (90 mph) caused devastating landslides and urban flooding across Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures, resulting in at least four confirmed fatalities, several missing persons, power outages for over 9,000 households, and widespread grounding of transportation networks during Japan's Silver Week holidays. Following Dujuan's passage, the weak Tropical Storm Surigae (Queenie) formed over the Philippine Sea on 24 September.

North Indian Ocean

On 7 January, BOB 01 formed in the Bay of Bengal. After six months of inactivity, on 5 July, BOB 02 formed and struck Odisha. BOB 03 formed on 26 July, causing mass flooding in Odisha as it made landfall. BOB 04 formed southeast of Kolkata on 13 August, dissipating the following day. On 17 August, BOB 05 formed inland over West Bengal, dissipating 2 days later near North Jharkhand. Activity resumed in late September as a well-marked low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal organized into Depression BOB 06 on 21 September. Moving west-northwestward under the influence of the regional monsoon trough, the storm intensified into a Deep Depression on 22 September. BOB 06 made landfall near Kalingapatnam, along the north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coastline, late on 23 September with peak sustained winds of 55–65 km/h (35–40 mph). The storm brought widespread heavy rainfall, urban inundation, and squally winds across coastal Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Telangana as it moved inland and steadily weakened through 25 September.

Mediterranean Sea

A European windstorm named Samuel, known as Jolina in Germany, transitioned into a subtropical cyclone over the south-central Mediterranean sea. It moved inland over Libya on 18 March, where one person died attempting to rescue people from floodwaters.

South-West Indian Ocean January - June