The world is witnessing an alarming surge in wildfire activity in 2026, with climate scientists warning that rising global temperatures and the return of El Nino conditions could make this year one of the most destructive fire seasons in modern history.
From Africa and Asia to parts of North America and Australia, massive fires have already scorched millions of hectares of land, raising concerns about biodiversity loss, food security, air pollution, and worsening climate instability.
According to researchers from World Weather Attribution (WWA), a leading scientific group that studies the impact of climate change on extreme weather events, global fire outbreaks between January and April have already surpassed previous records.
Scientists believe the combination of human-induced climate change and a strong El Nino weather pattern could intensify heatwaves, droughts, and wildfire risks across several continents in the coming months.
Data compiled by World Weather Attribution revealed that more than 150 million hectares (370.66 million acres) of land have already burned worldwide during the first four months of the year. This marks a 20% increase compared to the previous global record for the same period.
Researchers say the scale and speed of these fires are deeply concerning, especially since the northern hemisphere’s peak summer fire season has not yet fully begun.
Climate experts warned that wildfire conditions could intensify further as temperatures continue to rise globally.
“Whilst in many parts of the world the global fire season has yet to heat up, this rapid start, in combination with the forecast El Nino, means that we’re looking at a particularly severe year materialising,” said Theodore Keeping, a wildfire expert at Imperial College London and part of the WWA group.
Scientists believe that prolonged drought, extreme heat, and changing rainfall patterns are creating highly flammable conditions across forests, grasslands, and savannah regions.
Africa has emerged as one of the worst-affected regions in the ongoing wildfire crisis. According to the WWA data, nearly 85 million hectares of land have burned across the continent so far this year. This is 23% higher than the previous record of 69 million hectares.
Experts say the sharp rise in fire activity in Africa has been triggered by unusual weather transitions.
Heavy rainfall during the previous growing season led to rapid grass growth across many savannah regions.
As temperatures increased and dry conditions developed, the accumulated vegetation became highly combustible, intensifying fire outbreaks across large areas.
Researchers say this pattern reflects how climate change is amplifying natural fire cycles by creating stronger swings between wet and dry weather conditions.
Asia has also experienced a dramatic rise in wildfire incidents in 2026. According to scientists, around 44 million hectares of land have burned so far this year, nearly 40% more than the previous record set in 2014.
Countries severely impacted include India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and China.
Several Asian nations have recently experienced extreme heatwaves, with temperatures crossing dangerous levels in urban and rural areas alike. Scientists believe prolonged dry spells, declining soil moisture, and rising temperatures have increased the spread and intensity of fires.
The smoke generated from these fires has also contributed to worsening air quality in multiple countries, posing health risks for millions of people.
Climate experts warned that the wildfire threat may expand further in the second half of the year as El Nino conditions strengthen.
“The likelihood of harmful extreme fires potentially could be the highest we’ve seen in recent history if a strong El Nino does develop,” Theodore Keeping said.
El Nino is a climate phenomenon caused by the warming of sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. It can disrupt global weather systems and trigger extreme climate events such as droughts, floods, storms, and heatwaves.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said last month that El Nino conditions are expected to begin in May.
Scientists warned that a strong El Nino could increase drought and wildfire risks in:
At the same time, some regions may face intense rainfall and flooding due to shifting weather patterns.
Experts stressed that human-driven climate change is already increasing global temperatures, and the arrival of El Nino could worsen the situation significantly.
“If there is a strong El Nino later this year, there is a serious risk that the effect of climate change and El Nino … will result in unprecedented weather extremes,” said Friederike Otto, climate scientist at Imperial College London and co-founder of World Weather Attribution.
Scientists have repeatedly warned that rising greenhouse gas emissions are increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events worldwide. Wildfires, once seasonal in nature, are now becoming more destructive and unpredictable due to prolonged heatwaves and shifting climate patterns.
The record-breaking wildfires witnessed across Africa, Asia, and other regions in 2026 highlight the growing impact of climate change on global ecosystems and human societies. With more than 150 million hectares of land already burned and El Nino conditions expected to intensify in the coming months, scientists fear that the world could face even more devastating heatwaves, droughts, and fire outbreaks later this year.
The crisis serves as another urgent reminder of the need for stronger climate action, better forest management, early warning systems, and global cooperation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As temperatures continue to rise, experts warn that extreme weather events once considered rare may increasingly become the new normal.