2026 Social Content Trend Forecast

The start of this year felt… heavy.

We chose not to rush into January with noise just for the sake of posting. Social media didn’t need more content. It needed intention. Now, as we move further into 2026, it feels like the right time to re-enter the conversation with clarity.

The start of a new year always feels like a good moment to step back and look at what’s actually working. Not just what’s popular, not just what’s loud, but what’s effective.

In 2026, social media doesn’t feel chaotic or unpredictable. If anything, it feels more strategic than ever. The trends shaping this year aren’t appearing overnight. They’ve been building — quietly, intentionally — and the brands seeing real results are the ones paying attention.

So instead of chasing what’s new, we’re focusing on what’s working and why.

Carousel Posts are Taking Over with Magazine-Like Edits 

Carousel posts are gaining traction as a top performing content format across social media platforms. Especially carousel posts with a magazine-like edit. Some carousel posts are highly curated and designed collages — a mix of photos and videos with notes, lists, recipes, graphics, instructions, and beyond. They feel like pages straight from Cosmopolitan Magazine. Others are more simple, with clean editorial text like Travel & Leisure or Time. No matter the style, the intention is the same. Carousels offer a scroll-able method to receive more detail — advice, tips, inspiration. They provide more opportunities for educational or inspirational value to be paired with visual media, unlike the lengthy captions that were more popular in 2023 and are kept separate, below the engaging visuals. 

The Shift to Friend-fluencing 

There have been a lot of hot takes in recent months speculating about the “end of the influencer”. We must say, we disagree. The influencer landscape is certainly changing, but the industry remains strong. The key difference is that influencing is shifting to friend-fluencing. Creators that are able to create a friendship-like relationship with their audience maintain engagement and grow influence. Creators that focus on sharing unrelatable, more filtered content of luxury product hauls, jet-setting to exotic locations and extravagant dinners while sharing very little about themselves are fun to observe, but hard to relate to and unattainable to connect with. Creators that share a look into their personal lives, speak up on public issues, and ask their community questions feel like a personal friend. Audiences want to feel like they’re catching up with their favorite foodie friend’s travel adventures, giving valuable input on their favorite fashion friend’s story poll, and getting the best advice from their relatable podcasting friend; except these “friends” are the top creators and influencers of 2026. The key to successful influencing today is to make relationships and access to the influencers attainable for the audience. 

Movie-Inspired Verticals 

Reels, TikToks, and YouTube Shorts, also known as verticals, follow cinematic themes more and more similarly with each passing season. A scroll through the discover page often looks nearly identical to a scroll through Netflix — bold text titles in yellow, supporting subtitles, cinematic color grading, and characters with a signature look. Press play on one video, and the theme continues with story lines, split screens, scene transitions, music, sound effects, and credits all working to create a story in a matter of minutes. High performing verticals today demand more editing, stronger storytelling, and covers that replicate movie posters. Brands bring you into their world in as little as 10 seconds, complete with the location, atmosphere, characters, experience, sounds, sights, and implied smells. 

Community Building First

Growing brands today understand that social media is strongest when used for community building, not just promoting. This is why the friend-fluencer is thriving. But there are many ways that creators and brands can foster community. On platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, the visual content that connects deeply to audiences lead community connection. The comment section and poll features allow for continued conversation. Now platforms like Threads and Substack are gaining popularity and allow creators and brands to share their value in a more focused, in-depth space. All platforms regardless of media type, are strongly utilized to promote events. Events are not just for large scale brands with huge budgets to throw lavish parties. In a post-pandemic world that is constantly plugged in online, people are looking to connect in person. Local businesses and small brands are using social media to create community focused events such as intimate supper clubs, speaking panels, wine tastings, holiday parties, pop-up markets, and fundraisers. Every brand should be considering how they can host or participate in a local event that creates added value for their customers and builds their community, and then promote it on social media. 

In 2026, engagement won’t be won by volume — it will be earned through creativity, authenticity, and community. People are tired of recycled trends and lifeless content. They’re craving brands that feel human. The future belongs to businesses that create with intention, lead with personality, and show up for their community — through thoughtful content and meaningful experiences beyond the feed.