2026 Digital Marketing Media Trend Predictions

What's in store for 2026? While we don't have a crystal ball into the future, there are a lot of trends we've been closely eyeing into the new year that we think the data speaks for itself.

We want to share our thoughts on a few digital marketing trends we think are going to continue to increase in popularity in 2026.

Live-Stream Shopping

TikTok is basically the new QVC. Consumers, of course, have been loving the instant gratification of the easy online shopping, and TikTok, YouTube, and Amazon is bringing it even more to life. Live-stream shopping is exactly what it sounds like, it's a live stream where users can see real product demos, ask questions, and even purchase the product directly. If you are a product brand, this could be exactly what you need to lean into in 2026.

Disruptive Content

Disruptive content is the type of content that makes people pause, pay attention, and think, 'wait, this is really good.' While we are all feeling a little oversaturated by promotion online, it's more important now than ever to focus on capturing your audience's attention by standing out in their feeds. That means more content that looks, acts, and feels different.

Read Next: What is Disruptive Content?

Social Media is the New Google

Over the past decade, social media has quietly become the go-to place to search, especially for product recommendations, reviews, and inspiration. Add AI into the mix, and you’ve got a whole new way people are discovering brands, and it’s only getting bigger. So, your captions and copy should be keyword-focused and searchable.

Blogging Is In

Younger generations are leaning into slow media, and blogging is making a serious comeback. Platforms like Substack and traditional blogs are thriving, proving that long-form, thoughtful content still has a place in today’s fast-scrolling world. And honestly? We don’t see this trend fading anytime soon. Was blogging ever really dead? Not even close, especially if your SEO is entering the chat. Are more people actually reading blogs all the way through? YES. Long-form content is here to stay.

Video Marketing Is Still Relevant

Short-form video isn’t slowing down either. Reels, TikToks, and Shorts continue to dominate online, and we think YouTube and Instagram are going to lean even more into this. Will Instagram soon look more like TikTok's feed? Absolutely. All platforms are giving focus to video, and your strategy should reflect this, too.

2026 is shaping up to be a year where engagement, discoverability, and attention-grabbing content are more important than ever. If you’re ready to lean into these trends now, your brand can start and be ahead of the curve.