Here’s what we’re watching in 2026
We’re officially in 2026.
Instead of looking back, here’s what we’re watching.
Reddit is about to matter more.
Not as a shiny new channel, but as a place where real opinions, product research, and buying decisions already live. Brands that learn how to listen (and participate the right way) will win here.
Passion-driven platforms keep growing.
Think communities built around habits, not scrolling: Strava, Duolingo, AllTrails, Spotify, and niche food apps like Pepper.
Emerging and established brands should both be paying attention, these audiences are smaller, but way more intentional.
Emerging and established brands should both be paying attention, these audiences are smaller, but way more intentional.
Paid media keeps moving closer to creative.
As algorithms get smarter, performance matters less about knobs and levers, and more about the content itself. Creative teams are the growth engine.
Distributors and brokers will double down on marketing.
More of them will actively push retail velocity and brand awareness via digital marketing, not just distribution. The lines between sales, marketing, and content will keep blurring.
That’s it. No predictions for everything. Just the things we are seeing on the front lines.
