Each year, Pinterest draws on billions of user searches and engagement signals to produce its Pinterest Predicts report, aiming to forecast what will shape culture — from fashion and beauty to home décor, food, travel and lifestyle — before those developments breakthrough in the mainstream.
According to Pinterest, its methodology isn’t just guesswork. The firm analyses search growth, content saves, and “outbound clicks” — essentially tracking what people are not just looking at, but saving and acting on. Over the past six years, Pinterest says 88 % of its predictions for upcoming trends wound up playing out — giving businesses, creators and consumers a rare look at “what’s next.”
The 2026 forecast — released in December 2025 — comes at a time when many are questioning fast-fashion, seeking sensory grounding in a chaotic world, and craving individuality. As Pinterest puts it: the trends for next year are shaped by “nonconformity, self-preservation and escapism.”
Key Themes: What Pinterest Says 2026 Will Look Like
Here are some of the most compelling trends, and what they signal about broader cultural shifts:
Cool Blue / Glacier Aesthetic
Expect soft, frosty blues and cool-toned palettes everywhere — in fashion, beauty, cocktails, wedding dresses and even interiors. According to Pinterest, searches for “glacier aesthetic” have surged globally, suggesting a yearning for serenity, clarity and a soothing visual escape.
Gimme Gummy — Sensory Textures & Tactile Play
“Gimme Gummy” stands out as a fun, tactile trend: spongy, rubberized, jelly-like textures — think jellyblush makeup, chewy candy hues, squishy accessories and ASMR-friendly designs. For many, it’s an antidote to digital overload, offering playfulness and a sensory break.
Glamoratti & 1980s-style Maximalism
After years of minimalism and understated design, 2026 might swing in the opposite direction: 1980s decadence, bold silhouettes, metallics, oversized tailoring, and vintage glamour are poised to return in fashion and lifestyle.
Poetcore — Nostalgia, Analog Romance & Personal Style
For those drawn to a quieter, more introspective aesthetic, “Poetcore” offers a literary-inspired mood: vintage blazers, turtlenecks, fountain-pen style accessories, satchels, handwritten letters — a deliberate move away from digital speed, toward analog nostalgia and crafted identity.
Afrohemian & Eclectic Interiors — Culture, Craft, and Color
In home décor, 2026 is forecast to see a departure from neutral minimalism. Trends like “Afrohemian” blend African craftsmanship and bohemian sensibility — embracing earthy textures, woven materials, traditional textiles and globally inspired patterns. Equally, maximalism re-emerges via “FunHaus” circus-inspired interiors or “NeoDeco” modern Art-Deco revivals.
Escapist Living: From Darecations to Cosmic Interiors
Beyond style and décor, Pinterest identifies a growing appetite for escapism. That includes travel themes like “Darecations” — thrill-focused trips and adventurous getaways — and interior/exterior design themes like “Extra Celestial,” or sci-fi inspired décor with holographic, opalescent and cosmic motifs.
Food, Scent, and Lifestyle — From Cabbage Crush to Scent-Stacking
In line with broader lifestyle shifts, Pinterest predicts renewed interest in conscious cooking, home-grown or plant-based recipes, and sensory self-care. “Cabbage Crush,” for instance, captures rising searches for cabbage-based dishes — fermented, comfort-food or cross-cultural recipes. Meanwhile, “Scent Stacking” refers to layering fragrances — a move toward personalization and sensory storytelling.
Behind the Trends: What’s Driving the Shift
A Search for Authenticity and Emotional Resonance
Pinterest’s analysts argue the 2026 trends reflect a broader cultural craving: less noise, more meaning. After years of global instability, economic stress, digital overload, and climate anxiety, many people are turning to creative expression, tactile aesthetics, cultural roots, and sensory richness — an antidote to fast consumption and fleeting content.
Generational Influence — Gen Z and Millennials Leading the Charge
Much of the traction behind many trends is driven by younger users: Gen Z and Millennials are embracing bold expression, experimentation, nostalgia and identity-driven choices. But some trends — like more traditional or craft-based aesthetics — also resonate with older users, creating multigenerational overlap.
The Power of Visual Search Data
What makes Pinterest’s forecast especially compelling is its reliance on real user behavior — not just editorial guesswork. By capturing what people search for, save, click on and shop, Pinterest claims it sees cultural shifts earlier than trend-watchers relying solely on runway shows or media coverage. As their report notes, many of the predicted 2026 trends are “pre-tipping” — still under the radar, but with growing momentum.
What It Means for Consumers, Creators and Brands
- For individuals: 2026 may be a year to rethink your style — whether that means reviving vintage glamour, dressing in “Poetcore,” redecorating your home with global textures, or just trying a cabbage-based dinner. The message: don’t wait for the masses; the trends start in your own boards.
- For creators and designers: There’s opportunity — and maybe urgency — to align with rising tastes. Whether you design clothes, home décor, beauty products, or lifestyle content, catering to “Cool Blue,” “FunHaus,” or “Scent Stacking” could resonate early.
- For brands and marketers: The report serves as a strategic roadmap. Pinterest even offers a “playbook” for how companies can ride trend waves — from aligning product launches to leveraging trend-driven advertising or partnership campaigns.
Already, some brands are reportedly reworking campaigns: home-ware companies are pushing bolder, more eclectic décor ranges; fashion labels are experimenting with ’80s-inspired silhouettes; and beauty brands are exploring asynchronous makeup (a la “Glitchy Glam”).
A Word of Caution: Trend Predictions Aren’t Guarantees
That said, Pinterest — and other forecasters — always caution that predictions don’t equal certainties. Cultural trends depend on many forces: economic conditions, global events, generational shifts, and sometimes, simple chance.
Some predicted trends will stick. Others may flame out. What’s valuable about 2026’s forecast is not that it dictates what “everyone” will like next year — but that it offers a lens on what a meaningful segment of people already care about.
As Pinterest frames it: “these aren’t fleeting fads, but ideas rooted in the real, expressed and searched by real people.”
Why 2026’s Forecast Feels Different — and Perhaps More Resonant
In past years, many trend analyses focused on micro-trends — fast-fashion cycles, fleeting color palettes, TikTok-driven fads. 2026’s Pinterest report, by contrast, suggests something deeper: a cultural turn toward self-expression, sensory depth, escapism and emotional authenticity in a world that often feels harsh and hyper-connected.
Whether that leads to a resurgence of handcrafted interiors, weird maximalist wardrobes, fermented cooking, or scented rituals — the emerging patterns all suggest a generation eager to shape a world that feels more personal, intentional and human.
For those of us watching — or contributing — what’s next, 2026 might just be the year we stop following the trends, and start designing our own.
7 years in the field, from local radio to digital newsrooms. Loves chasing the stories that matter to everyday Aussies – whether it’s climate, cost of living or the next big thing in tech.
