Trends to plan for in the New Year

Marketing in 2026 is shaping up to be fast, intelligent, and deeply personalized. You’ve all heard of AI by now. It’s been the most talked about topic for a while now. With rapid shifts in technology, consumer expectations, and global competition, brands are being pushed to elevate with both creativity and precision. Just like fast fashion, trends are going in and out of style. Below are the top marketing trends that will define 2026 – and how brands can start preparing.

1. AI Personalization

By 2026, AI personalization is no longer a competitive edge – it’s the new normal. Customers will expect it. Whether it’s tailored digital ads, or social media graphics, brands will win by automating the backend to create experiences that feel uniquely crafted rather than mass or technology produced. As a result, many brands are deliberately leaning into highly humanized, imperfect, and hand-crafted marketing to preserve an organic, authentic feel while AI handles the heavy lifting behind the scenes.

How to prepare: Focus on designing workflows and creative systems where AI quietly organizes in background, while your team intentionally prioritize human tone, taste and design, so the final output never feels machine made.

2. Influencers will continue to reign and change the way we advertise in 2026

Influencer marketing is evolving into true co-creation partnerships. Audiences want authenticity, and creators want long term stability. 2026 will see more brands forming ongoing collaborations where creators help design products, shape campaigns, and even participate in brand decisions. Even giant brands like Loblaws or Canadian Tire are hiring influencers to star in their online campaigns.
Creators are no longer “amplifiers”; they’re strategic partners with creative authority. Expect to see more co-branded product drops, creator-built digital experiences, and ongoing ambassador programs.

How to prepare: Build relationships with creators whose values align with your brand and involve them early, not just at the posting stage.

3. AI has fully evolved search – and SEO must adapt

Search in 2026 looks nothing like it did a few years ago. We don’t use Google anymore, we use ChatGPT and Gemini. AI search assistants have taken over traditional keyword feeds, shifting user behaviour from browsing links to receiving synthesized answers.

This shifts the focus dramatically from SEO to AEO (Answer Engine Optimization). Brands will focus more on structured data, conversational relevance, and credibility signals that help AI models reference them accurately. Content that is thin, generic, or keyword-stuffed will disappear from the results altogether.

How to prepare: Create authoritative, expert-driven content, optimize for question-style queries, and ensure your site has strong EEAT signals: experience, expertise, authority, and trust.

4. Virtual Reality shopping!

Augmented Reality shopping is no longer niche. In 2026, consumers expect to try on makeup virtually, preview furniture in their homes, and walk through digital store layouts from their phones. With major tech platforms now offering built-in AR capabilities (Meta glasses), immersive commerce is accessible to brands of all sizes.

VR retail experiences (once considered uber futuristic in movies) is now rapidly being adopted for product education, virtual events, and high-end brand activations.

How to prepare: Start with simple AR experiences (try-on filters, product previews, etc.) and scale toward more immersive digital storefronts/websites.

5. Short form vs mid length video content

Short form video is still the most popular (our attention spans have shortened), but in 2026 platforms are beginning to show traction on mid-length content (2-4 minutes). These reels blend entertainment with deeper storytelling. Brands that succeed will balance fast-paced shorts with slightly longer formats that build narrative, emotion, and brand identity.

How to prepare: Repurpose long-form content into layered video ecosystems – 10-second teasers, 30-second explainers, and 3-minute stories.

Marketing in 2026 will be defined by intelligence, immersion, and authenticity. The brands that thrive won’t necessarily be the loudest – they’ll be the ones who blend AI with human creativity, and continue to build community. Connection and content are key. Find ways to incorporate AI systems to harness your backend data so your message can be more effective and served to those who need to see it. Don’t shy away from telling a fuller story – show people what they’re getting, what they’re wanting or what they’re missing out on. Use these evolving technologies to help foster human connection and trust or else run the risk of missing out!

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