Pinterest unveils 21 consumer trends for 2026 advertising campaigns

Pinterest announced its annual trend forecasting report on December 9, 2025, revealing 21 cultural patterns the platform expects to dominate consumer interest throughout 2026. The visual discovery platform analyzed search behavior from September 2023 through August 2025 across its 600 million monthly active users to identify emerging movements before they reach mainstream adoption.

The Pinterest Predicts 2026 report marks the platform's latest installment in its trend forecasting series, which the company claims achieves 80% accuracy in predicting cultural shifts. Unlike reactive trend reports documenting existing popularity, Pinterest positions this research as a "not-yet-trending" analysis designed to help advertisers position campaigns ahead of consumer demand curves.

Search data methodology reveals demographic patterns

Pinterest derived its 21 trend predictions from normalized English-language search queries comparing September 2024 through August 2025 activity against the previous 12-month period. The methodology tracked percentage increases in specific search terms, with some queries demonstrating growth exceeding 200% year-over-year.

Demographic segmentation identified which generational cohorts drove each trend's search volume. The analysis categorized users as Gen Z (ages 18-27), Millennials (28-43), Gen X (44-59), and Baby Boomers (60+). Different age groups emerged as "early adopters" for specific trends based on their search contribution relative to baseline generational activity during the analysis period.

Several trends showed cross-generational appeal. The "Gimme Gummy" aesthetic attracted both Gen Z and Millennial search activity, with queries for "gummy bears aesthetic" rising 50%, "jelly blush" climbing 130%, and "jelly candy aesthetic" increasing 100%. The tactile trend encompasses rubberized accessories, elastic beauty products, and probiotic foods with distinctive spring-back textures.

Fashion trends revealed distinct generational preferences. "Brooched" accessories gained traction among Boomer and Millennial men, with searches for "brooch for men suit" up 90% and "heirloom jewelry" rising 45%. Meanwhile, the "Glamoratti" 1980s luxury aesthetic attracted Gen Z and Millennial interest, driving "chunky belt" searches up 65% and "baggy suit" queries up 90%.

Home decor forecasts span multiple aesthetic movements

Pinterest identified four distinct home design trends expected to gain momentum in 2026. "Afrohemian Decor" combines African textiles with bohemian styling, appealing primarily to Boomers and Gen X users. Searches for "afrobohemian home decor" increased 220%, while "adire fabric" queries rose 130% and "motif berbere" searches climbed 210%.

The "FunHaus" trend brings circus-inspired elements into residential spaces. Searches for "circus interior" surged 130%, with "striped ceiling" queries up 40% and "vintage circus aesthetic" rising 70%. According to Pinterest's trend description, Boomers and Millennials drive this movement toward bold stripes and sculptural silhouettes balanced with restrained color palettes.

"Neo Deco" represents a modernized interpretation of Art Deco design targeting Gen X and Millennials. The trend features geometric patterns, metallic accents, and architectural elements. Searches for "red marble bathroom" jumped 80%, while "antique bar cart" queries increased 100% and "brass aesthetic" searches rose 35%.

Contemporary furniture aesthetics also emerged in the data. Searches for "pendant lamp" climbed 40%, while "leather banquette" queries increased 35%. The platform noted that after extended minimalism dominance, consumers demonstrate renewed interest in decorative elements featuring chrome and brass finishes.

Beauty trends emphasize asymmetry and gothic elements

The beauty category revealed several contrasting aesthetic directions. "Glitchy Glam" celebrates intentional imperfection, with Gen Z and Millennials driving searches for "eccentric makeup" (up 100%), "weird makeup looks" (up 115%), and "avant garde makeup editorial" (up 270%). The trend encompasses mismatched manicures, two-toned lipstick application, and asymmetrical design elements.

Conversely, "Vamp Romantic" channels dark aesthetic elements through beauty choices. Searches for "vampire haircut" rose 40%, while "dark romantic makeup" queries climbed 160% and "gothic coffin nails" increased 180%. Millennials and Gen Z demonstrated particular interest in jet black nail lacquers, smudged kohl eyeliner, and romantic goth hairstyles.

"Scent Stacking" emerged as a fragrance customization trend, with searches for "niche perfume collection" surging 500%. Related queries included "perfume layering combinations" (up 125%), "scent layering" (up 75%), and "perfume notes" (up 80%). Gen Z and Millennials drove this movement toward personalized fragrance formulas created by blending multiple scents.

The "Laced Up" trend applies decorative stitching across multiple categories. Searches for "lace nails" increased 215%, while "lace bandana" queries rose 150% and "lace doily" searches climbed 105%. Gen Z and Millennials demonstrated interest in crochet details applied to accessories, phone cases, and apparel.

Food and beverage forecasts highlight vegetable resurgence

Pinterest identified "Cabbage Crush" as a dominant culinary trend for 2026, with Boomers and Gen X leading adoption. Searches for "cabbage dumplings" rose 110%, while "golumpki soup" queries increased 95% and "cabbage alfredo" searches climbed 45%. The platform positions cabbage as replacing cauliflower as consumers' preferred cruciferous vegetable.

Related queries demonstrated interest in various preparation methods. "Sautéed bok choy" searches increased 35%, while "fermented cabbage" queries rose 35%. According to Pinterest's analysis, consumers seek recipes featuring blistered-edge "steaks," kimchi cocktails, and cabbage-based taco wraps.

The "Cool Blue" cross-category trend extends into beverages, with searches for "blue drinks aesthetic" rising 55%. The color palette spans food presentation, fashion items, and celebration elements. "Ice blue wedding dress" queries increased 55%, while "frosted makeup" searches surged 150%.

Travel predictions emphasize adventure and mysticism

Pinterest forecasted two distinct travel trend directions for 2026. "Darecations" represents adrenaline-focused tourism, with Gen Z and Millennials driving searches for "auto racing events" (up 85%), "river rafting" (up 35%), and "adventure tourism" (up 75%). The trend encompasses extreme sports experiences, canyoneering routes, and sporting event attendance.

"Mystic Outlands" appeals to Millennials and Boomers seeking atmospheric destinations. Searches for "scotland highlands aesthetic" jumped 465%, while "faroe islands aesthetic" queries rose 95% and "bolivia salar de uyuni" searches increased 70%. The trend encompasses fog-covered ruins, naturally-occurring spirals, and enchanting forest environments.

Location-specific queries revealed geographic interest patterns. "Arashiyama bamboo forest" searches climbed 50%, while "ethereal places" queries increased 45%. These destinations align with user interest in contemplative, visually distinctive travel experiences rather than conventional beach vacations.

Fashion forecasts span utilitarian and maximalist aesthetics

The "Khaki Coded" trend channels explorer and paleontologist aesthetics through earthy tones and functional design. Gen Z and Millennials demonstrated interest through searches for "utility shirt" (up 45%), "field jacket outfit men" (up 65%), and "brown linen shirt" (up 100%). The trend features bermuda shorts, multi-pocket vests, and adventure-ready streetwear.

Contrasting with utilitarian styling, "Poetcore" embodies literary aesthetics through oversized turtlenecks, vintage blazers, and messenger satchels. Searches for "the poet aesthetic" increased 175%, while "satchel bags aesthetic" queries rose 85% and "cape outfit" searches climbed 65%. Gen Z and Millennials drive this movement toward academic-inspired fashion.

Children's fashion showed vintage influence through the "Throwback Kid" trend. Searches for "1970s childhood toys" surged 125%, while "vintage kids fashion" queries rose 35% and "nostalgia toys" searches jumped 225%. Baby Boomers and Gen X demonstrated particular interest in classic toys from the 1960s and upcycled baby clothing.

The platform also identified "Wilderkind" as an animal-inspired aesthetic featuring subtle rather than bold interpretations. Searches for "bug jewelry" increased 60%, while "dragonfly nails" queries climbed 145% and "deer aesthetic" searches rose 55%. Gen Z and Boomers drove interest in fawn freckles, butterfly wing nail art, and fox-inspired outfits.

Celebration trends favor theatrical presentation

The "Opera Aesthetic" brings vintage theater elements to events and gatherings. Searches for "opera theatre" rose 35%, while "midnight masquerade" queries increased 95% and "masquerade decor" searches climbed 40%. Millennials and Gen Z demonstrated interest in dramatic drapery, red rose arrangements, and dark cabaret string quartet performances.

Related wedding planning searches showed theatrical influence. "Wedding ceiling draping" queries rose 40%, while "opera outfits" searches increased 55%. According to Pinterest's trend analysis, parties in 2026 will feature heightened production values with attention to decorative details and atmospheric elements.

Cross-category trends demonstrate broad cultural movements

Several trends transcended individual categories to affect multiple consumer segments. "Extra Celestial" applies intergalactic aesthetics across home decor, beauty, fashion, and automotive design. Searches for "alien core aesthetic" rose 80%, while "opalescent" queries climbed 115% and "alien inspired makeup" searches surged 140%. Gen Z and Millennials drove interest in holographic home accents and cosmic silhouettes.

"Pen Pals" revives analog correspondence through elaborate stationery and decorative envelopes. Searches for "cute stamps" increased 105%, while "penpal letters" queries rose 35% and "snail mail gifts" searches climbed 110%. Gen Z and Millennials demonstrated interest in transforming letter writing into performance art with special materials and collectible postage.

The platform identified interest in handwritten communication across multiple demographic segments, suggesting sustained engagement with tactile, non-digital connection methods. This pattern aligns with broader consumer trends toward intentional offline activities documented in separate research.

Implications for advertising strategy

Pinterest's trend forecasting provides advertisers with advance notice of emerging consumer interests before mainstream adoption. The platform's claim of 80% historical accuracy positions these predictions as actionable intelligence for campaign planning rather than speculative forecasting.

The timing aligns with Pinterest's broader advertising platform expansion, including Top of Search ads launched September 25, 2025, which demonstrated 29% higher click-through rates than standard campaigns during testing phases. The combination of trend foresight and enhanced advertising placement creates opportunities for brands to align campaigns with nascent consumer movements.

Pinterest's visual discovery model differs from text-based search platforms by enabling consumers to explore concepts through imagery rather than articulating desires through keywords. Recent consumer research indicated 52% of UK shoppers struggle to describe products they want, supporting Pinterest's strategic positioning around visual-first discovery.

The platform reached 600 million monthly active users in Q3 2025, with revenue climbing 17% year-over-year to $1.049 billion. Global advertisers increasingly depend on Pinterest as a search platform to reach customers during planning phases when purchase intent forms but decisions remain fluid.

The demographic segmentation within Pinterest Predicts enables targeted campaign development. Pinterest's inaugural men's trend report released July 8, 2025, revealed male users represent over one-third of the global audience, expanding advertiser targeting opportunities beyond the platform's historically female-dominated user base.

Pinterest enhanced its Trends tool on June 11, 2025, adding shopping behavior insights that analyze saving patterns, board curation, and purchase intent signals. These capabilities extend beyond traditional search volume analysis to incorporate behavioral data indicating actual consumer planning activities.

According to Pinterest's internal research, trends on the platform last nearly twice as long as trends on other social media platforms. This extended engagement window results from user planning behaviors that span months rather than days, creating longer optimization periods for advertising campaign performance.

The 21 trends span immediate seasonal opportunities and longer-term cultural movements. Advertisers can align short-term tactical campaigns with specific trends while incorporating broader aesthetic directions into annual brand positioning strategies.

Pinterest's approach differs from reactive trend reporting by identifying patterns during their formation rather than documenting existing popularity. This forward-looking methodology provides brands with first-mover advantages when entering emerging categories or repositioning existing products to align with nascent consumer interests.

The search data methodology provides quantitative support for each trend prediction. Specific percentage increases and related search terms enable advertisers to gauge relative momentum and identify connected concepts that might inform creative development or targeting strategies.

Pinterest added AI-powered board features on October 27, 2025, introducing personalized tabs and styling tools that transform boards from organizational utilities into shopping destinations. These enhancements position Pinterest content within contexts where purchase intent may be higher than general browsing.

The platform's advertising guidelines prohibit targeting based on gender identity, race, ethnicity, or religious beliefs. Trend adoption patterns identified in Pinterest Predicts reflect organic search behavior rather than algorithmic amplification, providing authentic signals of emerging consumer interest.

Timeline

• September 2023: Pinterest begins data collection period for 2026 trend analysis
• August 2024: Pinterest unveils Autumn 2024 trends focusing on Japanese influence
• August 7, 2025: Pinterest reports Q2 2025 results with 578 million monthly active users
• September 25, 2025: Pinterest launches Top of Search ads with 29% higher CTR
• October 27, 2025: Pinterest introduces AI-powered board upgrades for personalized shopping
• November 5, 2025: Pinterest reaches 600 million users with 17% revenue growth in Q3
• December 9, 2025: Pinterest releases Pinterest Predicts 2026 report with 21 trend forecasts

Summary

Who: Pinterest, the visual discovery platform serving 600 million monthly active users globally, released its annual trend forecasting research targeting advertisers and marketing professionals.

What: The Pinterest Predicts 2026 report identifies 21 emerging consumer trends across fashion, food, home decor, beauty, travel, and celebrations categories. Trends include "Gimme Gummy" tactile aesthetics, "Afrohemian Decor" cultural fusion, "Cabbage Crush" culinary patterns, "Vamp Romantic" gothic beauty, and "Darecations" adrenaline tourism. Each trend includes specific search term percentage increases and demographic adoption patterns.

When: Pinterest announced the report on December 9, 2025, based on search data analysis covering September 2023 through August 2025. The forecasts target 2026 consumer behavior patterns.

Where: The research analyzed global English-language search data across Pinterest's platform. Trends apply to Pinterest's monetized markets worldwide, with demographic patterns segmented by generational cohorts including Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers.

Why: The trend forecasting enables advertisers to position campaigns ahead of mainstream adoption, capitalizing on Pinterest's claim of 80% historical prediction accuracy. The timing aligns with Pinterest's advertising platform expansion, including new Top of Search ad formats and AI-powered personalization features designed to convert trend insights into campaign performance.