TikTok trends 2026: Tracking the latest TikTok trends as they emerge
Shooglebox helps brands and organisations quickly spot and make sense of TikTok trends as they're starting to take off.
Here's a few of the 2026 trends that Shooglebox customers have been among the first to discover, explore and act on.
TikTok trends September 2026:
Bedazzling: The trend for sticking gems on everyday objects is all over social media again after Kylie Jenner posted a photo of the bedazzled cake she had for her 29th birthday
Colour challenge: Shopping challenge where couples buy each other a series of items matching different colours they've chosen
Text from A: Pretty Little Liars-inspired trend where people pretend they've received a text message calling out something embarrassing
"We will not be using AI posters to promote ourselves": Businesses coming with their own handmade marketing messages on a piece of paper
Hitting the Zara Larsson: Funny videos of people doing Zara Larsson's signature dolphin pose when they have to reach for something
Ghost cookies: Halloween baking trend for chocolate chip cookies topped with marshmallows made to look like ghosts
TikTok trends August 2026:
"Kinda chic to ...": Viral phrase that people are using to describe the habits, traits and life choices they see as part of their identity
Manifesting: TikToks of people praying for good things to happen to them – soundtracked with a live version of Training Season by Dua Lipa
Hailey Bieber meatballs: Recreating her recipe for chicken meatballs in tomato sauce topped with cottage cheese and parmesan
Lunch in my city: Search "lunch in my city" and your location on TikTok and go to the first place that comes up – like this example from Manchester
How to kidnap me: Tongue-in-cheek trend showing something that would lure you in if you were in danger of getting kidnapped
"That plane was so low": Guerrilla marketing trend catching viewers' attention by making you think you're about so see a jet flying overhead before revealing a paper plane with a handmade marketing message
TikTok trends July 2026:
"Can't always be LA, someone's gotta hold it down in ...": Thousands of people posting tongue-in-cheek videos celebrating their hometowns or favourite places
Frozen fruit ice cream: Viral summer dessert hack where you pour milk or double cream into a frozen watermelon or another frozen fruit and stir it until it resembles ice cream
"I didn't have a pen and paper": Beyoncé sound being to describe a time you pulled something off with little to no prep
Netflix documentaries: TikToks of people acting like they're in the opening scene of a documentary series about their life
"What sound does it make?": Funny trend where someone asks a friend or co-worker to do an impression of something and then plays their sound over the real thing
Things worth the money: People listing different products and services they think are worth paying for
TikTok trends June 2026:
"Turn around, bright eyes": TikToks using Diary of a Wimpy Kid sound to contrast likes and dislikes or to show glow-ups
Greg Heffley singing: The "Turn around, bright eyes" sound has also inspired a viral singing challenge recreating the original scene in the film – with more than 70 million views and 12 million likes on this version
Holiday music videos: Creative trend that's back for summer where people film and edit clips from their holidays in the style of a music video
Crispy Krispy Kreme doughnuts: Viral hack where you heat glazed doughnuts in a frying pan to caramelise the sugar and get a crispy outside
"Transcending the game": New Drake sound and catchphrase which thousands of people on TikTok are using to talk about things they love – see more about how it's taken off as a trend in this Shooglebox blog
TikTok trends May 2026:
Dot Cakes: A bakery in New York has gone viral with their cake cups topped with buttercream frosting and rainbow sprinkles
Food Jutsu: Making food and drink magically appear using ninja hand gestures inspired by the Japanese anime series Naruto
"Melissa, I'm drunk and outside!": Viral AI-generated song which thousands of TikTokers are using over clips of themselves drinking, being out in the sun or just having a good time
"That's my why": TikToks where people joke about the perks of their relationships and friendships, or the reasons they love something so much
"Wow, ok": Challenge where you take it in turns with someone to say a short phrase in different tones of voice
The saxophones are getting louder: Sax solo sound from Boyz n the Hood for situations where something bad is about to happen
TikTok trends April 2026:
Everything Hallelujah: Thousands of people across TikTok and social media have been using this Justin Bieber song to post about things they love and are grateful for
My top 5 horror movies: TikToks listing your real-life horror stories and things you dislike – see more about how brands have jumped on the trend in this Shooglebox blog
Pringles chocolate block: Hundreds of people trying this viral sweet and salty snack made by pouring melted chocolate into a can of Pringles
Whatever he can't pronounce he has to buy: Shopping challenge where women see if their boyfriends or husbands know how to pronounce the names of beauty brands in shops like Sephora
"Oh ok because": Funny wordplay trend where you split a word, phrase or brand name into parts to make a sentence – like "sub had a way" for Subway and "doctor had a pepper" in a viral TikTok about Dr Pepper
