As 2026 approaches, marketing is poised for another wave of disruption. From AI-first workflows to privacy-first targeting, brands that stay ahead of trends will thrive while others fall behind. With shifting consumer behavior, regulatory changes, and a continued focus on authenticity, marketers need to plan strategically to capture attention, build trust, and drive measurable impact.

Here’s a research-backed overview of the top marketing trends to watch in 2026, along with actionable recommendations for your team.

1. AI-First Creative & Workflow

Generative AI is no longer experimental. It’s becoming a standard tool across writing, design, video editing, and ad testing. According to Gartner, by 2026, over 70% of marketing content creation processes will be AI-assisted.

Why it matters: AI enables teams to move faster, generate multiple creative variants, and focus human effort on strategy and refinement.

What can you do to adapt? Pilot AI tools for A/B creative generation and build an internal prompt library to maintain brand voice consistency. However, expect potential pushback from consumers who distrust fully automated messaging. Research from Edelman shows that brands perceived as too “robotic” risk losing trust, so balance AI speed with human-forward storytelling.

For a deeper dive into auditing your past AI adoption and planning for next year, see our post: Reflect & Refresh: How to Review Your 2025 Marketing & Plan for 2026.

2. Privacy-First Targeting & First-Party Data

With cookies fading and privacy regulations tightening worldwide, clean first-party data is a critical competitive advantage. McKinsey reports that companies leveraging first-party data effectively see up to 15% higher ROI on campaigns.

What can you do to adapt? Think about how you collect information from your audience (email sign-ups, event registrations, or contact forms). Make sure people clearly know what they’re agreeing to when they share their info, and then use that data thoughtfully by creating helpful email lists or offers based on what they’ve shown interest in.

Learn more: See insights from Forrester on privacy-compliant data strategies.

3. Conversational & Search-First Discovery

Consumers increasingly find brands through conversational queries such as voice assistants, social media search, or app-native queries. According to BrightEdge, 50% of all searches will be voice or visual by 2026.

What can you do to adapt? Start creating content that directly answers the kinds of questions people actually ask out loud to Siri, Alexa, or in a voice search. Also, make sure your business profiles on platforms like Google, TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn are filled out, accurate, and easy to find.

Learn more: HubSpot’s guide to voice search optimization

4. Short-Form Video With Depth

Short-form video continues to dominate, but audiences expect substance: how-to content, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and mini-explanations outperform purely entertaining clips. Cisco predicts that 82% of all internet traffic in 2026 will be video content.

What can you do to adapt? Repurpose a single long-form piece of content into multiple short clips, carousel posts, and blog content.

5. Creator & Community Partnerships Over One-Off Influencer Ads

Micro-creators and authentic community relationships drive measurable engagement and trust more than traditional influencer posts. According to Forbes, micro-influencers deliver 60% higher engagement than mega-influencers.

What can you do to adapt? Make a short list of creators or community members who make content that aligns with your brand. Reach out to build ongoing relationships with them (which lead to trust and better engagement).

6. Email Remains a High-Value Channel

Despite social and search dominance, segmented email campaigns remain one of the most effective channels for engagement. Research from Litmus shows email drives an average ROI of $36 for every $1 spent. Check out our case study of a successful email marketing campaign with ST33LE here.

What can you do to adapt? Audit your automations like welcome series, winbacks, event follow-ups, and implement AI-assisted subject line and preview testing. For nonprofits and community-focused organizations, our guide 3 Key Email Marketing Strategies to Engage Donors & Volunteers offers actionable tips to boost engagement and retention. 

7. AR & Shoppable Media

AR try-ons and shoppable video experiences are becoming mainstream for retail, events, and experiential campaigns.

What can you do to adapt? Prototype one AR or shoppable experience for a high-value product or event and track engagement metrics.

8. Purpose-Driven Marketing With Measurable Impact

Consumers increasingly demand ethical, local, and measurable brand action. Claims must be backed by actual impact, or trust erodes.

What can you do to adapt? Publish measurable community goals, like donating a percentage of a project or supporting a local nonprofit, and report results publicly.

Learn more: Harvard Business Review on purpose-driven marketing

Get Ready for 2026

Marketers who succeed in 2026 will blend the speed and efficiency of AI with the warmth and trust that only human-centered storytelling can create. By focusing on privacy, investing in community, and embracing emerging formats like short-form video and AR, your brand will be ready as the digital landscape continues to evolve.👉 Schedule a call with Tomo360 today and prepare your 2026 marketing strategy for maximum impact.