2026 Creative Trends Forecast

The strongest brands are standing out with larger-than-life visuals that leap off the screen and demand your attention Big, bold, and nearly overwhelming, this approach focuses on multisensory responses to make brand personality impossible to ignore.

As a recent study by The Drum showed, 82% of global consumers expect their senses to be as engaged as possible when experiencing something new.

To tap into the senses — like texture and taste — you need to craft visuals with depth and detail. When you're working with AI, this means designing prompts that do more than just describing how something looks. They hint at how it might feel, sound, or smell.

For example, let audio take the mood to the next plane of existence. No matter how visually stunning something is, the experience is incomplete if it stops there.

Since consumer decisions are often based on emotions, persuasive ideas can start with a simple aim — to remind us of the feelings that unite us. Connectioneering conveys authentic emotions through intentional craft. Its power lies in carefully setting up moments that bridge regions and industries because the takeaway is universal.

When you lean into this trend, viewers will stop noticing branding and start feeling the message. Focusing on shared joy, inspiration, or affection immediately creates a connection to some of the most profound and meaningful experiences. For example, in video, music that captures the mood amplifies the emotions of the moment. Every element reinforces the core spirit of the work to make the payoff that much more powerful.

The surreal silliness trend goes far beyond strange visuals — its optics intrigue and entertain, magnetizing consumer attention. Let your imagination off its leash and see if AI can keep up. Spoiler alert: it can.

Generative AI, like Nano Banana or Adobe Firefly, is creativity in its most unfiltered form. AI can stretch logic, bend physics, and remix culture into something so strange it feels fresh again. It’s not chaos for chaos’ sake, but curiosity without limits.

The result is work that feels alive, unexpected, and impossible to look away from. VICE reports that 68% of global youth search for humorous content that's entertaining while providing an escape from reality.

When you stop forcing AI to mimic what already exists, it starts imagining what doesn’t. That’s where brands can find entirely new, joyful sides of themselves.

Many Gen Zers are moving toward “appstinence” — a conscious break from constant connectivity.

They’re trying to be more present in a world of deepfakes, making the discovery of new countries, local cultures, and communities more appealing than ever.

When brands partner with local creators, spotlight regional craftsmanship, and show life as it’s lived, the work instantly feels more authentic and memorable.

This humanizes the brand, allowing them to relate to local audiences while also sharing something unique with the world at large.

To truly feel like a local experience, the stories being shared must belong to a community or a specific culture, not just be about it. If you can’t make it there yourself, collaborate with local talent both behind and in front of the camera. Embrace the culture’s authentic voice — no translators, no filters.

The canvas is wide open.

We’re entering a phase where creativity is pushing boundaries in multiple directions. At the center of it all are people leading what comes next — because imagination can never be replaced.

Some are telling stories that move us. Others are using AI as a tool to explore the world in ways we've never seen before, bringing bold ideas to life. The real opportunity lies in embracing authenticity and innovation together — while recognizing that people remain at the heart of the creative process.

Adobe’s 2026 Creative Trends report is your compass on this incredible journey. Dive into our curated collections, AI-powered moodboards, and easy-to-use templates to bring your creative ideas to life. We’re always here to help you lead with insight, dream with confidence, and create without limits.