The Top Marketing Trends of 2026

As the year comes to an end, it is the perfect time to take a look at the top marketing trends of 2026. This year was a turbulent combination of rapid changes in consumer behavior, the rise of AI and shifts in established patterns. What will the next year bring for brands and their marketing efforts? That is exactly what we will try to answer.

Firing up the proverbial crystal ball is never an exact science. However, having helped multiple brands adapt to a constantly changing marketing landscape in 2025, we have insight that goes well beyond wild predictions. Knowing what lies ahead for your brand in 2026 is crucial so that you can prepare accordingly. Without further ado, let’s examine the changes and trends that are on the near horizon. In this article, we will discuss:

• How AI will continue to make an impact in 2026.
• Why brand authenticity will be key in 2026.
• How your brand needs to be an influencer too.
• If the sales funnel, as we know it, is dead.
• Why ROI isn’t the only thing that matters in marketing.
• Other top marketing trends of 2026 that are sure to affect your business.

Will We Find the Limits of AI?

The impact of AI on our lives has been vast since the release of ChatGPT, just over three short years ago. Marketers have been trying to harness its power ever since then and figure out how to employ AI effectively. Multiple companies have been trying to cash in on this trend, offering a host of AI-powered one-stop marketing solutions. Need a slew of social media posts, blog posts or digital marketing ads? Hit a button and let AI figure it out. It all sounds great and so easy, but it is more complicated than that.

Marketing can be thought of in multiple ways, but at its core, modern marketing is about forming a connection with people. If you completely turn over those efforts to an LLM, you are going to rapidly find the limits of AI and people’s tolerance for it. LLM-induced hallucinations aside, it is hard to form authentic bonds with customers if you remove the human element from that relationship-building effort. At our agency, we have found that, while AI can be a powerful productivity enhancer, it is not a replacement for human-led marketing efforts. Using AI effectively but also retaining a human touch will definitely be among the top marketing trends of 2026.

The AI Slop Wars Cometh

Like it or not, some brands will completely disregard the above advice. They will “fully embrace” AI by using it to generate reams of low-quality marketing content of questionable value. Consumers will then be carpet-bombed with that AI slop until they hopefully give in and buy something to make it all stop. Like the human wave attacks of ancient battles, “flooding the zone” is easier than a proper strategy and targeting.

So, how do you prepare for the flooded marketing channels of the upcoming AI slop wars? You stand out from the noise by producing authentic, human-first content that actually connects with your customers instead of pulverizing them. And by “content,” we mean almost any customer touchpoint, including your blogs, YouTube videos, social media, emails and digital marketing efforts. Let others fend for the scraps of possible one-time purchases of their widgets while you build long-term customers, brand advocates and repeat purchases.

But Paying Attention to AI is Important

We are not throwing poor Sam Altman under the bus in some anti-AI diatribe. Artificial intelligence undoubtedly has its place in modern marketing and is making a huge impact. One of the top marketing trends of 2026 will be the continued change in how people search for information on products. In ancient times, before LLMs, people used to rely on something called Google for product research. Now, 53% of people in the U.S. use or plan to use AI for online shopping, according to a recent Capital One survey. And every time we check that statistic, it continues to increase.

That shift is massive for your brand because how information is presented by ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and others is different from Google. Instead of requiring links to click through, LLMs provide the answer directly, eliminating the need to click on anything. This means your brand is virtually invisible to an increasing number of people if it doesn’t appear in AI-powered searches. The time is now to conduct an in-depth AI audit to determine if you are appearing in LLM search results and to identify opportunities for improving your AI visibility. Read our blog post on why your brand should care about AI search for more information.

Brand Authenticity is Now Everything

Even before the rise of AI, we have been talking about the importance of brand authenticity. Why?  According to a recent survey, 86% of consumers believe authenticity is vital when deciding which brands to support. That is a significant number and, like AI usage, it continues to increase every time we check. It also means you could be losing out on substantial sales if consumers think your competition is more authentic.

There are a multitude of reasons why authenticity absolutely matters. Chief among them is that authenticity plays a major role in building a bond between your brand and its customers. As we said at the beginning of this article, creating that bond is the foundation of modern marketing. Authenticity also allows your brand to stand out in ever noisier marketing channels and from your competitors. Read our blog post about why brand authenticity matters, how to build it and why it is among our top marketing trends of 2026.

You Need to be an Influencer, Too

By now, you (hopefully) know that working with influencers (or content creators) should be an essential part of your brand’s marketing strategy. They are pivotal for amplifying your marketing messaging, making new audiences aware of your products and helping to drive sales. However, it is no longer enough to work with content creators. Your brand has to be an influencer, too, by creating its own content.

Why does your brand need to create its own content? Because it is a central part of building brand authenticity. Establishing what your brand is all about and its values can be challenging without your own blogs, YouTube videos, social media content and more. Creating that bond between your brand and its customers is also extremely difficult without your own content. Working with content creators outside your brand is still important, but becoming your own influencer is just as critical.

ROI isn’t Everything

Old-school CMOs and marketers were once absolutely obsessed with ROI. They frantically watched over ROI figures and wanted constant increases. Truth be told, some still are that way and only gravitate towards forms of marketing with measurable and high ROIs. However, that is a mistake. Why? Again, it all ties back to authenticity.

Building brand authenticity is a long-term effort over multiple marketing channels. There is also no measurable statistic that can directly correlate ROI with those efforts. However, just because you can’t realistically measure ROI from building brand authenticity doesn’t mean you should avoid it. Yes, higher ROI activities, such as email and digital marketing, should still be part of your overall marketing efforts. However, if you aren’t investing in building your brand authenticity, you are losing out on future sales.

A Return to the “Old Ways”

In preparing for the grand finale in the 2012 film “Skyfall,” Kincade (played impeccably by the late Albert Finney) famously states to James Bond, “Sometimes the old ways are the best,” while laying a knife on the table. That statement isn’t just true of battling maniacal Bond movie villains, but also of marketing. While flashier, trendier and newer technologies emerge, there are always tried-and-true methods that remain because they simply work.

One of those older and reliable methods that regularly produces results is email marketing. No, we aren’t talking about the occasional “promo” email or newsletter. Instead, modern email marketing encompasses a well-thought-out strategy and multiple touchpoints. Automated email flows can welcome new customers, remind people about items left in their carts, nudge people to return to your website and more. Newsletters can help alert people to new content, build your brand and connect with your customers. A regular cadence of emails about new products and sales generates ROI. Read our blog post about why email marketing is still effective to see why your brand needs to be doing it.

It is Time to Think of a Different Sales Funnel

The original AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire and Action) model of the sales funnel was developed in 1898 by advertising pioneer Elias St. Elmo Lewis. While some have declared the sales funnel dead, the basic premise of it still holds. However, with the original funnel developed in an era when advertising was only in newspapers, it is safe to say it is outdated.

Today, digital transformation and AI have disrupted consumer journeys, creating unpredictable and nonlinear patterns of behavior. It is no longer about blasting out advertising solely based on reach and hoping to force customers further down a linear funnel. Streaming, scrolling and searching all dominate modern consumer behavior, overlapping and influencing multiple purchasing stages simultaneously. There is also no longer a defined end to the funnel, as creating brand loyalty involves after-purchase support and efforts geared towards repeat purchases. If your internal team doesn’t realize this shift, it is time to reach out to one that does and create a winning 2026 marketing strategy.

We Can Help

At Kahn Media, we can help your brand by creating content that connects with your customers, auditing your AI visibility or developing a complete marketing strategy. As a full-service agency, we also have in-house experts in social media management, email marketing, digital marketing, public relations and content creator engagement. Regardless of your needs, we can help make 2026 a year of increased growth and revenue for your brand. Contact us to see what is possible.