What was the feed really saying in Q1 2026?

We tracked 50+ trends across TikTok and Instagram this quarter to understand what they were saying, why they worked, and what they actually meant for brands running paid ads.

This is a read on the cultural mood behind the scroll, the trends that worked for performance marketing, and the ones that looked good but had no space for a brand.

In this report, you'll find:

1. The cultural context: the pop culture moments that shaped what people wanted to watch and share each month.
2. The top trends per month: what they were, why they worked, and how a brand can show up in them naturally.
3. Trends that proved their worth: real ads that used these formats and actually performed.
4. What this means for Q2: the signals we're watching and what smart brands should be doing differently.
5. And more...

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