Every year brings fresh disruption. AI is redrawing the boundaries of creativity and efficiency. Economic uncertainty is reshaping priorities. Geopolitical tension is changing the context in which brands operate. For businesses, this is the complex reality in which your strategic plans, campaigns, and innovation pipelines must be built.

Designed to spark thought and inspire action, these insights will enable your brand to not only anticipate change but lead it.

From the rise of anti-algorithm , to reevaluating life’s milestones , and a growing affection deficit , these trends reveal how consumers are reshaping their lifestyles, identities, and ultimately, their connections with brands from 2030 and beyond.

The 2026 Global Consumer Predictions are:

1. Anti-Algorithm

Once a behind-the-scenes tool designed to make life simpler and more personalised, the algorithm has evolved into a powerful force that shapes, and sometimes distorts, people’s identity and worldview. Consumers must navigate the tension between the convenience algorithms provide and the protection, empowerment, and self-expression they risk losing.

2. The New Young

The timeline of life is being redefined, and so is what it means to be “young.” As longevity increases and traditional milestones become more fluid, we’re seeing the rise of an extended middle of life. Brands that focus solely on youthful fulfilment or deferred retirement will miss the wealth of opportunity that exists in the extended middle.

3. Affection Deficit

In a fragmented society where interactions open us up to a clash of values, many are retreating into self-contained bubbles. Automation is being used to avoid casual connections, prioritising efficiency and safety over human interaction. As the social glue of human exchanges erodes, brands face a pivotal choice: nurture human connection or embrace efficiency at all costs?

Our methodology

Built on the seven Mintel Trend Drivers—Wellbeing, Surroundings, Technology, Rights, Identity, Value, and Experiences—our methodology supports the fluid acceleration or deceleration of a trend according to the reality of individual markets. This ensures we remain adaptive, reactive to change and focused on the future.

Our predictions are built on a foundation of robust data and expert analysis. This unmatched combination ensures that what you read and discover is meaningful, actionable and provides the clarity you need to move beyond reacting to the future and to start shaping it.