The future of video content in 2026

Allow me to be the one to dust off a crystal ball for once - and look closely into the future of video content in 2026. Will the dead internet theory eventually prevail? Will everyone succumb to the machines? Will personal brands become even more personal?

Or will nothing change at all?

As a video production studio owner for over 10 years now, I feel like I'm well-positioned to write down my thoughts on this matter. The ultimate goal? The "I told you!" moment in January 2027, when I can refer to this article to prove that I was, in fact, right about everything*.

All jokes* aside, things have not been quiet in video land in 2025.

AI gave creators and agencies a right-hand smack out of nowhere. Platforms continue to push short-form content. Everyone is trying to build a personal brand through the same rigid frameworks. And unfortunately, even though content consumption is still increasing, some old school creators are forced to leave.

But let's not pretend that anyone can predict the future. So take everything below with a grain of salt. What we can do, however, is look at some trends that may continue to unfold in 2026. Trends that can future-proof your online brand (and possibly save your job).

Brought to you straight from a fortuneteller.

But first...

The importance of being different

I can't talk about the trends of video content in 2026 without acknowledging something important first.

Trends are just trends. And trends are temporary.

Sure, you might ride some waves and take advantage of the temporary boost of incoming attention. In fact, I'd encourage everyone to strategically jump on those waves from time to time. But if you want real, sustainable, long-term attention, you're going to need something different.

Well, you’re not just going to need it. You’ll have to be it. Different.

There are copious frameworks, complex recipes and smart data analyses to explain why certain content gets attention and others doesn't. They can all be useful. But in the end, everything, in my humble view, can be reduced to this one essential component.

Differentiation. The very foundation of marketing.

If too much content looks, feels and smells the same, the content that is more likely to get attention is the content that separates itself from the rest in small or big ways.

When too many create over-produced content with fancy gear, some will film a 10-minute uncut smartphone video from their smartphone and get all the attention.

But when too many people share an uncut 10-minute smartphone video… suddenly, people become bored. And so the high-effort videos become more compelling once again.

You could say that it‘s a game of supply and demand.

As long as the supply of content is greater than the attention that can be given, people (and algorithms) will be looking for content that stands out in a way that is most relevant.

So no matter the trend. No matter what year it is. Take a look at what works. Let yourself be inspired. But never forget to ask yourself the question:

How can I be different?

Video content trends of 2026

Everyone wants a (personal) brand.

But that doesn't mean that every single brand will succeed. Some will spend lots of effort meticulously crafting their online persona and never get any attention. Others are simply effortlessly themselves and see great success.

The content floodgates have been opened. Everyone is waking up to the idea that video content works. AI is catching up quickly too, further increasing the amount of content looking for a set of eyeballs.

Meanwhile, viewers are drowning in information.

There's so much content that they have but one option: make a choice. They are increasingly selective of what they want to watch and what they want to skip. While "any" video would've been good enough 10 years ago, showing up is no longer enough.

We, creators, are unfortunately at the wrong side of this story for once.

The bar has been permanently raised for everyone. Much to the regret of those who thought that showing up was most of the work. Whether this is good or not, I'd rather leave up to you to decide. But it's important to keep this in mind while exploring the following trends.

Value is the absolute minimum

Value will continue to dominate the 2026 content conversation. As hollow as it may sound.

More and more creators and companies now understand that people are only willing to watch their content if it actually provides something useful for them:

Something that answers one of their questions
Something that entertains them
Something that helps them solve a problem
Something that makes them feel something

Flat-out uncreative commercials? Sorry, that’s not as effective anymore. Corporate aftermovies will most likely be gathering dust. Talking-head videos of people without on-screen talent will get boring. Low-effort podcasts can get a few views per episode at best.

Content that offers no value other than serving the interests of the company or the pursuit of becoming relevant will have a very hard time finding an audience in 2026. Probably even beyond 2026, too.

The case for valuable content is almost self-evident at this point.

But what is value? Value is about deeply understanding and serving the needs of the viewer, rather than just serving your own objectives. I write about this in Charge more, work less if you want to learn how to uncover and monetise this value.

But value alone is not enough.

Some brands think of value as just information. But value, especially in the form of information, is more than just facts. Value comes in many flavours. It could be unique point of view. A visionary outlook. A different angle. A creative format. Remember the case for differentiation?

Value in 2026 isn't just about providing something useful to the viewer.

It's about proving something useful & new.

The rise of (flawed) personalities

There are so many ways in which you can tell the same story. The way in which they get told do matter. You can pack them in a big red box with a tie. Or ship them in a weird shape wrapped in newspapers.

The way in which you ship your value is what can separate you from the rest in 2026. Luckily, each one of us already has something unique inside.

We all have a slightly different personality.

People and companies used to get away with putting up completely fabricated online personas, just for the sake of appeasing a certain target audience. But faking a brand image is becoming less and less effective. Viewers are better at spotting inauthentic efforts that try to portray a certain image that is not representative of how things truly are in their perception.

They, quite frankly, can smell this fakeness from miles away.

Instead, they'd rather see the real you. The you with shortcomings and the humbleness to acknowledge progress.

Those who manage to wrap their value in something unique… Something refreshing. Something that’s so unapologetically unique that it's hard to copy... Those brands will have an advantage.

We've already seen this trend in 2025 with the rise of personal brands. Public figures, CEOs, creators and influencers all agree that personal brands are the future of online content. Sometimes even at the cost of the company's brand.

And I think they're right. Somewhat. Personal brands are a powerful way to communicate a unique point of view in a way that feels right. A way that is credible and approachable, because it finally includes an honest human behind the screen.

But it isn't just personal brands that can profit from this. Companies can, too. In 2026, we’ll see more personality-driven content from company brands, made by in-house ambassadors who create mini personal brands in order to authentically express the values of the main brand, while guarding their unique personality as well.

It’s the best of both worlds.

As people grow tired of generic brands that only exist to serve their own interests, those who dare to show their true, flawed, personalities will be rewarded.

You better watch out for AI

Will the dead internet theory come to life?

It pains me to say this but yes, AI will do quite some damage. We're probably already being served more AI-generated content than we're aware of. And it will only get harder to tell.

To a certain extent, AI is already taking over part of the internet, as well as our physical lives. Some supermarkets already play AI-generated music because it's cheaper than licensing real artists.

I personally can't stand the music. But others don't even notice. That's the truth. A fact that we have to accept going forward.

But we shouldn't act like this has never happened before. A similar trend has already impacted other industries. Low-cost imported products partly replaced sustainable alternatives. Fast-food partly replaced healthy meals. Short clickbait articles partly replaced nuanced newspaper essays.

Partly.

Sustainable products, healthy meals, in-depth newspaper essays don't just suddenly cease to exist. Content, just like any other product or service, is part of a global market dynamic with ever changing and diverse preferences.

So there's still hope. You can still master AI without losing yourself.

I don't think the dead internet theory will ever come to see the light of day. Humans are pretty clever (at times). We crave real, human connection, as it is one of our core needs. We invent tools to make this process easier. That's, in my opinion, how AI will continue to impact video content in 2026. As a tool that enables creativity.

So just ignore the tools for a moment. Will you generate slop... or be different?

Long-form vs short-form videos

Time to confess. I don't like short-form content. I try to avoid it because it takes away my ability to focus. It messes with healthy dopamine-reward cycles. But I also confess that my opinion doesn’t matter.

Short-form content will continue to dominate 2026. However…

Short-form content is perfect for surfing on trends and staying relevant. It's the first, low-friction point of contact between brands and their audience. If done right, while respecting the rules of the platform, it's the best relevancy generator that exists today.

But if your goal is to build deep, long-lasting relationships... Short-form content starts to show its limits. There’s less room for nuance, depth or stories that take a bit longer to explain. With short-form content, interactions are high in frequency, but lower in quality.

Research shows that trust develops through repeated quality interactions.

Long-form content enables less frequent but longer & deeper interactions between the audience and the creator. There's also the added benefit of slightly more time to build trust - as viewers are prepared to spend more time watching a certain piece of content when they can't just swipe to the next video if they aren't convinced within the first 2 seconds.

Long-form content builds trust slower, but deeper. And as trust becomes more and more important due to the evolution of AI, I'd bet that in 2026, the importance of long-form content will continue to rise.

More brands who have successfully adopted the short-form content playbook will now explore the possibility of engaging their community in deeper, long-form content on channels such as YouTube.

But in the end...

What is even more important than the length of your content is the consistency and quality with which you post.

By combining both long-form and short-form content in a consistent and high-quality way, you can optimize both the frequency and the duration of your interactions.

A good strategy to pursue in 2026.

The year of solo creators

Allow me to involve my crystal ball once again. If there is one trend that ties all trends together in 2026, it’s this.

Video content used to be created by a big team of professionals. Camera operators, directors, sound operators, assistants, gaffers... First came the mirrorless digital cameras. No more expensive camera rentals. And now there’s the smartphone, quickly enabling anyone to create content on their own.

(Thank you for attending this short history lesson.)

In all seriousness: in 2026, solo creators already posses all the tools to write, produce, film, edit and publish without any help. New innovations will further enable this trend.

But the case for solo creators isn’t solely a technical one. Given the rise and importance of true, honest personalities. The popularity of personal brands. The rapid iteration and experimentation needed to provide value. And the increased importance of a good balance between long- and short form content…

Solo creators have the unfair advantage of creating content that feels truly personal without compromise, in a way that is much more efficient and flexible than traditional production crews.

2026 is the year of solo creators.

If you are doubting whether or not to start creating content all by yourself in 2026… Do not hesitate. This is your call. You have all the tools at your disposal.

There will be those who take the step and create, and those who will continue to live in fear and miss one of the biggest opportunities of 2026. Shaping the future of content includes everyone who creates it. Will you take part?

Because those who understand trends and dare to be different...

Are those who will shape the future of video content in 2026.