Pinterest Predicts 2026 and What It Means for Artists & Designers

By Jennifer Smelker  •   3 minute read

Pinterest Predicts 2026 and What It Means for Artists & Designers

Pinterest has released its Pinterest Predicts 2026 report, forecasting a wide range of trends across aesthetics, lifestyle, home design, fashion, beauty, travel, hobbies, and even food. The predictions are based on billions of users’ searches and engagement signals from September 2024 through August 2025. Pinterest reports that these trend forecasts have been highly accurate in previous years and reflect real intention to plan and create, not just casual browsing. 

Instead of pointing toward one narrow direction, the 2026 forecast shows a mix of comfort, nostalgia, expressive aesthetics, tactile joy, and whimsical creativity. What ties these trends together is a desire for personal expression, emotional richness, and meaningful connection in a world filled with noise and rapid digital consumption.

Below are some of the top trends Pinterest predicts for 2026 that all creatives should know.

1. Gimme Gummy

A playful, tactile aesthetic built around squishy, gummy-like textures and sensory experiences. Pinterest highlights rapid growth in searches for “jelly blush” and “gummy candy aesthetic,” suggesting that touchable, feel-good visuals will influence product design, beauty, and illustration.

Why it matters: This trend points to a craving for sensory delight and texture that feels expressive and unexpected, not flat. For creatives, this opens the door to soft, 3D-inspired visuals, glossy finishes, and interactive elements.

2. FunHaus

Bold, circus-inspired interior and aesthetic elements are on the rise. Searches for “circus interior” and “circus nursery” have spiked, showing a renewed appetite for playful patterning, bold stripes, and sculptural design cues.

Why it matters: FunHaus is about joyful chaos and whimsy paired with intentional balance. It shows that many people want environments and visuals that feel lively, imaginative, and full of personality.

3. Poetcore

This trend celebrates a literary, bookish aesthetic with vintage vibes. Think fountain pens, layered knits, timeless silhouettes, and moody, thoughtful styling. Pinterest notes strong growth in searches tied to the “poet aesthetic.”

Why it matters: Poetcore reflects a broader yearning for slower living, deeper thought, and analog charm. For creatives, this can influence moodboards, editorial content, fashion narratives, and bookish illustration themes.

4. Glamoratti

1980s inspired maximalist glamour returns with sculpted silhouettes, statement jewelry, and luxurious finishes. Searches tied to “80s luxury” are soaring, pointing to a cultural turn toward bold self-expression. 

Why it matters: Glamoratti is about daring confidence and visual drama. It encourages creatives to explore opulence, layered depth, rich detailing, and textures that feel vivid and expressive.

5. Pen Pals and Letter Revival

Amid digital saturation, people are reconnecting with handwritten letters, stamps, and snail mail nostalgia. Search interest in snail mail gifts and pen pal ideas is up significantly.

Why it matters: This trend signals a broader shift toward analog hobbies and authentic gestures. For artists and designers, it suggests renewed interest in stationery, paper goods, and tactile design.

6. Afrohemian and NeoDeco Design

Pinterest highlights growth in searches for Afrohemian decor, a fusion of African and bohemian influences with natural textures and vibrant motifs. At the same time NeoDeco aesthetics are emerging, modernizing Art Deco with sleek, contemporary details. 

Why it matters: These trends show a layered approach to design that values cultural heritage and rich visual storytelling. They invite creatives to explore diverse patterns, organic materials, and heritage inspired shapes.

7. Culinary and Material Surprise Trends

Unexpectedly, Pinterest sees everyday objects and food culture cropping up as powerful trends. Searches around cabbage-based recipes — from tacos to cocktails — are dramatically rising, suggesting a new found culinary curiosity. 

Why it matters: This shows that functional and familiar materials can become cultural movements. For creatives, it highlights the unexpected places trends can arise from and the importance of noticing the ordinary made extraordinary.

What This Means for Creatives in 2026

Pinterest Predicts 2026 is not just a list of aesthetics. It reflects a collective shift toward comfort, expression, connection, tactile joy, and personal storytelling. These trends suggest that people want visuals and experiences that feel realmeaningful, and emotionally resonant.

Download your Pinterest Predicts 2026 Trend Summary Guide, a quick, printable overview of the top trends and creative cues you can use to plan your work and products for the year ahead.

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