We asked eight friends of Zee Feed to draw on their area of expertise predict the big shifts and major trends coming next year.
Climate Action
Elfy Scott, journalist
There will be a focus on the intersection of climate action and democracy amid concerning shifts towards authoritarianism and technofascism. I think the tenets of environmentalism and climate concern will become more broadly recognised as being aligned with democratic principles. In the wake of the International Court of Justice ruling, I also expect we’ll see more high profile cases of communities suing governments for inaction — it will be fascinating to see the results.
Politics
Senator Lidia Thorpe
In 2026, we will see the consequences of a political system that is failing people — rising racism, more people on the streets as poverty deepens, increasing incarceration, violations of children’s human rights, worsening impacts of the climate crisis, and harsher crackdowns on those protesting these injustices.
This country is heading in the wrong direction. We need to wake up to the dangers ahead, break from the old party system, and fight for safer, fairer alternatives. Change will only come when we all come together to stand up, speak out, and demand a system that protects people and Country.
Online Culture
Lauren Meisner, founder Centennial World
We’re going to see two major shifts: the rate at which we post and the style of content that’s popular. Posting will become more intentional and less frequent — it’s not necessary to post eight times a day to grow on TikTok! That will also change what is popular with a move to more more curated series. Rather than a founder DITL, it might be a satirical docuseries content about a specific project. Finally, I believe we will also continue to see interest in the ‘intellectual influencer’, which has been on the rise since 2020.
Media
Scott Mitchell & Osman Faruqi, Lamestream podcast
Making predictions about the Australian media industry is tricky because even though there are obvious things mainstream media organisations could do, they are run almost exclusively by morons. But one thing that’s likely to pick up steam is legacy organisations trying to create more niche content centred around their own talent, or in partnership with external creators. Think newsletters, social video and exclusive content using the profile of an individual to lure in audiences, rather than relying on the masthead’s brand.
Pop culture
Jasmine Wallis & Maggie Zhou, Culture Club podcast
With the rise of AI (and most of us spending our day moving from little screen to medium screen to big screen), the biggest shift in 2026 will be how people take back their time from Big Tech.
Even more IRL communities will crop up, privacy will be regarded as cultural capital, and people will rethink high screen times, because being offline and unplugged is going to be the ultimate symbol of luxury.
Sport
Daanyal Saeed, Perceived Pressure podcast
The biggest trend will be the slop-ification of sport. We have this thing where we feel the need to copy everything the Americans do, and the Americans have turned just about every element of sports into commodified slop. Sunderland ‘Til I Die walked so Drive To Survive could run, but now we’re inundated with shit rip offs of both. They’re so rarely telling us new stories anymore. I would love to see less content, fewer hot takes and a little more mystery… I don’t think I’ll get that, though.
Fashion
Sophia Chowdury, stylist
I think there will be more 80s influence next year. We’re already seeing it with the rise of polka dots, but I am also excited to see it go further with more structured shoulders and bright colour blocking in the new year. Bold blues were on so many runways at the 2025 Australian Fashion Week, and with the sequel of The Devil wears Prada slated for the first half of 2026, I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw lots of cerulean blue as a nod to the first instalment.
Entertainment
Aicha Robertson, pop culture commentator
Do we really need every sequel? That’s the question that will dominate discourse in the entertainment space in 2026: sequels and reboots versus original ideas. With Devil Wears Prada 2 and the Narnia reboot, we’ll see if nostalgia still works or whether people are craving adaptations like The Odyssey.
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