How to Find What Trend Is on Instagram
Instagram trends can help you discover fresh content ideas and connect with your audience. However, finding the right trend takes more than scrolling through random Reels. You need to identify popular sounds, recurring video formats, relevant hashtags, and topics that match your niche.
If you want to learn how to find what trend is on Instagram, several methods can help. You can explore the Reels feed, check trending audio where available, study competitors, and monitor hashtags. This guide explains seven practical ways to discover Instagram trends and use them in your content strategy.
1. Explore the Instagram Reels Feed
The Reels feed is one of the easiest places to discover emerging trends. Creators often reuse popular sounds, editing styles, challenges, and video formats.
Follow these steps to find potential trends:
- Open Instagram on your mobile phone.
- Tap the Reels tab.
- Watch recent videos in your niche.
- Notice sounds, formats, and effects that appear repeatedly.
- Open promising Reels to explore their audio and related content.
- Save useful examples for future reference.
Look for patterns rather than individual viral videos. If several unrelated creators use the same format, it may indicate a growing trend.
Pro tip: Study trends that fit your audience. A popular dance trend might not suit a professional marketing account, but a trending storytelling format could work well.
2. Check Trending Audio on Instagram
Trending audio is useful for creators who publish Reels regularly. A popular sound can provide inspiration for educational videos, product demonstrations, comedy, and storytelling.
Instagram has introduced dedicated tools for discovering trending songs, audio usage, and hashtags. However, the availability and placement of these tools can vary by account and region.
To explore trending audio:
- Open a Reel that uses an interesting sound.
- Tap the audio name displayed on the Reel.
- Explore the audio page and other videos using the sound.
- Check whether the sound appears in recent content from different creators.
- Save the audio if it fits your next video.
You can also look for a trending indicator beside audio names when the feature is available.
Do not select a sound simply because many people use it. Check whether it suits your content and whether your account can use it.
3. Use Instagram's Professional Dashboard
The Professional Dashboard provides tools and resources for eligible creator and business accounts.
Instagram has offered dedicated Reels trend discovery features that help creators explore popular audio and hashtags. The exact features available may differ by account, location, and app version.
To check your dashboard:
- Open your Instagram profile.
- Look for the Professional Dashboard.
- Explore the available creator tools, insights, and inspiration resources.
- Check for any Reels Trends or trending audio options.
- Review relevant recommendations before planning your content.
If you cannot find a dedicated trends section, use the Reels feed and audio pages instead.
You can also review your own account insights. Look for Reels that generate strong watch time, shares, saves, and meaningful engagement. These metrics can help you identify content formats worth testing again.
4. Find Trending Hashtags on Instagram
Hashtags can help you understand the topics creators discuss within a particular niche. However, a popular hashtag does not automatically indicate a growing trend.
Follow these steps to research hashtags:
- Open Instagram’s search feature.
- Enter a keyword related to your niche.
- Explore relevant hashtag results where available.
- Review recent posts and Reels using those hashtags.
- Identify recurring topics and formats.
- Save relevant ideas for your content calendar.
For example, a fitness creator might research hashtags related to workout routines, gym motivation, and beginner fitness.
A digital marketing creator could investigate topics related to SEO tips, Instagram growth, and content marketing.
Choose hashtags that accurately describe your content. Avoid adding unrelated hashtags just because they appear popular.
5. Study Competitors and Popular Creators
Your competitors can reveal which content formats attract attention in your niche. This method is particularly useful for businesses, educators, influencers, and service providers.
Start by identifying five to ten relevant accounts. Review their recent Reels and look for repeated patterns.
Pay attention to:
- Topics that appear across multiple accounts.
- Opening hooks that capture attention.
- Video length and editing style.
- Questions viewers repeatedly ask.
- Posts that receive meaningful comments and shares.
- Formats that creators adapt to different topics.
Do not copy another creator’s video word for word. Instead, understand why the format works and develop your own version.
For example, if marketing creators use short myth-busting videos, you could create a Reel explaining common SEO myths. This lets you use a familiar format while providing original information.
6. Use Instagram Explore and External Trend Sources
Your competitors can reveal which content formats attract attention in your niche. This method is particularly useful for businesses, educators, influencers, and service providers.
Start by identifying five to ten relevant accounts. Review their recent Reels and look for repeated patterns.
Pay attention to:
- Topics that appear across multiple accounts.
- Opening hooks that capture attention.
- Video length and editing style.
- Questions viewers repeatedly ask.
- Posts that receive meaningful comments and shares.
- Formats that creators adapt to different topics.
Do not copy another creator’s video word for word. Instead, understand why the format works and develop your own version.
For example, if marketing creators use short myth-busting videos, you could create a Reel explaining common SEO myths. This lets you use a familiar format while providing original information.
7. Track Trends Before They Become Oversaturated
Finding a trend is only the first step. You should also assess whether it remains relevant and offers a useful opportunity for your audience.
Use this simple process:
- Record promising sounds, formats, and topics.
- Note when you first discover each trend.
- Review new examples over the following days.
- Check whether different creators are adopting it.
- Prioritize trends that match your niche and brand.
- Publish a relevant, original version while the topic is still useful.
You do not need to join every trend immediately. A trend that aligns with your audience can be more valuable than a viral format that has nothing to do with your content.
How to Use Instagram Trends to Grow Your Account
Once you discover a suitable trend, adapt it to your content goals.
Here are some practical examples:
- Educational creators: Explain a popular topic through a short tutorial.
- Fitness creators: Adapt a suitable audio trend to a workout demonstration.
- Local businesses: Show a product, service, customer experience, or behind-the-scenes process.
- Digital marketers: Explain a trending platform feature or demonstrate a useful marketing technique.
- Personal brands: Share a relevant story or lesson using a familiar Reel format.
Keep your opening hook clear and deliver value quickly. Use captions and on-screen text when they improve understanding.
After publishing, review watch time, shares, saves, profile visits, and other relevant insights. Use the results to improve your next video.
Remember that using trending audio does not guarantee viral reach. Content quality, audience relevance, originality, and recommendation eligibility also matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore Reels, the Explore page, relevant hashtags, and creator accounts. Look for topics and formats appearing across multiple recent posts. Check available creator tools for additional inspiration.
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