March 16, 2026
We update this resource biweekly with what songs, memes, and news that are trending now in social media β plus some tips and examples from other travel brands to inspire you π‘
Register to our biweekly Trend Tracker Newsletter and our monthly Trend Tracker Webinar to get these updates before everyone else!
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Here are 3 key takeaways from our 2026 Creator Trends Report for your marketing strategy:
1οΈβ£ Video is *still* king - 92% of marketers plan to spend the same or more on video marketing this year.
2οΈβ£ The creator economy is booming - 61% of marketers plan to increase their investment in creator content, and 77% are repurposing creator content in paid ads.
3οΈβ£ Nano and micro creators are on the rise - 54% of marketers primarily work with smaller creators, since they can rely on their genuine approach to bring more engagement.
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The Oscars: Make memes out of funny moments from the ceremony, or you can get creative with fake awards for your brand! Example: Royal Caribbean Cruises
Linkable Reels - This new feature is taking off! Upload a B-roll clip on the Instagram Edits app, then tap the "Links" button to add other clickable Reels. This is a great way to revive old content and curate similar topics together! Example: ResortPass
"[YOUR BRAND], what were you like in the 90s?" (540K Reels, 569.8K TikToks) - Add this hook and song to a video that opens with your brand today, then cuts to throwback photos of your brand in the '90s! Example: City of Sydney
Bridgerton - 360 classical cover (172K Reels, 38.1K TikToks) - Yes, Bridgerton is still trending! This song's great for any quaint visuals, but it's so versatile you can use it for any supercut. Example: Kentucky Tourism (shot by a CrowdRiff Creator!)
I don't know who needs to hear this, but spring is coming (3.1K Reels, 31.9K TikToks) - Add closed captions for this audio against a compilation of spring videos. Example: Visit Lake Geneva
P.S. Wondering how to be ready for any trend? π Building an always-on content library is the secret β and here's how we can help with that!
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For destinations and attractions, family-friendly content is essential β but notoriously difficult to produce well.
In our latest case study, we highlight how brands use creator-captured moments to share real family stories, genuine interactions, and multi-generational experiences.
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Visit San Marcos: Galentine's Day - If it ain't broke, don't fix it! San Marcos reposted this cute Reel from last year, and it went viral! A great example of reusing top-performing content every season, *and* repurposing different CrowdRiff shoots into one cohesive Reel.
Oregonβs Mt. Hood Territory: Bigfoot - This customer tried something new: asking a CrowdRiff Creator to interview a local celebrity, Cliff, owner of the North American Bigfoot Center. The results? Almost 21K views, 90% from non-followers, and comments from across the globe!
Visit Ithaca: Thrifting - Local, sustainable, and full of surprises: this CrowdRiff shoot covers a whole day of thrifting in Ithaca, from vintage jackets to stylish home decor and unique trinkets. This is one of Ithaca's best performing Reels ever π
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Team baby photos - This one's so cute! Gather baby photos of your team members and add short descriptions of what each person does. Example: Ski Utah
Billy Joel - Piano Man (21K Reels, 59K TikToks) - Β Add this song to an aesthetic, wanderlust-inspiring supercut with this caption: βbut thereβs someplace that heβd rather be.β Example: Visit Oshkosh
Punch, the cute baby monkey - Meet Punch, the latest zoo animal to go viral π΅ Time to make silly photo edits or meme carousels of Punch and your brand! Example: RCI Vacations
Olivia Dean with a Touch Of Funk (112K Reels, 114.5K TikToks) - An upbeat remix to use with a high energy, cheery video. Example: Florida's Space Coast
Postcards from [YOUR BRAND] - Make a carousel or supercut of short, postcard-worthy video clips with this caption. Example: Tourism Ireland
P.S. The secret to hopping on a trend right away? π€« An evergreen content library β and here's how we can help with that!
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1. Think in templates - Repeatable formats make content creation easier! Some examples you can reuse: listicles, how-tos, POVs, memes...
2. Build an evergreen video library - Content should NEVER be used just once: every clip should be able to be chopped up and repurposed into multiple posts, every season.
3. Optimize your workflow with creator marketplaces & solutions - To keep up with constant content demands, use solutions like CrowdRiff Creators that fully manage user-generated content production for you.
4. Reshare your video across all your channels - A post might underperform on Instagram, but go viral on Facebook or TikTok β you never know what might take off!
5. Analyze & adjust - Look at your past top-performing content and replicate/reuse it with different trending songs or video hooks.
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Bad Bunny - DtMF (piano version) (117K Reels, 27.2K TikToks) Bad Bunny songs are STILL trending post-Super Bowl! Use this delicate piano cover with any whimsical, aesthetic content. Example: Texas Hill Country Olive Co. (shot by a CrowdRiff Creator!)
I saw you in a dream last night - Use a tool like Canva to add this funny text conversation against an aesthetic picture. Make sure to customize the second text to something related to your brand! Example: Southwest Airlines
Noah Kahan - The Great Divide (15K Reels, 9.9K TikToks) Noah's back with a new song to pair with your outdoorsy, wanderlust content! Example: Voyages with Val
the moment vs. the memory - Share the same shot as as a photo (the moment) and a video (the memory) β bonus points if it's a carousel! Example: Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa
ohhh princess where are you? (7.7K Β Reels, 88.5K TikToks) - Add this funny audio with the video hook "how [LOCATION] calls me" against a related video. Example: Sedona Cedars Resort
P.S. What's the secret to being ready for any of these trends? π An "always-on" content library β and here's how we can help with that!
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π€ͺ April 1 - April Fools' Day: Plan a silly fake announcement! Some ideas: a funny rebrand, a fake news article, or welcoming a new team member that's actually someone's pet
π April 3 - Find A Rainbow Day: Time to dig up that perfect Instagram-worthy rainbow shot!
π April 11 - National Pet Day: Share pet-friendly itineraries and tips for your brand
π° April 20 - Easter Sunday: Plan a little easter egg hunt with facts/prizes!
π April 22 - Earth Day: Share your brandβs sustainable initiatives, with stunning nature visuals
π April 23 - World Book Day: Shout out local bookstores or highlight cozy spots to curl up with a book
π· April 30 - International Jazz Day: Spotlight jazz bars and local musicians in the scene
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Marketing and Communications Manager Abbie Taylor stepped into her role with one big hurdle that we all know too well: video demand had outpaced their small team's ability to produce it.
Even though influencer partnerships were useful, they were also inconsistent and pricey at $1,000 per visit for a single Reel.
Here's how Texas Hill Country Olive Co. created a sustainable creator pipeline at 40% of the cost
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summer is basically tomorrow β Add this funny hook to a video of your travel brand in the summer: January is over, February is one second long, March doesn't really count, April barely exists, May is May, so... summer is basically tomorrow. Example: Golden Isles
"Come on you have to believe me!" (67.1K TikToks, 3.5K Reels) β Tearfully lipsynch this Stranger Things audio and add some text of something you want to prove wrong about your travel brand. Example: Discover Green Bay
Archer Marsh - Give Me Everything (stripped down) (568K Reels, 222.6K TikToks) β Bridgerton is back, and so is this trending song! Use this track with a compilation of Bridgerton-inspired locations or activities like high tea, gardens, or museums. Example: Castle Howard
Reality show edit (1K Reels, 57.8K TikToks) β Use this audio and this template create a funnyβ¨dramatizedβ¨ video of your brand. Example: Visit Myrtle Beach
Harry Styles - Aperture (93K Reels, 51.1K TikToks) β Add this bop and chorus lyrics to any upbeat supercut! Example: Tourism Medicine Hat
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βDiscover Torrance: In your life... - A great example of how our customers pull moments from different CrowdRiff Creator shoots into one cohesive reel. This lets them make a social media trend their own with story-driven, creator-made visuals!β
Explore Louisiana: Krewe of Poseidon - We love seeing our Louisiana customers repurpose their incredible Mardi Gras content every year! Proof in the (bread) pudding that your content's lifespan can last well beyond just one post in one year π±
βVisit Camarillo: Car-Free Travel - From sunny train ride views to charming small-town architecture, our customer loved the variety of clips they got from this content shoot β and how they can use them in a multitude of ways.
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2016 is the new 2026 β Brands are hoping on this nostalgic trend by sharing photos of their destination from 2016, screenshots of old social posts from 2016, and adding Snapchat dog ear filters to their landmarks! Examples: American Airlines, Griffin Museum of Science & Industry, NYC Ferry
"maybe in another life" no, this one. (105K Reels, 3.3K TikToks) β Pair this trending song and hook with an aesthetic video that inspires wanderlust. Example: Aimee Kelly
fun fact: people who have their next trip booked are a lot happier than those who don't β A cheeky video hook that's perfect for travel brands!
watch this 2-3 times to fix your algorithm. thank us later. β Add this video hook to a short, relaxing video of your travel brand. Example: Lake George
Heated Rivalry β This Canadian TV show has taken the world by (snow)storm! π Share cottage getaways, skating rinks, and itineraries for hockey lovers. Examples: Ottawa Tourism, Discover Muskoka
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πΏ March 1: Plan a Solo Vacation Day - Share itineraries to inspire your solo travelers
πΌ March 3: World Wildlife Day - Showcase beautiful flora and fauna, while promoting eco-friendly initiatives
π March 4: Holi - Share local festivals, events, and activities to celebrate
πΈπ» March 8: International Womenβs Day - Highlight amazing women in your community: local business owners, artists, team members, and more!
π€ March 13: World Sleep Day - Promote hotels and unique getaways to get a good night's rest
πΏ March 15: The Oscars - Share watch parties, memes, famous movie locations (or dupes!)
π March 17: St. Patrickβs Day - Share local breweries and pubs, or get creative and make a supercut of green landmarks
π March 20: First day of spring - Ready up your sunny, floral supercuts!
π¨ March 24: Independent Accommodation Day - Spotlight boutique hotel, local B&Bs, and cabins that offer intimate guest experiences
π§ March 25: International Waffle Day - Highlight brunch spots or room service for a sweet treat
For more social media dates, download our 2026 content calendar template for travel marketers and agencies!
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A top marketing trend of 2026? Ditching the one-by-one post approach for a scalable content library. When done right, this can transform how your agency serves travel clients β instead of scrambling for posts, youβre building a system that works season after season.
Read the playbook π
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βmore of this in 2026 (1M Reels, 833.7K TikToks) - Add this video hook and trending song to a supercut that inspires wanderlust! Example: Little Mountain A-Frameβ
2026 Ins & Outs - Turn your list into a carousel or add it against a looped aesthetic video β don't be afraid to get silly/cheeky π Example: Railbookersβ
Shiloh's version - End of the Beginning (249K Reels) - Use this trending remix with any new year's-related or inspiring content β bonus points if you replace "Chicago" in the lyric captions with your travel brand! Example: Alpine Ski Clubβ
I hope 2026 feels like this - Use this video hook with a supercut of travel content through each season. Example: New England Summersβ
2026: more ___, more ___, more ___, more ___ - Under "2026," share a short "more" list of resolutions related to your travel brand. Add this trending Coldplay song for an extra boost! Example: Kat
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Start the new year off right with our handy 2026 content calendar template, designed especially for travel marketers and agencies looking to stay organized and ahead of yearly trends!
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