Top 7 Content Formats That Dominated 2025 And What to Post in 2026
- Active Toast
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Content formats changed rapidly in 2025. What worked in 2024 did not guarantee reach, and what worked at the start of 2025 evolved by the end of the year. Audiences became more selective, platforms rewarded certain formats more aggressively, and businesses learned that format, not just message, determines performance. As 2026 approaches, brands need clarity on which types of content actually delivered results in 2025 and how to adapt those formats for the upcoming year. This guide outlines the seven formats that consistently performed across industries and explains how to use them in 2026.
1. Short-Form Video (Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts)
Short-form video remained the highest-performing content format in 2025. Platforms pushed vertical videos aggressively, and brands that created consistent short-form content saw the strongest reach and new audience growth. The winning videos had simple editing, strong hooks, and clearer storytelling.
Why it dominated in 2025:
fast consumption
high retention
platform-level preference
ability to deliver value quickly
How to use it in 2026:
Post 3 to 5 short-form videos weekly. Focus on educational storytelling, quick transformations, behind-the-scenes processes, and relatable content. Keep your opening hook precise and action-driven.
2. Carousels and Micro-Guides
Carousels made a major comeback in 2025. Audiences valued structured information, step-by-step breakdowns, and mini-guides that could be saved or shared. Algorithms rewarded content with higher save rates, making carousels ideal for thought leadership and teaching.
Why it dominated in 2025:
swipe-based engagement
high save rates
clear, digestible learning format
adds depth compared to short-form videos
How to use it in 2026:
Create weekly carousels that answer specific questions. Focus on frameworks, strategies, checklists, or before-and-after explanations. Use clean, minimal layouts with simple headlines for each slide.
3. User-Generated Content and Testimonial Videos
UGC became one of the strongest performing formats for both organic reach and ads. Real people, simple setups, and authentic conversations consistently outperformed brand-styled visuals.
Why it dominated in 2025:
higher trust
lower production requirements
relatable tone
strong performance in ad funnels
How to use it in 2026:
Ask customers, creators, or employees to record casual videos explaining their experience, review, or transformation. Use UGC in ads, landing pages, and website hero sections for credibility.
4. Long-Form Video (YouTube Explain-ers and Deep Dives)
While short-form dominated discovery, long-form video dominated depth. YouTube continued to reward 6 to 12 minute explainers, tutorials, and reviews. Businesses using long-form content strengthened authority and created stronger search visibility.
Why it dominated in 2025:
long watch time boosts ranking
deeper storytelling
strong SEO benefits
high intent audience
How to use it in 2026:
Create long-form videos that answer industry questions, share case studies, demonstrate processes, or provide opinion-based commentary. Use short-form clips to funnel users to long-form videos.
5. Conversational Text Posts (LinkedIn and X)
2025 saw text-based platforms rise again. On LinkedIn, simple paragraphs performed better than designed graphics. On X, concise statements, insights, and threads helped creators grow faster.
Why it dominated in 2025:
platforms reward comments and conversation
faster content creation
establishes thought leadership
works well for professional audiences
How to use it in 2026:
Write 3 to 5 weekly posts that share insights, lessons, predictions, or personal experiences. Keep sentences short. Focus on honesty, clarity, and storytelling rather than polished corporate language.
6. Story-Based Content (Stories, Photo Dumps, Day-in-the-Life Posts)
Authenticity became a core human behaviour trend in 2025. Story-style content showed real moments, not curated ones. Instagram Stories, casual photo dumps, and narrative-style posts kept audiences emotionally connected to brands.
Why it dominated in 2025:
audiences prefer real over perfect
consistent daily touchpoints
builds trust and personality
supports conversions through DMs
How to use it in 2026:
Show daily updates, quick behind-the-scenes moments, team culture, real customer stories, and work processes. Use Stories for relationship building and photo dumps for emotional connection.
7. Gated Content and Micro-Reports
Mini-reports, PDFs, templates, and downloadable guides became increasingly popular in 2025 because audiences wanted concise, actionable insights. They also helped businesses build first-party data as platforms moved toward privacy-centric models.
Why it dominated in 2025:
high perceived value
supports email list growth
strong lead generation tool
easier to produce than full ebooks
How to use it in 2026:
Create monthly or quarterly micro-reports on trends, case studies, frameworks, or strategy breakdowns. Promote them through Reels and carousels to grow email or WhatsApp lists.
How to Choose the Right Formats for Your Brand in 2026
Instead of using every popular format, brands should choose the formats that serve their goals.
Here is a simple selection framework:
If your goal is awareness:
Focus on short-form video and UGC.
If your goal is authority:
Rely on carousels and long-form YouTube videos.
If your goal is community building:
Prioritise Stories, text posts, and narrative content.
If your goal is lead generation:
Use micro-reports, downloadable templates, and DM-based funnels.
Brands that mix two to three formats consistently outperform those that try every possible style without a clear content identity.
Content Repurposing for 2026
One major learning from 2025 was the importance of repurposing. A single piece of content can produce 5 to 10 assets if organised well.
For example:
One long-form YouTube video
→ 6 short clips
→ 1 carousel
→ 1 LinkedIn post
→ 1 Stories breakdown
→ 1 downloadable summary
This system reduces workload while increasing output and reach.
The content landscape in 2025 proved that format drives performance. Short-form video dominates reach, carousels drive saves, UGC drives trust, and long-form videos build authority. In 2026, brands that align the right formats with their goals, audience behaviour, and content capacity will grow faster and more predictably. The key is to combine consistency, creativity, and the right mix of video, text, and storytelling.
Need help creating content that actually performs in 2026?
We’ll help you choose the right formats for your business, design a content system that scales, and plan a strategy that supports growth all year long.
Start your 2026 content planning with a free call.
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