By an experienced video producer who’s watched a few cycles come and go…

Every year around this time, I sit down, look through the viewfinder, and try to focus on the future of video. This marks close to the tenth year I’ve shared my thoughts on the trends shaping the year ahead – some predictions that proved spot on, others that were fleeting moments now fading into memory. And over that decade, certain trends have remained firmly front and centre, enduring because of their importance, engagement power, and ever-expanding use cases. After decades behind cameras, in edit suites, and collaborating with businesses, I’m once again excited to share what I believe will define video in 2026.

Here are the five trends I’m watching closely – each already making ripples and soon to create waves.

1. Authentic Content Continues Its Reign

Authenticity has been the heartbeat of video since… well, since video began. Humans connect to humans – real stories, real emotions, real moments.

But 2026 is a special turning point. Why?
Because while AI-generated content is exploding, audiences have become hypersensitive to what feels overproduced, overly scripted, or synthetically polished. Even commercial TV shows are leaning heavily into engineered drama, and people are tiring of it.

For brands wanting to stand out, “keeping it real” isn’t just a stylistic choice – it’s a strategy.

Expect to see more:

• Story-driven content that reflects genuine experiences

• User-generated videos with minimal filtering

• Raw, behind-the-scenes footage that builds connection and trust

• Business leadership storytelling, imperfect and unpolished

Authenticity is not a trend – it’s the backbone of modern brand communication. And in a sea of synthetic media, realness becomes even more refreshing.

2. AI Video Content Grows – But With Purpose

The paradox of 2026 is that while audiences are craving human authenticity, businesses are simultaneously leaning into the efficiency and flexibility of AI-assisted creation.

Throughout the past year, I’ve explored generative video tools extensively. They’re improving rapidly – even if still not quite where I need them for high-end production. But the practical advantages are impossible to ignore:

• Rapid creation of storyboards and visual concepts

• Brand-personalised avatars and virtual presenters

• Endless content variations for localisation or segmentation

• Cost-effective snackable content production

AI won’t replace thoughtful filmmaking. But it will become an essential creative companion – handling repetitive tasks and opening the door to scaled content creation.

(I’ll be sharing “5 Trends in AI Video for 2026” as its own post next week.)

3. Learning Content Levels Up

The learning and training space is seeing a surge in video engagement – and 2026 will accelerate that growth even further.

Audiences are no longer satisfied with basic slide narrations or simple screen recordings. They expect content that is:

• Visually rich and dynamic

• Purposefully structured, whether long-form or modular

• Designed with high production value

• Delivered in formats that match their learning environment

The exciting part? There are now many ways to produce impactful learning content. From mixed-media explainer videos to cinematic scenario-driven training, to live-action demonstrations, organisations are experimenting – and audiences are responding.

Learning video content isn’t just necessary anymore. It’s becoming expected, and the bar for quality continues to rise.

4. One-and-Done Videos Are Officially Over

Multi-format content creation has hit a new standard in 2026.

Businesses are no longer asking for “a video” – they’re asking for a suite of assets produced from the same shoot. Video producers must now deliver:

• Long-form stories

• Short, bite-sized reels

• Vertical, horizontal, and square versions

• Captioned and silent-ready edits

• Platform-specific variations

The modern challenge is clear:
Film once. Deliver many.

This demands intentional pre-production, versatile framing on set, and editors who understand how to reshape one story across multiple outputs. In 2026, diversification isn’t a bonus—it’s the baseline.

5. YouTube Remains the King of Business Growth

Every platform has had its rise and fall, but YouTube continues to strengthen its position – especially for businesses.

If your organisation isn’t already creating video for YouTube, 2026 is the year to rethink that strategy.

YouTube continues to dominate because it:

• Is the second-largest search engine in the world

• Offers unmatched long-tail discovery

• Helps businesses establish authority through consistent content

• Rewards search-friendly transcripts, whether AI-generated or manually uploaded

For businesses, YouTube is more than a marketing tool – it’s a trust-building engine.

The pathway is simple:
Create valuable videos → attract viewers → guide them to your products or services.

Special Mentions Worth Keeping on the Radar

Virtual Sets

Becoming more realistic and more affordable – ideal for corporate productions with evolving visual demands.

Interactive Video

Training, sales, onboarding, and product education are increasingly adopting branching video pathways.

Accessible Content

Improved captions, audio descriptions, colour contrast, inclusive scripting – this is now a critical part of production, not an optional add-on.

Batch Creation & Repurposing

A smarter workflow that will continue to dominate content teams: capture once, repurpose endlessly.

Local Australian Content

There’s mounting pressure and conversation around boosting Australian-made content for TV and streaming platforms. While not strictly a corporate video trend, it’s a topic with wide industry implications – funding, commissioning, production opportunities, and the potential for a renewed wave of local storytelling.

Final Thoughts

We’re entering a year where audiences are demanding more authenticity, more value, and more thoughtful storytelling. Brands are asking for more formats, more variations, and more efficiency. And creators—supported by evolving tools—are finding new ways to deliver both.

If 2025 was the year of testing what’s possible, 2026 is shaping up to be the year of refining what works: merging craft, strategy, and smart tools to create meaningful video at scale.