London, 19th January: New research from QUID’s 2026 Top Retail Trends Forecast, finds the coming year will be defined by nostalgia, maximalism and cultural spectacle, fuelled by major sporting events and anniversaries, as well as an appetite for escapism.
Powered by analysis of 5.3 billion data points across social, search and news media, the report identifies six cultural forces most likely to shape fashion, merchandising and brand storytelling.
American Renaissance
Among the most striking is “American Renaissance” - a modern revival of heritage, craftsmanship and classic Americana, arriving at a highly charged cultural moment. With the US approaching its 250th anniversary in July 2026, QUID’s data shows a sharp rise in interest around denim-on-denim, fringe, heritage styling and romanticised American imagery, driven less by nationalism and more by nostalgia, reassurance and cultural myth-making.
Search interest in terms such as “Ralph Lauren Christmas” has surged 225% year-on-year, while engagement with heritage silhouettes and Americana storytelling continues to grow across fashion and home, suggesting consumers are reclaiming familiar symbols as comfort and cultural storytelling, rather than political statements.
2026’s defining trends
The six defining retail and fashion forces for 2026:
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Global Sports Fever - With the FIFA World Cup and Winter Olympics approaching, athletic style will move deeper into everyday fashion and identity
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Kidulting - Adults embracing toys, collectibles and playful nostalgia as a lasting consumer behaviour
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Goth Revival - Dark, romantic subcultures moving firmly into the mainstream
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All-Out Glam - A decisive shift away from ‘clean-girl’ minimalism toward maximalist beauty and styling
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American Renaissance - Heritage, craftsmanship and classic Americana reimagined for a modern, culturally divided audience
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Everyday Whimsy - Storybook, playful aesthetics shaping fashion, beauty and home
How it works
Each trend is assessed using QUID’s Forward Momentum Score, a proprietary index measuring cultural energy, platform diversity, community adoption, search durability and seasonality - offering brands and retailers a clearer view of what is likely to scale commercially, not just trend socially.
The full 2026 Top Retail Trends Forecast will be presented during a live webinar on 21 January, where QUID’s analysts will unpack the data and discuss what these shifts mean for fashion, retail and brand storytelling in the year ahead.
Anthony Lye, CEO of QUID, commented: “Our research shows consumers are responding to a world that feels louder and more uncertain by asking more of the brands they choose - more emotion, more escapism and more meaning.
“Drawing on billions of data points, we’re seeing growing interest in nostalgia, spectacle and playful self-expression, with a particularly strong appetite for Americana emerging as the US approaches its 250th anniversary.
“For brands, these signals aren’t cultural noise; they’re early indicators of shifting expectations. The retailers that will succeed in 2026 are those that recognise these changes early and adapt their products, storytelling and experiences to reflect them.”
