How to Find Trending Topics on Instagram

Jumping on an Instagram trend at the peak of its popularity can skyrocket your reach and engagement. But figuring out what's actually trending before it's over can feel like trying to catch smoke. This guide breaks down the simple, actionable methods you can use to consistently find trending topics, audio, and formats, helping you create content that gets noticed.

Start with Instagram’s Built-In Discovery Tools

You don’t need to look far for your first clues. Instagram’s native features are a goldmine for understanding what the algorithm is currently pushing and what users are actively engaging with. The key is knowing where to look and how to interpret what you see.

The All-Important Explore Page

The Explore page is your personalized window into what Instagram thinks you’ll like, based on your own activity. But more than that, it’s a reflection of what’s popular on the platform right now. It's a curated feed of content that is performing exceptionally well outside of a user’s immediate network.

How to use it for trend research:

• Analyze the Formats: A few years ago, the Explore page was dominated by stunning, high-quality photos. Today, it’s almost entirely video, specifically short-form Reels. What does your Explore page look like? Do you see a lot of text-on-screen videos, multi-clip montages, or "talking head" style Reels? This tells you which formats are getting the most favor from the algorithm.
• Look for Content Patterns: The same ideas often get repeated with slight variations. Are you seeing lots of "day in the life" videos, GRWM (Get Ready With Me) clips, or tutorials? Notice the recurring themes, editing styles, and concepts. If three different creators in your niche are all doing a "top 5 mistakes" video, that's not a coincidence, it's a content trend you can adapt.
• Reset Your Algorithm (Temporarily): To get a broader view beyond your personal bubble, use an incognito browser on your desktop or a secondary "burner" account on mobile to view the Explore Page. This gives you a less personalized look at what’s popular across the wider platform.

The Reels Tab: Your Direct Line to Viral Audio and Effects

The Reels algorithm is heavily influenced by audio. A video can go viral almost entirely because it used a song or soundbite that’s taking off. Learning to identify these sounds early is one of the most powerful skills you can develop on the platform.

How to find trending audio:

1. Look for the Arrow: When scrolling through the Reels feed, pay attention to the audio name at the bottom of the screen. If you see a small, upward-pointing diagonal arrow (↗) next to the name, it means the sound is officially recognized by Instagram as trending. This is a direct signal to you to try using it.
2. Tap the Sound to Investigate: Tap on the sound name. This will take you to the audio page, which shows you how many Reels have been created with that sound. A rapidly growing number of Reels (e.g., jumping from 1,000 to 10,000 in a day) indicates a new trend. Check the videos on that page to see how other creators are creatively using the audio.
3. Notice Repetition: Even without the arrow, if you hear the same song or voice clip three or four times in a 10-minute scrolling session, your ears are telling you it's a trend. Save the audio immediately so you can use it later.

The same logic applies to effects and AR filters. If you notice a particular video effect popping up constantly, tap the name of the effect (usually near the creator's username) and save it to try for yourself.

Follow Relevant Hashtags

Following hashtags related to your niche turns your main feed into a research tool. It’s a great way to monitor conversations and see which posts are gaining traction without having to manually search every time.

Actionable Steps:

• Go to the Search bar and type in a hashtag relevant to your industry (e.g., #socialmediamarketing, #cleaneatingrecipes, #homedecorideas).
• On the hashtag page, you'll see a 'Follow' button. Tap it.
• Now, a selection of top-performing posts from that hashtag will appear in your regular feed, keeping you passively informed about what's working well for others.

Scan the Horizon: Look Beyond Instagram

Instagram trends rarely exist in a vacuum. What happens on other platforms and in the wider culture directly impacts what becomes popular on Instagram. Being plugged into these sources gives you a head start.

Watch TikTok Religiously

This is non-negotiable for anyone serious about creating relevant content. Most of the dance challenges, audio clips, and editing styles that become massive on Instagram Reels started on TikTok a week or two earlier. TikTok's algorithm is incredibly fast at identifying and pushing new trends, making its "For You" page the ultimate crystal ball for Reels.

Spend 15-20 minutes a day scrolling through TikTok. You’re not wasting time, you’re conducting competitive analysis. When you see a new format or sound gaining momentum there, you can be one of the first to adapt and introduce it to your Instagram audience, positioning yourself as a trendsetter.

Use Google Trends for Broader Topics

While TikTok informs micro-trends (like specific audio), Google Trends is brilliant for macro-trends related to seasonality, events, and rising interest in general topics.

For example, a meal-prep creator could use Google Trends to see when searches for "healthy lunch ideas" start to spike (predictably in January and September). A fashion brand could track interest in "fall outfits" to know exactly when to start pushing that content. It helps you anticipate audience needs before they even ask, aligning your content with what’s already on their mind.

Listen to People, Not Just Platforms

Your greatest source of trending topic ideas might be the very people you’re trying to reach: your audience and your competitors. Their behavior provides direct feedback on what’s interesting and what’s working.

Dive into Your Own Analytics

Before chasing an external trend, look at your own. Go into your Instagram Insights and see which of your posts from the last 3-6 months got the most shares, saves, and comments. This data tells you what your specific audience finds valuable.

• Did a carousel post outlining a 3-step process work really well? Make more of those with different topics.
• Did a behind-the-scenes Reel get an unusual number of comments? Show more of that process.

Often, your next "viral" idea is just a slight variation of something that has already personally succeeded for you.

Ethically Spy on Your Competitors and Industry Leaders

Create a "close friends" list, but instead of adding your friends, add your top 10-15 competitors or favorite creators in your niche. When you have a moment for research, you can switch over to view just their Stories to see what they’re up to.

Alternatively, just make a point to regularly visit their profiles. Sort their Reels by "Most Popular" to quickly see their biggest hits. Look at their last few weeks of content. What topics are they covering? Pay close attention to their comments section. What questions are people asking? The same questions are likely on your audience's minds, too.

Don't just copy what they're doing. Instead, ask yourself: Why did this work for them? Was it the format, the topic, or the hook? How can I put my own unique spin on this trending idea to make it feel authentic to my brand?

Read the Comments (Seriously)

Your comments section and DMs are a direct line to your audience’s pain points and curiosities. If you get the same question more than two or three times, it’s not an isolated query - it’s a content idea demanding to be made. Turning these frequently asked questions into Reels, Guides, or carousel posts is one of the easiest ways to create content you know your audience is already looking for.

Final Thoughts

Finding trending topics is a skill built from a combination of active research and passive observation. By regularly using Instagram's own tools, keeping an eye on parallel platforms like TikTok, and listening intently to your own community, you'll move from reacting to trends to anticipating them, making your content strategy more effective and a lot less stressful.

Once you’ve identified a trend, acting on it quickly is what matters most. That's why we built our modern, simplified content calendar inside Postbase. It's designed to help you visually plan your ideas, drag-and-drop posts, and reliably schedule your content - especially short-form video - across all your platforms. Our goal is to make it feel effortless to translate that flash of inspiration into a post that actually goes live when it's supposed to, so you never miss your chance to connect with your audience when the moment is right.