How to Find Trending Videos on Instagram

Finding the next big video trend on Instagram can feel like an impossible task, but the secret isn't some mystical algorithm hack - it's just a matter of knowing where to look. By becoming an active observer instead of a passive scroller, you can consistently spot the audio, formats, and challenges that the algorithm is rewarding. This guide breaks down the simple, actionable methods you can use to find trending videos and use them to power your account's growth.

Why Following Trends Unlocks Serious Growth

Before we get into the "how," let's quickly cover the "why." You're not just hopping on a bandwagon for fun, it's a strategic move. When you use trending audio, participate in a trending challenge, or use a popular video format, you’re essentially signaling to the Instagram algorithm that your content is relevant and timely. In return, the algorithm is more likely to show your video to a wider audience, including people who don't follow you.

This has a few powerful benefits:

• Increased Reach and Visibility: Your content gets pushed out on the Reels tab and Explore page, placing you in front of fresh eyes.
• Higher Engagement: Viewers are already familiar with the trend, making them more likely to watch, like, and comment on your take.
• Organic Follower Growth: When new viewers discover your trending video and like your style, they’re much more likely to tap the "follow" button.

In short, leveraging trends is one of the most effective organic growth strategies available on Instagram today. It’s your ticket to breaking out of your current audience and reaching a much larger community.

Method 1: The Reels Tab Is Your Trend Broadcast

The most direct way to see what's trending is by spending time where trends live: the Reels feed. However, you need to shift your mindset from a consumer to a researcher. This is active analysis, not mindless scrolling.

How to Analyze the Reels Feed

Set a timer for 15-20 minutes and open the Reels tab. As you scroll, start asking yourself a few key questions about every fourth or fifth video:

• The Audio Signal: What audio are you hearing repeatedly? Is it a clip from a TV show, a specific part of a song, or a voiceover from another creator? Most importantly, look at the song title at the bottom of the screen. Do you see a small, upward-facing arrow next to it? That is Instagram’s official indicator that an audio track is trending. This is your strongest signal.
• The Format Pattern: Are you seeing a similar video structure? For example, are creators pointing to text that appears on screen, doing a "day in the life" montage, or using a specific "before and after" transition? Jot down these formats - they're just as much a part of the trend as the audio.
• The Challenge or Topic: Is there a common theme? Maybe it’s a dance, a lip-sync challenge, or everyone sharing their opinion on a specific topic. The context often matters more than the specific execution.

When you spot a potential trend (especially one with the trending arrow), tap on the audio at the bottom of the Reel. This will take you to the audio page, where you can see how many other Reels have been created with that sound. If the number is still relatively low (e.g., under 10k) but you see high view counts, you may have found a trend that's on the rise and still has room for you to join in.

Method 2: Master Instagram’s Built-In Trend-Spotting Tools

Instagram doesn't want you to guess what's popular, the platform provides tools to help you find trending content directly. You just need to know where to find them.

1. The Audio Browser In Reels

This is arguably the most powerful yet underutilized tool on the platform for finding trends. Instagram literally gives you a curated list of trending songs.

How to Find It:

1. Open Instagram and tap the "+" icon to start creating a Reel.
2. Select the music note icon to open the audio browser.
3. Look at the lists under headings like "Trending" or "Popular."
4. Scan the song list and look for that all-important upward-facing trend arrow next to a song title.

This feature takes the guesswork out of finding trending audio. You can see what’s hot right now, save the sounds for later, and incorporate them directly into your video content strategy.

2. The Hashtag Hub

Hashtags have been around forever, but they are still a reliable way to gauge what kind of content is performing well in your specific industry. Search for broad hashtags relevant to your niche (e.g., #financialtips, #smallbusinessowner, #homedecorideas).

When you search, you'll see a gallery of content. Pay close attention to the “Top” and “Reels” tabs. These sections show you the most popular videos associated with that hashtag. Look for similarities in audio, format, and style among the top-performing videos. This gives you a niche-specific look at what kinds of trends are resonating with your target audience - not just what's popular on the platform in general.

Method 3: Follow Trendsetters and Competitors

You don't need to reinvent the wheel every day. Some of the best trend inspiration comes from watching what other successful accounts are doing. Curating your "Following" list into a trend research tool can save you hours of work.

Curate Your Own Trend-Spotting Feed

• Follow Trend-Reporting Accounts: There are accounts whose entire purpose is to spot and announce new trends. Searching for "Instagram trends" or "Reels trends" will surface creators and social media marketing experts who regularly post breakdowns of what's working now. Think of them as your personal trend scouting team.
• Watch Your Competitors: Make a shortlist of 5-10 direct competitors or aspirational brands in your niche. Check their profiles once or twice a week specifically to see an A/V analysis. Check what videos of theirs have high view counts and engagement right now? What audio are they using? What formats have they tried recently? Make a note of whatever is working for your competitors, as it's a very strong indicator that it will likely work well for you too.
• Keep an Eye on Early Adopters: Identify a few large creators in your space (or even just outside of it) who are known for being ahead of the curve. These are the people who often pioneer new formats. Watching what they do can give you a preview of the trends that will become mainstream in the coming weeks.

Method 4: Look Outside of Instagram (Especially TikTok)

Instagram Reels trends and TikTok trends are deeply connected. In fact, the vast majority of viral audio clips, formats, and challenges start on TikTok before migrating over to Instagram Reels a few days or weeks later. If you want to get ahead of the curve, you absolutely have to pay attention to TikTok.

Spending just 15 minutes a day browsing the "For You Page" on TikTok is like having a crystal ball for Instagram trends. You’ll become familiar with songs and video styles just before they hit the mainstream on Reels. Getting in on a trend early on Reels gives you an even bigger advantage, so this cross-platform awareness is a massive strategic benefit for any user - from small business to creator.

Don't just watch, listen. When you find a sound you like, tap the plus sign and save it to your favorites. Even if you don't use it on TikTok, you’ll have a running list of potential audio ideas to search for later on Instagram.

Final Thoughts

Finding trending videos on Instagram isn't about luck, it's about developing a consistent habit of purposeful observation. By actively analyzing the Reels feed, using Instagram's own audio tools, monitoring what leaders in your space are doing, and keeping an eye on TikTok, you can stop chasing trends and start riding the wave alongside them. Dedicate a small amount of time to this each week, and you’ll have a constantly refreshed supply of ideas to fuel your growth.

Once you’ve identified these winning trends, the next challenge is staying consistent, an obstacle that gets much simpler to navigate with the right social management tools. Planning and scheduling your video content in advance is how the most successful creators can turn great ideas into compelling marketing initiatives. That's precisely why we built the social media platform Postbase with a visual-first content calendar designed from the ground up to support Reels and short-form video from inception to publication. Having a reliable tool that works just for social media means that you're well-equipped to consistently publish engaging content without worrying about technical issues getting in your way - an unfortunate reality for those social marketers using old and antiquated tools of past eras.