What's Trending on Instagram Right Now!

1. Panoramic Reels. Because why stick to vertical?

Believe it or not, creators are pushing the limits of Reels by posting in wide formats (5120 x 1080). It's like cinematic Instagram. You still keep the swipe up appeal, but with a fresh twist.

If your brand is scenic, say skyline shots of Cardiff Bay, moody mid-Wales landscapes, or behind the scenes peek into something that benefits from width, this is an opportunity to stand out in the feed.

2. Social listening = your trend radar

Trends no longer wait politely, they appear and vanish within hours. For UK brands, spotting local sentiment (Welsh pride? banter about the storm? Local festivals?) pays off. Social listening tools let you detect when chatter is bubbling and jump in before everyone else does.

Say something in Cardiff starts tagging CardiffChill or posting an inside joke about a local cafe queue, that could be your next micro-campaign opportunity.

3. Short-form rules (still)

Short videos, reels, shorts etc keep dominating attention spans. Posts with movement beat static ones (unless the still shot is a chef's kiss perfect).

But this doesn't mean over producing every clip. Some of the best responses come from spontaneous, slightly messy content, the 'oops, we filmed this in our lunch break' energy can feel more human, more real.

4. 'I Lied' trend and 'click, click' transitions

If you've been scrolling Reels lately, you may have seen formats where people begin by saying 'i lied' and then reveal something unexpected. Or the 'click,click' transition that camera flip between before/after or surprise shots.

These are great for teasing something, maybe a rebrand reveal, a team change, a behind the scenes reveal or a before/after. Just ensure the payoff aligns with your brand. (Don't clickbait people into disappointment).

5. UK flavour, please

Trends are going more 'local now'. British culture, slang, regional identity, inside jokes. The 'Britishcore' idea is very much at play.

Tap into regional pride. Cardiff quirks, South Wales nature, Welsh language snippets, or nods t local events. It strengthens connection wiht the audience. Especially in the weeks when your content could risk feeling like 'just another brand post'.

Final Thoughts and Friendly Reminder

This week's Instagram trends are a mix of creative experimentation (Wide Reels, transition formats) and a return to local/human connection. For brands in South Wales (or anywhere really) the edge comes when you combine trend-savvy content and relevance to your audiences world.

Because honestly? Social media should feel fun again, and thats exactly what we do best at The Happy Edit.