My 2026 Wellness Trend Predictions

Last year, wellness was everywhere. Wherever you looked or scrolled, people were talking about hitting their protein goals, getting 10K steps a day, taking creatine and so on and so forth. In 2026, I think people will take a gentler approach to wellness: less about biohacking and more about focusing on feeling good, nourishing their bodies, and reducing stress = healing. 

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I don’t have a crystal ball, but if I did, these are the wellness trends that I think are going to be huge this year. 

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We will learn how to regulate our nervous system

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The meditation app, Open, launched a 21-day nervous system reset for 2026 and I knew that must signal the overall vibe going into this year. With so many people’s bodies constantly in a state of fight-or-flight, a nervous system reset is no longer niche, but necessary.

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The pros of regulating your nervous system are many, but just a quick summary: it can help balance your body’s stress response, improve physical health, help you build resilience, and more.

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This year, nervous system regulation won’t stop at breathing and cold plunges. The Vagus Nerve will enter the mainstream conversation. The Vagus Nerve nerve acts as “an information superhighway to the brain, delivering information that helps control digestion, heart rate, mood and even the body’s inflammation response.” In short: it's kind of the MVP of feeling okay.

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Fiber overtakes protein in food and supplement marketing

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You knew I would mention this. Protein was all anyone could talk about in 2024-2025 (protein water, anyone?) but in 2026, our girl fiber is going to finally get her moment in the sun.

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Raisin Bran must agree, because they recently announced they’re making their Super Bowl debut this year with a campaign dedicated to - you guessed it: Fiber.

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We’re still going to be tracking our protein intake, of course, but the focus will shift towards gut health, blood sugar stability and improved digestion - and fiber sits at the center of that venn diagram. Expect more education around how to increase fiber intake and finding the magical number that works for you (ideally between 25g per day for women and 38g for men).

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We will keep talking about gut health and fermented foods go beyond the basics

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By now, most of us understand that gut health impacts everything from immune function to mental health to nutrient absorption. 

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Up until recently, mainstream gut health meant taking probiotics, yogurt, and “gut-friendly” sodas like Olipop or Poppi. That conversation isn’t going away, but it will evolve.

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In 2026, interest will shift beyond the basics toward fermented foods with deeper cultural roots and functional benefits. Everytime I go to the grocery store I see new brands of sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir and more, and that will be a big theme throughout the year.

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Sobriety as a lifestyle, not a phase

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Gen Z already drinks significantly less than their millennial counterparts, with studies suggesting 20-30% of Gen Z don’t drink at all. And with studies finding that Gen Z parties less than other generations too and a growing emphasis on mental health, I predict the sober lifestyle will last well past Dry January for some of us.

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In 2026, more people will openly commit to sober or sober-curious lifestyles without feeling the need to explain themselves.

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But opting out of alcohol doesn't mean opting out of the ritual of drinking and partying. Expect more sophisticated mocktails and functional alternatives designed to help you unwind or shift your mood, minus the hangover. Adaptogenic aperitifs, herb-based blends, and THC infused blends will fill in the “I want something fun to drink” gap.

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people who aren’t drinking will still want something fun to sip on - and maybe they want to feel

Low screen time becomes a status symbol

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Spending all your waking hours on your phone is so 2025. 

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This year, not being online  all the time will become a flex. Having less than an hour of screen time starts to function as a status symbol - because if you’re not glued to your phone you must have something better going on. 

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Tools like the Brick phone blocker and retro, landline-style accessories will grow in popularity as people actively build friction into their digital lives.

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Luxury oral care 

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Last year we saw beauty brands like Agent Nateur release a toothpaste infused with pearl powder while Selahatin released a collab with Rick Owens.

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I expect mainstream oral care brands to respond with more aesthetically pleasing lines and elevated formulas to compete with the likes of these luxury brands that offer more innovative ingredients like nano-hydroxyapatite instead of fluoride in packaging that looks beautiful on your bathroom counter.

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What trend do you think is going to lead the wellness conversation this year?

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