Six illustration trends predicted for 2026, according to artists and industry experts
By
Garrick Webster
5mo ago· 12 min readenInsight
100/100
Golden Brown
Bagelometer↗
Pulled from the oven just right. Trustworthy, fact-dense, deeply satisfying.
Score100TypeanalysisSentimentpositive
Summary
An article exploring six emerging illustration trends predicted for 2026, based on insights from artists and industry representatives. Despite concerns about AI threatening commercial artwork, the piece presents a cautiously optimistic outlook, suggesting that human creativity and illustration are adapting rather than dying. The trends cover stylistic shifts and aesthetic movements expected to shape the illustration landscape in the coming year.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledEvery year since… ever!... creative mags and websites have gazed into their crystal balls and tried to predict upcoming aesthetic trends as the calendar is about to turn over.
After all, commercial artwork is on its deathbed, right? Image-generating AI models are standing over it with a knife. Well, actually, things might not be all that dire.
Against expectation, some artists and their representatives...
We asked a selection of artists and their representatives to cast their minds ahead and visualise what's in store for the next 12 months. Their insight might surprise you.
Every year since… ever!.....
You might also wanna read
I asked 5 interior designers and experts what 2025 trends they’re already sick of – these are the 6 looks they’re over
Ideal Home·11mo ago
I asked Farrow & Ball for their most popular paint shades of 2026 – and their top 7 colours surprised me
Ideal Home·6d ago
Architecture and Design Experts Predict 2026 Trends: Sustainability, Material Innovation, and Thoughtful Approaches
Dezeen's architecture and design experts predict key trends for 2026, emphasizing sustainability, material innovation, and thoughtful design
Dezeen·4mo ago