How to Find Current Instagram Reels Trends
We know the feeling: just when you think you’ve mastered Instagram, something about the platform changes, forcing you to pivot and adjust your strategy. However, if you embrace these changes as opportunities, you can take advantage of them to increase your reach and engagement. Capitalizing on the ever-evolving current Instagram Reels trends, whether they’re audio, hashtags, or content, is a shortcut to Instagram success. With both impressions (52%) and interactions (34%) increasing last year, according to our 2025 Social Media Study, Reels are the best way to get more eyes on your profile.
You’ll have no chance of making a serious impact with any old effortless Reel. Knowing how to find Reels trends on Instagram will help improve your content and give it the boost it needs to get noticed by your target audience.
So, let’s explore the latest Instagram trends that you can use in your Reels, including sounds, popular hashtags, and viral content ideas. We will be updating this blog each month to keep our information timely and relevant, so be sure to check back regularly to stay up-to-date.
Ways to Find Instagram Reels Trends
On Instagram
Instagram itself provides several key indicators of what’s currently popular. These are your most direct routes to finding current Instagram Reels trends.
1. The Reels Tab (Your Primary Feed)
This is the most straightforward way to see what’s popular among your connections and general Instagram users.
- Continuous Scrolling: Spend dedicated time scrolling through your Reels feed. Pay close attention to patterns:
- Repeated Audios: If you hear the same audio snippet popping up repeatedly from different creators, especially with a little upward-pointing arrow next to the audio name, that’s a clear sign it’s trending.
- Similar Visual Formats: Notice if multiple creators are using the same visual transitions, text overlay styles, or storytelling structures.
- Recurring Challenges/Prompts: Are people responding to the same question or participating in a specific challenge?
- “Use Audio” Button: When you spot a trending audio, tap on the sound name at the bottom of the Reel. This will take you to a page dedicated to that audio, showing how many Reels are using it. Importantly, you’ll see a prominent “Use Audio” button, allowing you to instantly create your own Reel with that sound.
2. The Explore Page
The Instagram Explore page is a personalized hub of content tailored to your interests and past interactions. While it’s not exclusively for Reels, it’s a fantastic place to discover popular content formats and themes.
- Visual Cues: Look for Reels that have accumulated a high number of likes and comments. These are typically strong performers.
- Hashtag Analysis: Pay attention to the hashtags used on popular Reels. Tap on them to see other content using those tags. This can reveal trending conversations.
3. Instagram’s Reels Trends Section
For social media managers in the United States, Instagram provides a dedicated “Reels Trends” section, a direct source for how to find current Instagram Reels trends.
- Accessing it: Go to your Instagram profile > Tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) > Select “Reels Trends.”
- What you’ll find: This section highlights currently trending audio clips and hashtags. While its direct availability is location-restricted, the trends highlighted often have ripple effects globally. It’s a useful benchmark to watch if you have access or can find screenshots from others who do.
- Note: You need a professional account to access this feature.
4. The @Creators Account & Broadcast Channels
Instagram’s official @Creators account is a goldmine of information straight from the source.
- Follow @Creators: They regularly share updates, tips, and often highlight current Reel trends, filming tutorials, and new features.
- Join Their Broadcast Channel: Many official Instagram accounts, including @Creators, have broadcast channels. Join these to receive direct notifications and insights about new features and trends straight to your Instagram inbox.
5. Instagram Reels Templates
When you go to create a Reel, Instagram suggests templates that are popular.
- Creating a Reel: Tap the ‘+’ button to create a new Reel.
- Templates Section: Look for the “Templates” option. Here, you’ll often find categories like “Recommended for you” and “Trending.” Using a template makes it incredibly easy to recreate a popular Reel format with your own content.
Beyond Instagram – Watching the Digital Flow
Many trends don’t originate on Instagram. They often start elsewhere and then flow onto the platform. Being aware of these external sources is key for staying ahead.
1. TikTok: Where Trends are Born in 2025
TikTok is widely known as the birthplace of many viral sounds and video formats that eventually cross over to Instagram Reels.
- Active Scrolling: Regularly spend time on TikTok. Pay attention to trending sounds (indicated by an upward arrow next to the music icon) and video formats that are being widely replicated.
- TikTok’s Creative Center: TikTok has its own “Creative Center” where you can explore trending sounds, hashtags, and videos, often filterable by region. This is an invaluable resource for spotting trends early.
- Trend Prediction Accounts: Follow accounts on TikTok that specifically focus on trend forecasting for social media.
2. YouTube Shorts
While YouTube is a massive video platform, its Shorts feature often mirrors trends seen on TikTok and Instagram. Keep an eye on popular audio and challenges on Shorts.
3. Other Social Platforms & News Outlets
- X (formerly Twitter): Trending topics and hashtags on X can indicate broader cultural moments or discussions that could be adapted into a Reel.
- Pop Culture News & Memes: Stay generally aware of what’s happening in pop culture, viral memes, and current events. These often become the basis for trending audio and visual concepts.
- Spotify/Music Charts: Many trending Reels audios are snippets of new or resurging popular songs. Keep an eye on music charts.
Strategic Observation and Analytics: The Metricool Way
This is where the social media manager’s analytical mind comes into play. It’s not just about finding trends, but finding the right trends for your brand.
1. Competitor Analysis
- Observe Your Niche: Keep a close watch on what your competitors and other successful brands/creators in your niche are doing on Reels. What audios are they using? What formats are they replicating?
- Look for Consistency: If multiple competitors are all adopting a similar Reel style, it’s a strong indicator of a current trend relevant to your industry.
2. Follow Trend Forecasting Accounts
Many social media strategists and agencies dedicate themselves to identifying and explaining new trends. Following these accounts can give you a head start. Search for terms like “Reels trends,” “social media trends,” or “trending audio alerts.”
3. Metricool’s Analytics
While Metricool doesn’t directly show you “Reels trends” in the same way Instagram’s internal tool does, it’s crucial for understanding your own content performance and how well you’re adapting to trends.
- Track Your Reels Performance: Within Metricool, you can analyze the reach, impressions, views, and engagement (likes, comments, saves, shares) of your individual Reels.
- Identify Your Best Performers: Notice if any of your Reels that used a trending audio or format performed significantly better than others. This helps you confirm which trends resonate with your specific audience.
- Audience Activity: Metricool shows you when your audience is most active on Instagram. Knowing this helps you time your trend-based Reels for maximum initial visibility. Even the most trending Reel won’t perform as well if your audience isn’t online to see it.
- A/B Test Trends: Use Metricool’s scheduling features to A/B test different trending audios or formats with similar content to see which yields better results for your brand.
By regularly analyzing your own content within Metricool, you can gain a clearer picture of which trends are actually working for your unique audience, not just in general.
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Songs and Hashtags
If the methods above seem like hard work, we’re here to make your life easier (as always). We collect and share data on the most popular Instagram hashtags every month, and the most popular songs every week. So check these out and feel free to use them for your content. We have also created a guide on how to find trending Instagram audio, which you can find below.
Inspiration on Instagram
Another easy way you can find trending Instagram Reels directly through the app is through the Inspiration tab.
All you have to do is:
- Go to your profile.
- Click on the Professional Dashboard button.
- Scroll down and click on the Inspiration button
- Here you will find videos and posts from other users to get you inspired:
Current Instagram Reel Trends: Top 5 in June 2025
Here is a list of popular Instagram Reel trends we came across this month:
Angles Audio
Original Audio
The Angles audio is a cleverly crafted sound that is perfect for showing off anything beautiful from different perspectives. Whether it’s your hair, outfit, or gardening effort,s this sound will remind you of your best friend hyping you up, giving you the confidence to slay the day.
Justin Bieber – Baby
Original Audio
A timeless banger that needs no introduction, this song is being used for outfit change and fit check videos. It’s an unofficial remix only available on Instagram, which is why it’s listed as an original audio, but the Beleibers know the truth.
How Many Essentials Can You Fit in a Coffee Tray?
Yes, it is a bit of a weird question, but it’s one that people are asking thanks to the coffee tray trend taking off on Instagram. It started on TikTok as most do, but has now transcended all platforms.
Connie Francis – Pretty Little Baby
The revival of old classic songs is one of the joys of Instagram Audio. Originally from 1962, Connie Francis’ Pretty Little Baby has been used in over 3 million Reels. The best thing about this trend is that there are no rules; the song is airy and versatile, making it perfect for different types of content.
Jaws
With its instantly recognizable theme song, Jaws is an ever-enduring classic that captures attention across generations. Creators are adding this sound to their Reels for an element of scroll-stopping suspense.
For a full Instagram Reels Guide, be sure to click the button below:
For our visual learners, check out our YouTube video on how to find trending audio for both Instagram Reels and TikToks.
Why Chasing Reels Trends Matters for Your Brand
Reels are more than just short videos; they are a primary discovery engine on Instagram. The algorithm prioritizes content that is current, engaging, and uses popular elements. Tapping into trends helps your content in several ways:
- Increased Reach and Discoverability: Instagram’s algorithm favors trending content, pushing it to a wider audience, including those who don’t follow you but are interested in similar trends.
- Boosted Engagement: People are more likely to interact with content that feels timely and relevant. When you join a trend, you’re participating in a larger conversation that already has momentum.
- Audience Connection: Speaking the “language” of current trends shows your brand is relevant and in tune with your audience’s interests, fostering a stronger connection.
- Content Inspiration: Trends offer a constant source of creative ideas, helping you overcome content blocks and maintain a consistent posting schedule.
- Faster Content Creation: Many trends have a specific format or template, making it quicker and easier to produce new content once you grasp the concept.
Now, let’s get down to the practical methods for how to find Reels trends on Instagram.
Best Practices for Using Reels Trends Effectively
Finding a trend is only the first step. To truly capitalize on it, you need to apply it intelligently.
- Relevance is Key: Don’t jump on every trend. Ask yourself: “Does this trend align with my brand’s message, values, and target audience?” A forced trend can come across as inauthentic.
- Add Your Own Spin: The magic of trends is often in putting your unique brand twist on them. Don’t just copy; adapt. How can you make this trend relevant to your products, services, or industry?
- Act Fast (But Not Recklessly): Trends have a short shelf life. Once you identify one, aim to create and post your Reel quickly to catch the wave. However, don’t sacrifice quality for speed.
- Prioritize Quality: Even with a trending audio, a poorly shot or edited Reel won’t perform well. Maintain your brand’s visual standards.
- Use Strategic Hashtags: Research and include relevant hashtags in your Reel captions. These help people discover your content, even if they’re not explicitly searching for the trend.
- Include a Call to Action: Once you’ve captured attention with a trend, what do you want viewers to do next? Encourage comments, profile visits, or link clicks.
- Looping & Retention: Design your Reels to be captivating from the first second and encourage re-watches. Looping content (where the end flows seamlessly into the beginning) can significantly boost watch time.
- Batch Create: If you find a few trends that fit your brand, consider batching your content creation. Record multiple Reels in one session to save time.
