15 Proven Ways to Discover Trending Blog Topics in 2026

I have been blogging for more than a decade now, and I know that bloggers often search for fresh ideas that draw readers and boost visibility, but most of us end up with the same old ideas stuck in our minds.

Finding trending topics here means tapping into what people are discussing right now, and being an experienced blogger, I know some strategies that can actually help achieve that goal.

Yes, you can use free tools, social platforms, and keyword methods to uncover these hot blog post ideas.

Since I never talked about blogging for a long time, this guide outlines practical approaches with steps and examples so you can apply them directly to your work, and I am going to put my efforts into making it fruitful for you all.

Sit tight and read:

Define Trending Topics for Your Niche

A trending topic gains quick interest from searches, shares, or discussions in a specific field or niche, you can say.

For instance, in fitness, a trend might involve new workout routines tied to seasonal changes, like summer training plans or something coming as a new way to exercise from a celebrity or top voice in the category.

Trends shift based on events, technology advances, or cultural shifts, and they vary by audience and interests.

To spot them early, you can focus on rising search volumes or social buzz around keywords related to your area.

Many tools, like Google Trends and X, show these patterns clearly by tracking query popularity over time.

Leverage Free Tools for Quick Insights

Many free resources exist to reveal trends without any cost.

These options provide data on search behavior and content performance, and professional bloggers rely on them for timely ideas.

15 Proven Ways to Discover Trending Blog Topics in 2026

Let me uncover some of the most useful and free tools and guide you on how to use them to find trending blog topics in 2026:

1. Google Trends

Google Trends tracks search interest for keywords across regions and periods. You enter a term, and it displays graphs of popularity, related queries, and breakdowns by location. This helps identify spikes in interest that signal emerging trends.

Follow these steps to use it:

1. Visit trends.google.com.
2. Type your keyword in the search bar at Explore page, such as "home workouts."
3. Select a time frame, like the past 12 months, and filter by category or country.
4. Check the "Rising" section for queries with sharp increases.
5. Explore related topics for connected ideas.

For example, if "yoga for beginners" shows a rise, you could write about beginner routines. This tool updates in real time, making it ideal for current events.

Sources confirm its value for bloggers seeking relevant content.

2. Exploding Topics

Exploding Topics scans the web for emerging trends before they peak. It categorizes them by industry and shows growth percentages, helping you catch ideas early.

To get started:

1. Go to explodingtopics.com.
2. Browse categories like health or technology.
3. Filter by time, such as the last month.
4. View trends with search volumes and growth data.
5. Click on a trend for details and related keywords.

An example includes spotting "remineralizing gum" as a rising health product, which could inspire a post on oral care innovations.

Bloggers use this to plan content around future interests, and it offers free access to thousands of trends.

3. AnswerThePublic

AnswerThePublic pulls search data to create visual maps of questions and phrases around a keyword. It organizes results into wheels for questions, comparisons, and prepositions.

Use it this way:

1. Head to answerthepublic.com.
2. Enter a broad term, like "exercise."
3. Review the visual wheel for categories.
4. Note patterns in questions, such as "how to exercise at home."
5. Export data for your content calendar.

This reveals what audiences ask, leading to posts that answer specific needs.

For fitness blogs, it might highlight "winter workout ideas" as seasonal trends.

Explore Advanced Tools with Premium Features

Paid tools offer deeper analysis, including engagement metrics and competitor insights. They suit bloggers who invest in growth.

4. BuzzSumo

BuzzSumo analyzes content performance across platforms to find what gains shares and links. It helps discover viral topics in your niche.

Steps include:

1. Visit buzzsumo.com and sign up for a trial.
2. Search for a keyword or domain.
3. Filter by date, like the past month, and content type.
4. Sort by shares to see top performers.

Use Trending Feeds for daily viral posts.

For example, searching "digital marketing" might show high-engagement articles on AI tools, inspiring your own take.

5. SEMrush Topic Research

SEMrush generates subtopics with search volume and difficulty scores. It aids in finding trends with potential.

To use:

1. Log into semrush.com and go to Topic Research.
2. Enter a topic and location.
3. Get subtopics ranked by efficiency.
4. View headlines and questions for ideas.
5. Add favorites to lists.

This tool spots low-competition trends, like niche keywords in business blogging.

6. Ahrefs Content Explorer

Ahrefs explores billions of pages to find popular content. Filter for recent publications to catch trends.

Steps:

1. Access ahrefs.com/content-explorer.
2. Enter a keyword.
3. Filter by publication date, traffic, and backlinks.
4. Sort by organic traffic.
5. Identify gaps in coverage.

For instance, it reveals articles with high traffic but few links, signaling fresh trends.

Monitor Social Media Platforms

Social sites show real-time conversations, and you can track them for blog ideas.

7. X (Formerly Twitter)

X highlights trending hashtags and discussions with currently hot news topics on its Explore page. You can search for niche terms to see popular posts.

1. Open x.com and use advanced search.
2. Enter queries like "blogging tips" with filters for recent dates.
3. Look at engagement on posts.

Screenshot of Blogging Tips search on X

Recent discussions emphasize using X for quick trend spotting.

8. Reddit

Screenshot of Reddit.com/r/blogging

Reddit communities discuss niche topics.

Subreddits like r/SEO or r/blogging share questions and trends.

1. Visit reddit.com.
2. Search for your niche.
3. Sort by hot or rising posts.
4. Note popular threads for ideas.

Images of trending sections help visualize this.

9. Quora

Quora features user questions that reflect interests. Answer popular ones or use them for posts.

1. Go to quora.com.
2. Search a topic.
3. View trending questions.
4. Track views and answers.

This platform provides direct audience insights.

10. Instagram and TikTok

These visual platforms show trends via hashtags and reels.

1. Use search for hashtags.
2. Check explorer pages.
3. Note viral content.

Tools like Meta's Creator Marketplace reveal rising topics.

Conduct Keyword Research

Keyword tools uncover search intent.

Use Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest:

1. Enter seed keywords.
2. Filter for volume and competition.
3. Pick rising terms.

Combine with trends for targeted ideas.

11. Analyze Competitors

Review what rivals publish.

1. Use site:domain.com in Google.
2. Note top pages.
3. Find gaps.

Tools like Ahrefs also help here.

12. Use AI for Brainstorming

AI like ChatGPT generates lists.

Prompt: "List 10 blog ideas on [niche] based on current trends."

Refine with data from other tools.

13. Track News Aggregators

Feedly curates feeds from sites.

1. Create feeds for your niche.
2. Scan daily for stories.

This keeps you ahead on events.

14. Consider Seasonal Trends

Plan for holidays or events, even if your blog is not about it. There's a seasonal trend for almost every blogging niche, and you need to find that out to make blog posts around that particular event to cover the hype.

Use Google Trends for yearly patterns and plan ahead to create quality content.

15. Validate Topic Potential

Don't just start writing on every next topic, first go and check its search volume, competition, and engagement so you can make a good choice that won't go wasted.

You can use SEMrush for scores by creating a free SEO project after you create a free account.

A pro tip is: You should always optimize with Google Search Console for existing content by checking it daily to see which keywords are actually giving you traffic and which ones are trying to get you some impressions.

You can then pick those keywords and creatively add them into your existing content to boost its value and quality.

Here's a comparison table for some of the tools mentioned above, so you know which ones are free and which ones are paid:

Tool	Cost	Best For	Key Features
Google Trends	Free	Real-time search spikes	Graphs, related queries, regions
Exploding Topics	Free/Pro	Emerging trends	Growth data, categories
AnswerThePublic	Free/Ltd	Question-based ideas	Visual wheels, CPC data
BuzzSumo	Free/Paid	Content performance	Shares, trending feeds
SEMrush	Free/Paid	Keyword efficiency	Subtopics, difficulty scores
Ahrefs	Free/Paid	Popular pages	Traffic filters, backlinks

Almost every tool mentioned is free or has a free tier. You can start using your favorite tool and when you think it's worth investing, you can go and buy their premium plans.

Turn Trends into Content

Once you find a topic, outline posts with headings, data, and calls to action. Update older content with new trends for sustained traffic.

These strategies cover broad ground, from quick checks to in-depth analysis, so you can adapt them to your blogging style.