Instagram trends December 2025

December is so weird for Instagram.

Everyone's posting year-end recaps, holiday content everywhere, the algo is flooded with seasonal stuff.

And most creators are posting the same predictable content they post every December.

Which means: if you know what's actually trending right now beyond the obvious holiday content, you can stand out and get massive reach.

In this guide, I'll break down the Instagram trends that are currently working in December 2025.

The current state of Instagram (December 2025)

Before we dive into specific trends, here's what's happening on Instagram right now:

The algorithm is prioritizing:

• Reels over static posts (still)

• Longer watch time over quick views

• Saves and shares over likes

• Original audio (Instagram is pushing this hard)

• Content that keeps people on the app

What's dying:

• Generic holiday content (too saturated)

• Photo dumps without context

• Overly promotional content

• Long, slow-building reels

What's rising:

• Behind-the-scenes content

• Educational quick-hits

• Relatable "it's me" content

• Year-in-review formats (but with a twist)

• Authentic, less-polished content

Now let's get specific.

Trending format #1: "2025 wrapped" variations

Everyone's doing year-end recaps, but the ones going viral have specific structures:

What's working:

• "Things I learned in 2025" with quick cuts between lessons

• "My 2025 in [specific metric]" - very niche, not generic

• "Plot twist: 2025 edition" showing unexpected outcomes

• Side-by-side comparisons: January 2025 vs. December 2025

What's not working:

• Generic photo montages with slow music

• "My year in review" without specific insights

• Long, sentimental recaps

How to use this trend:

Make it specific to your niche:

• Fitness: "Every workout I tried in 2025 ranked"

• Business: "12 months, 12 lessons from building my business"

• Content creator: "My worst performing post each month and what I learned"

Why it's working:

People love reflection content at year-end, but only if it teaches them something or entertains them. Generic recaps get scrolled past.

Timing: This trend peaks mid-December and dies January 2nd, so use it now.

Trending format #2: "Real time" POV content

This format exploded in November and is still climbing in December.

Structure:

• Camera follows you doing a real activity in real-time

• No editing, minimal cuts

• Casual commentary as you do it

• Shows the reality, not the highlight reel

Examples that are working:

• "Real time: responding to client emails at 11pm"

• "Watch me meal prep in real time (it's chaos)"

• "Real time: trying to film content with kids around"

• "Coming up with Instagram captions in real time"

Why it's working:

People are sick of overly polished content, but this feels authentic and relatable.

High watch time because people want to see how it actually goes.

How to adapt it:

Whatever your niche, show the unglamorous reality:

• Designer: "Real time: explaining to a client why their idea won't work"

• Entrepreneur: "Real time: trying to focus with 47 notifications"

• Fitness: "Real time: struggling through the last set"

This one will work through January.

Trending format #3: "Silent vlogs" with text overlay

This is the anti-talking-head trend.

Structure:

• No talking to camera

• Cinematic B-roll of your day/activity

• Text overlays explaining what's happening

• Trending but chill audio

• Usually under 60 seconds

Examples:

• Day in the life content without voiceover

• "Getting ready" content with just music

• Cooking/creating with text instructions

• Process videos without explanation

Why it's working:

Perfect for sound-off viewing (80% of people).

Feels more cinematic and artistic. Lower barrier to create (no need to be "on camera").

Current audio working with this:

• Slowed + reverb versions of popular songs

• Lo-fi beats

• Trending instrumental audio

Will peak mid-December.

Trending format #4: "Unhinged" takes on normal topics

This is the chaotic, slightly unserious approach to serious topics.

Structure:

• Take a normal topic

• Present it in an exaggerated, chaotic way

• Mix useful info with humor

• Self-aware about being dramatic

Examples that are working:

• "Girlies, here's your sign to [normal advice] but make it unhinged"

• "The most dramatic way to [solve common problem]"

• "POV: you're me explaining [topic] at 2am"

• "This is your intervention: stop [common mistake]"

Why it's working:

Breaks through the feed of serious, polished content. Entertaining AND educational. High shareability.

How to use it:

Take your normal advice and add personality:

• Normal: "5 tips to grow on Instagram"

• Unhinged: "Bestie, I'm begging you to stop doing these 5 things on Instagram"

Peak right now, will continue through December.

Trending audio (December 2025)

For educational content:

• Upbeat instrumental tracks (lo-fi, chill beats)

• Trending podcast clips as audio

• Original audio is being pushed hard

For entertainment content:

• Slowed versions of summer hits

• Trending sound effects for transitions

• Nostalgic songs from 2015-2020 (throwback trend)

Pro tip: Original audio is getting preferential treatment right now, if you can create interesting original audio, Instagram will push it harder than using trending sounds.

How to find trending audio:

Option 1: Scroll Reels for 20 minutes and note what keeps appearing

Option 2: Use Clyren's trend scanner to see which audio is trending in your niche right now

Content types getting the most reach

Beyond specific formats, here's what content types are performing best:

1. Tutorial content under 30 seconds

Quick, valuable how-tos are crushing right now. People want to learn fast.

Examples:

• "How to [solve problem] in 20 seconds"

• "Quick tutorial: [specific skill]"

• "The fastest way to [achieve outcome]"

2. Relatable "it's me" content

Examples:

• "It's the [specific behavior] for me"

• "POV: you're a [role] and [very specific situation happens]"

• "Tell me you're a [identity] without telling me you're a [identity]"

3. Before/after with process

Because transformations are always popular.

Examples:

• Not just before/after, but the 10 steps between

• Not just the result, but the failures along the way

• Not just success, but what it actually costs

4. "Things I wish I knew" listicles

Educational list-based content that helps people avoid mistakes.

Examples:

• "7 things I wish I knew before [experience]"

• "What nobody tells you about [topic]"

• "Mistakes I made so you don't have to"

5. Day-in-the-life (but specific)

Generic day-in-the-life is dead. Specific angles work.

Examples:

• "Day in my life: [specific situation/challenge]"

• "What I actually do all day as a [specific role]"

• "Day in the life but everything goes wrong"

What's NOT working right now

Dying trends:

• "Link in bio" only content (Instagram hides these)

• Purely aesthetic content without substance

• Long

Never worked:

• Buying engagement (covered in should you buy Instagram comments)

• Follow/unfollow tactics

• Spamming comments

How to use December trends right

Week 1-2 (now):

• Jump on year-end recap trends with your niche angle

• Post "real time" content showing your process

Week 3:

• Holiday-specific content (but with a twist, not generic)

• Behind-the-scenes of your year

• Plan ahead content for January

Week 4 (Christmas week):

• Lighter, more entertaining content

• Engagement will be lower (people are offline)

• Don't stress about posting daily

Week 5 (New Year):

• "2026 predictions" content

• Goal-setting content

• Fresh start narratives

How to find trends before they peak

Manual method:

1. Spend 30 minutes daily scrolling Reels

2. Note what formats keep appearing

3. Track which audio is being used

4. Test the trend within 24-48 hours

Automated method:

1. Use Clyren's trend scanner

2. See what's trending in your niche right now

3. Get alerts when new trends emerge

4. Post while the trend is fresh

The difference between these methods:

• Manual: 30-60 min daily, might miss trends

• Automated: 5 min daily, catch more trends

Your time is valuable, you need to spend it creating, not researching.

Creating trend-proof content

Evergreen content types:

• How-to tutorials

• Common mistakes guides

• Resource lists

• Behind-the-scenes processes

• Educational threads

These might not go viral, but they:

• Build authority

• Convert to followers better

• Have longer lifespan

• Show up in search

Balance: 70% trend-based, and 30% evergreen, always.

We covered the full strategy in how to grow Instagram followers using trends.

What to expect in January 2026

Looking ahead, here's what's likely to trend:

Predicted trends:

• "New year, new strategy" content

• Goal-setting and planning content

• "Reset" and "fresh start" narratives

• Productivity and organization content

• Before/after comparisons

What will die:

• All December holiday content

• Year-end recap content

• 2025-specific content

What will continue:

• Real-time POV content

• Educational quick-hits

• Behind-the-scenes content

• Relatable, specific moments

You need to stay on top of trends by:

• Checking daily what's getting reach

• Testing new formats quickly

• Doubling down on what works for you

• Not being afraid to pivot

Or just use Clyren to see what's trending in real-time and skip the manual research.

Now stop reading, please for the love of God and go create something that rides the current wave. Be you.

Want more trend strategies? Check out how to make reels go viral, what counts as viral, and how the algorithm works.

In case I don’t see you, good afternoon, good evening, and good night. Use Clyren 🫶