Every year there are trend lists. Most of them say the same things with a different number on the cover.

This list is different. It’s based on what we’re actually seeing with real clients in Israel in 2026 - not what American marketing experts think will happen.

1. Short Video Isn’t Dead, But “Too Fast” Already Is

2024-2025 were the years of cut-every-second. Every video was a brain run - flying graphics, text exploding on screen, music at maximum volume.

In 2026 there’s a backlash. Videos that breathe. 3-4 seconds on a single frame that feels right, instead of 20 cuts in 15 seconds.

What to do: Give the frame room to breathe. A hook in the first three seconds is still critical - but you don’t need a cut every second. Sometimes a half-second of silence is the strongest moment in a video.

2. AI in Production: A Tool, Not a Replacement

AI is everywhere - voice-overs, music, graphics, first-draft scripts. These are real tools that save time.

But in 2026 there’s a backlash here too. Audiences recognize AI content. Not always consciously, but there’s a “spaghetti effect” to videos that look like AI - something slightly off, slightly formulaic, slightly hollow.

What to do: Use AI to streamline internal processes (first-draft scripting, references, rough cuts), but preserve the human touch in the frame. What comes from a real cinematographer, real direction, a real human reaction - that still can’t be replicated.

3. Authenticity Beats Polish

A “low-cost-looking” video that’s intentional - and actually isn’t low-cost - is sometimes the most effective format.

iPhone, natural light, a real person speaking directly to camera. It works not because it’s cheap, but because it looks credible.

The catch: “Authentic” doesn’t mean unprepared. Authentic but shot carelessly is still careless. The right approach: plan the authentic moment, then let it happen within a clear framework.

What to do: Consider “authentic formats” (interview, BTS, reaction, direct explainer) alongside classic brand spots. Both in parallel.

4. Long-Form Video Is Back - But Only When There’s Something to Say

YouTube and LinkedIn (yes, LinkedIn) are showing increased viewership for long-form video (3-10 minutes). But only when there’s real substance: a deep case study, a genuine interview, a behind-the-scenes of a major project.

What to do: If you have a story that justifies 5 minutes, make it 5 minutes. If you don’t, don’t pad for time. Length is not depth.

5. Vertical Is a Primary Format, Not a Derivative

Until recently, a “vertical video” was “a social cut” of the “real” video. In 2026 that’s flipped.

For campaigns intended for social, vertical is the primary version. Landscape is the derivative.

What to do: If your campaign is going mainly to Instagram and TikTok, think vertical from day one - not at the end in the edit suite. The framing, the composition, the placement of text overlays - it’s all different. Shooting vertical and landscape simultaneously, when planned correctly, isn’t much more expensive and you get two formats built properly.

Bottom line for 2026: Slower, more real. Less AI-looking, more human. Vertical from day one, not as an afterthought.

Planning a campaign? Reach out and let’s talk about the right direction for your budget.