The First Big Trend of the Year is Here…and It’s All About “Whimsy”

Google says searches for the word "whimsy" are at an all-time high.

If being more carefree is on your to-do list for 2026, you’re far from alone…

Google says searches for the word “whimsy” are at an all-time high. “Year of whimsy”…”whimsy goals” and “how to add more whimsy to your life” are also trending. The definition is “behavior that is unusual, playful, and unpredictable, rather than having any serious reason or purpose behind it.”

Videos about being more whimsical are all over social media, and a writer for The Huffington Post said “whimsy” is already a clear frontrunner for word of the year. Influencers are using it hand-in-hand with having a more “analog” lifestyle. So, less time online and more time doing stuff in real life.