"As the entertainment and media industries enter 2026, they are navigating a moment of profound transition: still adjusting to today's political realities, the AI explosion and, yes, the still-rippling effects of the pandemic and the subsequent actors' and writers' strikes, while also attempting to chart a path forward for long-term reengagement with audiences across formats and channels."
"What any seasoned journalist will tell you is that trying to predict the future is one of our biggest occupational hazards - especially in a media and entertainment world that grows more frenetic by the week, "That said, as chroniclers of the ebbs and flows of our business, we do see around the corners for what's next, spotting trends before and as they are happening. What you will read here is how technology, cultural shifts and consumer appetites will shape the landscape in the new year in Hollywood and media."
"Understanding what's next isn't about predicting the trajectory of today's platforms and technologies. It's about understanding people: what they'll crave amid abundance, who they'll trust in an age of simulation, where they'll seek joy and connection in a world that often feels like it's changing faster than they can keep up,"
Six key trends will define 2026 for entertainment and media: the rise of content creators as industry power players, deepening integration of AI into creative workflows, and continued adjustment to political realities. Lingering pandemic effects and the aftermath of actors' and writers' strikes will shape production, distribution and labor dynamics. The industry must pursue long-term reengagement strategies across formats and channels to reconnect audiences. Data-driven storylines will identify priority areas to watch, and opportunities will emerge for studios, exhibitors and audiences as technology, cultural shifts and evolving consumer appetites reshape the media ecosystem.
Read at TheWrap
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