SURVEYMONKEY TRENDS 2026
See what millions of surveys reveal for smarter moves
2026 will bring rapid change for businesses. Read about each trend below to uncover how to stay resilient and ahead of the curve.
More than 250,000 organizations use SurveyMonkey to ask their business-critical questions. By looking at high-level, anonymized usage patterns, we get a front-row seat to the shifting priorities of leaders across the globe.
We identify trends by looking at aggregate shifts in survey topics or keywords, as well as upticks in usage of our SurveyMonkey templates. We supplement these insights with original studies that explore current workplace dynamics and business priorities, giving us a clearer view of the "why" behind the trends.
We translate these patterns into clear insights to help your organization grow revenue, boost efficiency, and stay ahead of the curve.
When tariffs rise, CX wins
Protect your margins with 5-star experiences.
Tariff research increased 932% year over year on SurveyMonkey in 2025¹ and staying attuned to economic shifts will continue to be critical in the coming year. Now’s the time to invest in real-time customer feedback, test pricing, and closely track consumer spending.
Savvy businesses will also double down on customer experience as a differentiator. Our research found that 57% of consumers say price and CX carry equal weight in purchase decisions². Delivering value beyond price will be key to keeping loyalty when wallets tighten and markets fluctuate.
On-trend templates: Price Testing | Customer Satisfaction | Product Satisfaction | Household Budget Research | Feature Request | Customer Support Feedback
Brand insights are brand armor
Don’t get cancelled or called out.
While it’s a sure bet that American Eagle and Cracker Barrel didn’t make their notorious 2025 brand decisions on a whim, each moment is a sign of the times.
Brand perception can swing overnight—and our data shows brand-related template use increased year over year in 2025, including Brand Attributes (+167%), Brand Tracking (+75%) and Campaign Awareness (+33%)¹.
In 2026, expect even more brands to focus on staying far ahead of public opinion. Smart leaders will track brand health, prioritize message and creative testing, and use brand insights to own the conversation.
On-trend templates: Brand Perception | Ad Testing | Brand Personality | Online Content Strategy | Podcast Market Research | Corporate Response to Current Events
Embrace AI like a boss
Real leaders drive team AI adoption.
AI-related surveys sent by HR pros increased 85% year over year in 2025¹. And yet according to our research, only 13% of workers say their company offers AI training³. We’re trending towards an AI reckoning at work, and 2026 will be the year for real leaders to step up.
Effective leadership will be defined by who advocates for clear AI policies, team training, and open conversations that curb AI on the down-low. Because AI isn’t just a technology investment, it’s a people investment.
On-trend templates: AI Readiness | Professional Development | Manager Feedback | Remote Workforce Engagement | Tool and Process Improvement | Workshop Feedback
From event fatigue to FOMO
Real-time feedback fuels event ROI.
From venue fees to unhappy attendees, the cost of a bad event is high. A full 7 in 10 full-time workers attended a work-related event within the last year, and 47% attended at least one event that wasn’t worth their time⁴.
The 2026 event playbook will center on feedback loops that fight fatigue and fuel high-value personalized experiences. Basic event surveys and vanity metrics won’t cut it. Proactive event pros will champion real-time feedback and track everything from attendee expectations to granular, session-level sentiment.
On-trend templates: Event Feedback | Event Planning | Webinar Registration | Photo and Video Consent | Professional Event Feedback | Meeting Feedback
Crack the code on employee burnout
Defeat disengagement with always-on feedback.
Our research found that nearly 30% of workers say burnout blocks their productivity³. So it’s no wonder that use of our employee engagement template increased 57% year over year in 2025, while use of our employee pulse template rose 88%¹.
Forget rote employee check-ins. In 2026, HR will have a burnout breakthrough: strategic listening that’s not only built into the employee lifecycle but also hyper-focused on organizational struggles like disengagement. That means comprehensive feedback at every level, and deep understanding of motivation, well-being, culture, and even how employees’ view leadership.
On-trend templates: Employee Engagement | Manager Performance | Culture Pulse | Team Building Activities | Employee Recognition | Stay Interview
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Methodology
¹Template use percentages are based on template deployments, defined as any survey launched using a SurveyMonkey template that received at least 5 responses. Research trends and template use data compares the period of September 27, 2024-September 27, 2025 with September 27, 2023-September 26-2024.
²The SurveyMonkey “2025 Business Trends” consumer study was conducted March 25-31, 2025 among 2,481 US adults. Respondents were selected from the more than 2 million people who take surveys on our platform each day. The modeled error estimate for this survey is plus or minus 2.0 percentage points.
³The SurveyMonkey “2025 Workplace Culture and Trends” study was conducted between July 25 to August 3, 2025 among a sample of 3,573 full time workers in the US. Respondents were selected from a non-probability online panel and the modeled error estimate is plus or minus 2.0 percentage point. The sample was balanced by age, race, gender, education, and region, according to the US Census.
⁴This SurveyMonkey study was conducted from November 4-5, 2025. We surveyed 555 adults, 18 and older, who live in the United States and are employed full-time. The sample was balanced by age, race, gender, education, and region, according to the US Census.