Move over, Guinness. The latest forecast for 2026 suggests a new Irish stout is poised to capture the nation's taste buds. While the Netflix drama 'House Of Guinness' and Soho's famed Devonshire pub have cemented one brand's status, the spotlight is shifting to Beamish. This popular Irish brew, described as richer, sweeter and more chocolate- or coffee-forward than its cousin, is tipped to be the next big thing. It seems we'll soon be splitting the 'B' rather than the 'G'. This is just one of the key trends set to shape British lifestyle, dining, tech, and wellness in the coming year.
Dining & Drinking: Bold Flavours and Shared Plates
The culinary scene is embracing boldness and sociability. In London's top restaurants, like Jackson Boxer's Dove in Notting Hill, sharing burgers are the new starters. These large buns, sliced like a pizza, are so in demand that the restaurant's daily special of ten often sells out in record time; the current record stands at just 12 minutes. Meanwhile, the humble cabbage is having a major moment, with Pinterest reporting searches for 'cabbage dumplings' up by 110%. Expect to see it everywhere from kimchi cocktails to crispy taco wraps.
At the bar, the pickle trend has gone liquid. Look out for pickle martinis, picklebacks, and pickle margaritas making their way onto menus, as Gen Z's gherkin obsession reaches the drinks cabinet. And for those curating the perfect home, 'larder bragging' is the new status symbol. Waitrose reports a surge in sales of luxury kitchen staples like Wilkin & Sons ketchup and Torres crisps, a phenomenon their crisp buyer Jay Ledwich calls 'the lipstick effect 2.0'.
Tech, Fashion & Wellness: The New Essentials
Technology is taking a nostalgic yet advanced turn. Leaked reports suggest Apple will launch its first foldable iPhone, potentially called the iPhone Fold, in September with a price tag of up to £2,000. This follows the smash-hit success of Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip series with Gen Z. In healthcare, a significant shift is underway. With search engines answering over 50 million health questions daily, AI is moving beyond diagnostics into symptom triage and treatment planning. Dr Dominic King of Microsoft AI states this aims to counter a predicted global shortage of 11 million health workers by 2030.
Wellness priorities are also evolving. 'Sleepmaxxing' is a key goal, with John Lewis noting soaring sales of screenless wearables like the WHOOP tracker and a 39% increase in super-king bed sales. Nutritionally, fibre is set to replace protein as the buzzword, with the #fibremaxxing hashtag used over 157 million times on TikTok. The British Heart Foundation recommends 30g daily, but current average intake is just 20g.
In fashion, cobalt blue will dominate summer 2026, appearing in roughly a third of S/S 26 collections from brands like Miu Miu and Gucci, according to Tagwalk. And in the salon, hairstylist Sam McKnight MBE predicts the end of bouncy blow-drys, declaring the year will be all about super-straight, glossy, controlled styles.
Travel & Leisure: Staycations and Race-cations
Domestic travel is getting a literary boost. Thanks to Emerald Fennell's new film adaptation of Wuthering Heights, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi and released on 13 February, Yorkshire is predicted to be a 2026 staycation hotspot for international visitors and Brontë enthusiasts alike. For the active traveller, 'race-cations' are on the rise. Fitness app Strava reports that three-quarters of runners aged 18-29 have either planned or are considering a holiday centred around a race next year.
Finally, the weight-loss drug market is changing. With patent protections for semaglutide (including Ozempic and Wegovy) expiring in several countries this year, cheaper, pill-form GLP-1 drugs are expected to become more widely available globally. From what we pour into our glasses to how we monitor our health, 2026 is shaping up to be a year of delicious, smart, and sleek transformations.
