The confectionery industry is huge, and things become more interesting when viral trends create a spark. These trends are based on social media challenges, mostly on TikTok, which makes the Gen Z and Gen Alpha go obsessed with them. Just one viral video could create a surge in the demand for a specific candy, and there are many trends because of that. Some trends are about the taste buds, and some are about the health concerns.
Since diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure are becoming more common health problems in the world, people are now looking for safe alternatives. That means there is a rise in trends regarding a shift towards safe ingredients. Many people are avoiding white and brown sugar, including animal-based ingredients. Therefore, the sugar-free, keto, and vegan alternatives are becoming more popular this year. If you are curious to know which are the top candy trends in 2026, here they are.
Lots of teens and adults in the West are slowly switching to vegan products, and candies are among them. These are the consumers who are leading this trend, and it could possibly continue for many years. Plant-based candies are free of animal-based gelatin. Therefore, manufacturers use agar-agar, carrageenan, pectin, and corn starch as an alternative to gelatin.
Even Muslim and possibly Hindu communities are preferring these vegan candies because of vegan-based gelatin in them. That makes us one of the prominent trends and possibly a permanent category in candies. These vegan candies include plant-based packaging, which is way better than traditional packaging. So, there are double benefits for consumers if even the packaging becomes vegan.
Many people around the world, especially in the West, either have diabetes or are on the verge of it. Some could be even teens with early diabetic symptoms who can’t resist candies. So, they want something that is much safer than traditional candies. This year might see a rise in demand for keto candies since this category has been active for a few years.
Keto candies contain low carbohydrates, and they are sugar-free candies. To make them sweet, manufacturers use alternatives like stevia and allulose. That is why people who are diabetic or prediabetic look for keto candies. This trend also seems to be permanent because candies are irresistible, and people want something different.
They are not new, but still trending. The reason is the rise of health-conscious alternatives that are becoming popular. People want a quick dose of vitamins in flavored form. What could be better than flavored vitamin gummies? They are candies that contain vitamins or probiotics, and people love them.
This trend has become more prominent when people decided to try flavored vitamin D supplements. Traditional supplements were never easy to chew because of their neutral or medicine-like taste. However, vitamin candies have fruity flavors that make them palatable for all. Due to their popularity, even teens like to eat them, besides adults and senior citizens.
Spicy and Sweety-Spicy-Flavored Candies
Gen Z wants something different from traditional candies. They are the ones who always love to try something different or new. Spicy and sweet-spicy flavors are the most trending ones in candies. There are spicy-flavored candies in chewy types, which are trending this year. Gen Z wants to try something strange and unique because of its different mindset from previous generations. Sweet-spicy candies are not new, and they were rebranded recently.
The rise of social media and its trends contributed massively to the revival of spicy candies. They all want to copy each other on viral challenges posted on social media, which is why these candies are currently trending.
Then there is another trending candy, which is also for diabetic, prediabetic, and health-conscious consumers. They are more for adults than kids and teens. Many adults just can’t resist the urge for confectionery, and sugar-free candies are what they want. Since diabetes is one of the most dangerous diseases, one can’t take risks with it.
So, there is a huge market of sugar-free candies, which has now been trending in recent years. These candies are possibly a better option for diabetic and health-conscious people. Even people who suffer from obesity but love to eat a few candies often want a sugar-free alternative. Some brands even launched their sugar-free editions, and they are getting a fine target audience for that.
One of the trending candies is allergy-free candies this year. In recent years, the demand for such candies has increased because many kids, teens, and adults suffer from specific allergies. They have to avoid products that contain allergy-triggering ingredients. Since brands know that they need to tap every kind of audience, some of them started releasing allergen-free candies.
Nuts, gluten, sesame seeds, soy, and some similar ingredients cause allergies to some people. To provide a safe alternative to these consumers, brands have allergen-free candies. There is no doubt that they would be trending since everyone wants to enjoy candies. There is a possibility that these candies will become a permanent part of the industry because of an adequate demand.
Gen Z can only dream of some candies because they don’t exist anymore. They were exciting, delicious, and irresistible for the previous generations, but they don’t exist anymore. However, companies have relaunched some flavors and candies that used to exist decades ago. Gen Z is really obsessed with those nostalgic candies, and the proof is on social media. These nostalgic candies are wax bottles, freeze-dried candies, crystal candies, and the list goes on.
Freeze-dried candies feel crunchy, airy, and sweet, which is why they are trending. They give a different taste from traditional candies. The same is for the other nostalgic candies that have a larger target audience when combining all the existing generations. Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha are all like nostalgic candies.
Gen Z, as well as Gen Alpha’s, favorite candies are similar. They are all driven by social media trends, which makes them prone to following similar trends. Spicy candies, peanut butter flavored candies, and mixed flavored candies are their favorite ones. They also like dessert-inspired candies, which have a lot to do with social media trends. TikTok is the main source of trends, which can create hype about every candy. So, they look for anything that becomes a challenge for them.
Kids like intensely flavored candies, which give them zest for a more energetic mode. Unlike adults, kids want something wild in candies, which includes sweet-spicy and sour flavors. They also like freeze-dried candies, which have a unique taste and texture. Nostalgic flavored candies and tropical flavored candies are among the trending candies this year. The flavors they offer are composed of rare fruits, including common tropical fruits.
The top candy trends in 2026 are about health and thrill, mostly. The biggest factor behind trend-setting is TikTok, which can create hype for any product. Kids, teens, and even some adults blindly follow those trends, which makes the hypes even greater than any marketing campaign. Vegan, keto, vitamin, sugar-free, and allergen-free candies are the most trending ones this year. Since obesity and diabetes are becoming more common, more people are looking for safe alternatives to sugar candies. Besides, Gen Z wants to try something new, which solely depends on viral trends. Spicy, sour, spicy-sweet, and nostalgic candies are among the candy trends because of that.
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