The 5 Types of Videos Growing Fastest in 2026 (Data-Backed)

Not all video formats perform equally. Some capture attention faster, generate more discussion, and spread across platforms more readily than others.

We analyzed engagement patterns across Reddit, Hacker News, and Bluesky to identify which content formats are resonating most with audiences in 2026.

The Format Velocity Rankings

| Format | Avg Velocity | Avg Comments | Best Platform | |--------|-------------|--------------|---------------| | Reaction/Hot Take | 94 | 187 | Twitter, Reddit | | Deep Comparison | 78 | 156 | HN, Reddit | | Prediction/Forecast | 72 | 142 | HN, Bluesky | | Technical Breakdown | 65 | 134 | HN, Reddit | | Tutorial/How-to | 34 | 62 | Reddit |

Let's break down why each format performs the way it does.

1. Reaction Videos (Velocity: 94)

What it is: Immediate response to news, releases, or industry events.

Why it works: Timeliness creates urgency. When something drops—a new model, a pricing change, a controversy—people want context now.

The catch: High velocity but short lifespan. A reaction video peaks in 24-48 hours, then traffic drops sharply.

Best practices:

• Publish within 24 hours of the event
• Lead with your take, not just news summary
• Have a clear opinion—neutral reactions underperform

Example: "Claude 3.5 Opus Just Dropped—My Honest First Impressions"

2. Deep Comparison (Velocity: 78)

What it is: Systematic comparison between tools, approaches, or methodologies.

Why it works: People facing decisions want help choosing. Comparison content directly addresses "which should I use?" questions.

The advantage: Longer lifespan than reactions. Good comparison videos stay relevant for months.

Best practices:

• Test both options yourself—don't just read specs
• Be specific about use cases ("for X, use Y; for Z, use W")
• Include your recommendation and reasoning

Example: "LangGraph vs CrewAI: I Built the Same Agent With Both"

3. Prediction/Forecast (Velocity: 72)

What it is: Forward-looking analysis about where technology or industry is heading.

Why it works: People want to know what's coming. Prediction content generates debate—agree or disagree, people engage.

The catch: You'll be wrong sometimes. That's okay—the discussion is the point.

Best practices:

• Base predictions on observable trends, not wishful thinking
• Give specific timelines when possible
• Revisit old predictions—update videos do well

Example: "5 AI Predictions for 2026 (Based on What's Already Happening)"

4. Technical Breakdown (Velocity: 65)

What it is: Deep explanation of how something works under the hood.

Why it works: Technical audiences appreciate depth. These videos attract engaged viewers who watch to the end.

The advantage: Establishes expertise. Viewers trust your other content more after watching a solid breakdown.

Best practices:

• Start with why this matters before how it works
• Use visuals—architecture diagrams, code walkthroughs
• Keep it practical—tie concepts to real applications

Example: "How RAG Actually Works (Not What Most Tutorials Show)"

5. Tutorial/How-to (Velocity: 34)

What it is: Step-by-step instructions for accomplishing a task.

Why it's lower: Tutorials compete with official documentation, which is often excellent. And tutorial content ages quickly—API changes, UI updates, new versions.

When it still works:

• Topics where documentation is poor or non-existent
• Complex workflows that combine multiple tools
• "Complete beginner" content for emerging tools

Best practices:

• Focus on workflows, not just single tools
• Add your experience—what problems did you hit?
• Keep updated—outdated tutorials hurt credibility

Example: "Build an AI Agent from Scratch (Full Walkthrough)"

The Format Stack Strategy

The highest-performing channels mix formats strategically:

1. Reaction videos for algorithm boost and new subscribers
2. Comparison videos for search traffic and evergreen views
3. Technical breakdowns for credibility and super-fan retention
4. Predictions for engagement and share-ability

Tutorials still have a place, but they're best as conversion content—helping subscribers solve specific problems—rather than discovery content.

Matching Topics to Formats

When you find a trending topic, ask: what format fits this topic best?

| Topic Type | Best Format | |------------|-------------| | New release | Reaction | | Persistent confusion | Comparison or Breakdown | | Industry shift | Prediction | | Common question | Tutorial (if unique angle exists) |

For example, "MCP Protocol" (currently trending) could be:

• Reaction: "Anthropic's MCP Protocol Changes Everything"
• Breakdown: "How MCP Protocol Actually Works"
• Prediction: "Why Every AI Tool Will Use MCP by 2027"

Same topic, different formats, different audiences.

The Takeaway

Format matters as much as topic. A mediocre comparison video on a hot topic will outperform a great tutorial on a dead one.

When you spot a trending topic, think format first. What type of video would serve this audience best? That's often the difference between a video that pops and one that flops.