2026…Here We Go…
As we kick off the year, I took some time to reflect on the patterns that shaped the past 12 months and what clients are signaling next. Based on what I’m seeing (and hearing) across ux and brand sound, here are a few predictions for how sound will show up in 2026.
Sound Strategy Moves to the C Suite
Over the last two years, this shift has become impossible to ignore. In 2025, 75% of our projects were reviewed by CEOs, CMOs, or CTOs. As brands connect sound to brand equity, audio strategy is stepping out of the margins and into the core.
Brands Invest in “Quiet Distinction”
The race for attention will be replaced by a race for calm. The most innovative brands will design for subtlety – creating distinctive sound that feels restrained, confident, and emotionally intelligent.s.
Sonic Identity as Full System Architecture
More brands will stop treating a sound logo as a one-off for ads, and instead build a full sonic ecosystem. Everything from marketing spots to product UI/UX sound, to experiential audio to create a unified sonic identity. As one recent review of branding trends puts it: sound is becoming “as essential as brand color.”
UX Sound Driving Hands Off Technology
With spatial audio, AR/VR, and next-gen interfaces growing, UX sound won’t just be about clicks and dings – it’ll be about immersive environments. Brands will design ambient audio, motion cues, transitions, and voice UI tones to live inside 3D sound spaces. This is especially relevant for automotive, smart home, and wearable tech.
Rise of Textural Ambient Sounds
While melodic jingles and traditional sonic logos will remain powerful for recall, 2026 will see a surge in textural, ambient, or minimalist sound signatures that call for our attention in more subtle ways.
Brand Voice Bump
With conversational interfaces (voice assistants, smart devices, in-car voice controls) becoming more common, more brands will create custom voices for brands that will be supportive of the brand tone of voice in their guidelines.
Dynamic Sound Identities
As brands have embraced the use of sound logo’s over the last few years we’ll start to see brands adapting these sound logos to different moods while keeping the core DNA consistent. This allows for brands to be more dynamic in their storytelling and allows for flexibility in tone while keeping a level of consistency.
Appliance Manufacturers Invest In Sound
For years, appliance sounds have disrupted our homes. As design systems and hardware evolve, there’s an opportunity to trade noise for calm – improving function while making appliances quieter, more intentional, and more human.