Creator marketplace #paid has released its “Creator Signals 2026” report, drawing on first-party survey data from its network to document how creators are earning, spending, and building audiences heading into the year.
According to the report, 63% of creators in #paid’s network identify as full-time creators. Many hold multiple roles simultaneously: 39% work as part-time creators, 28% own small businesses, 17% hold non-creator employment, and 5% are students.
Annual earnings reflect the professional scale of the work. The largest share of respondents, 24%, reported earning between $50,000 and $100,000 per year from content. Twenty-two percent earned between $10,000 and $50,000, while 17% fell in the $100,000 to $200,000 range. Sixteen percent earned under $10,000, and 6.6% exceeded $200,000 annually.
Brand partnerships dominate as the primary income channel: 81% of creators in the survey reported earning income from brand deals. Affiliate marketing accounted for 8%, platform payouts for 3%, and physical and digital products each represented 2%.
Travel and Lifestyle Content Surge
Travel and vlog-style content ranked as the top format among surveyed creators at 58%, up from 17% in 2025, representing a 3.41x increase year over year. The report described the shift as signaling that “day-in-the-life and immersive storytelling now dominate feeds.”
Fashion and styling content followed at 47%, with raw talk-to-camera at 44% and product reviews and unboxings at 43%. Beauty tutorials accounted for 40%, food and recipe content for 33%, educational content for 25%, and cinematic storytelling for 20%. Among niche formats, ASMR led at 11%, followed by comedian and sketch content at 8%.
Life Milestones Shape Partnership Opportunities
The report’s milestones section tracked major life events that creators reported experiencing. Going on a big trip ranked first at 59%, followed by moving at 25%, launching a business at 22%, hitting a savings milestone at 20%, buying a home and doing a fitness challenge both at 19%, getting married at 13%, running a marathon or race at 11%, and having a baby at 7%.
The report noted that the year-over-year increase in moving was “especially notable, as rising relocation rates open expanded opportunities across home, utilities, retail, and local services.”
Wellness Habits Reach High Penetration
Walking and hiking topped the active-hobbies list with 81% adoption, a 4.05x increase from the prior year. Strength training followed at 57%, home workouts at 49%, pilates at 41%, yoga at 36%, running at 35%, and dance at 23%.
Off-screen, traveling ranked as the top hobby at 77%, followed by cooking and baking at 57%, photography at 46%, music at 41%, reading at 41%, DIY projects at 37%, writing at 26%, crafting at 13%, and hiking and camping at 11%.
On health, allergies ranked as the most commonly reported condition at 16%, followed by anxiety at 14%, depression at 9%, hair loss at 9%, ADHD at 9%, migraines at 7%, asthma at 7%, digestion issues at 7%, IBS at 6%, diabetes at 3%, and arthritis at 3%.
Financial Plans Grow More Complex
Seventy-six percent of creators said they are focused on saving in general, up from 32% in 2025, a 2.38x increase. Additional financial priorities included saving for a life goal at 39%, paying off debt at 39%, starting to invest at 38%, getting life insurance at 38%, buying a home at 26%, switching banks at 6%, refinancing at 5%, and selling a home at 4%.
When it came to major planned purchases, travel led at 71%, ahead of furniture at 48%, decor at 41%, a car at 38%, appliances at 33%, a new computer at 32%, a house at 26%, home renovation at 24%, dental work at 22%, a pet at 11%, and a wedding at 10%.
Japan, FIFA World Cup Lead Creator Calendars
Among travel destinations, the U.S. ranked first at 25%, followed by Japan at 22%, Canada at 19%, Mexico at 19%, Italy at 13%, general Europe at 13%, the UK at 11%, Greece at 11%, and Spain, France, Thailand, and the Dominican Republic each at 7%.
For the 2026 event calendar, the FIFA World Cup in June ranked first among H1 events at 19%. Coachella Weekend 1 in April reached 14%; New York City Fashion Week in September reached 21%; and Art Basel Miami in December reached 14% among H2 events. F1 Las Vegas in November reached 11%.
Platform and Audience Data
Ninety-seven percent of creators in the network maintain a presence on Instagram, 88% on TikTok, and 52% on YouTube. Audience size data showed that 46% of creators had fewer than 50,000 followers, 12% had between 50,000 and 100,000, and 42% had more than 100,000. Geographically, 72% of the surveyed network is based in the U.S. and 28% in Canada.
Apple topped the daily brand affinity rankings at 23%, followed by CeraVe at 22%, Stanley at 16%, Uber at 16%, Dove at 9%, Nike at 7%, Diet Coke at 7%, L’Oréal at 6%, Nespresso at 6%, and Lululemon at 5%.
Image source: #paid Follow this link for the full report
David Adler is an entrepreneur and freelance blog post writer who enjoys writing about business, entrepreneurship, travel and the influencer marketing space.
Creator marketplace #paid has released its “Creator Signals 2026” report, drawing on first-party survey data from its network to document how creators are earning, spending, and building audiences heading into the year.
According to the report, 63% of creators in #paid’s network identify as full-time creators. Many hold multiple roles simultaneously: 39% work as part-time creators, 28% own small businesses, 17% hold non-creator employment, and 5% are students.
Annual earnings reflect the professional scale of the work. The largest share of respondents, 24%, reported earning between $50,000 and $100,000 per year from content. Twenty-two percent earned between $10,000 and $50,000, while 17% fell in the $100,000 to $200,000 range. Sixteen percent earned under $10,000, and 6.6% exceeded $200,000 annually.
Brand partnerships dominate as the primary income channel: 81% of creators in the survey reported earning income from brand deals. Affiliate marketing accounted for 8%, platform payouts for 3%, and physical and digital products each represented 2%.
Travel and Lifestyle Content Surge
Travel and vlog-style content ranked as the top format among surveyed creators at 58%, up from 17% in 2025, representing a 3.41x increase year over year. The report described the shift as signaling that “day-in-the-life and immersive storytelling now dominate feeds.”
Fashion and styling content followed at 47%, with raw talk-to-camera at 44% and product reviews and unboxings at 43%. Beauty tutorials accounted for 40%, food and recipe content for 33%, educational content for 25%, and cinematic storytelling for 20%. Among niche formats, ASMR led at 11%, followed by comedian and sketch content at 8%.
Life Milestones Shape Partnership Opportunities
The report’s milestones section tracked major life events that creators reported experiencing. Going on a big trip ranked first at 59%, followed by moving at 25%, launching a business at 22%, hitting a savings milestone at 20%, buying a home and doing a fitness challenge both at 19%, getting married at 13%, running a marathon or race at 11%, and having a baby at 7%.
The report noted that the year-over-year increase in moving was “especially notable, as rising relocation rates open expanded opportunities across home, utilities, retail, and local services.”
Wellness Habits Reach High Penetration
Walking and hiking topped the active-hobbies list with 81% adoption, a 4.05x increase from the prior year. Strength training followed at 57%, home workouts at 49%, pilates at 41%, yoga at 36%, running at 35%, and dance at 23%.
Off-screen, traveling ranked as the top hobby at 77%, followed by cooking and baking at 57%, photography at 46%, music at 41%, reading at 41%, DIY projects at 37%, writing at 26%, crafting at 13%, and hiking and camping at 11%.
On health, allergies ranked as the most commonly reported condition at 16%, followed by anxiety at 14%, depression at 9%, hair loss at 9%, ADHD at 9%, migraines at 7%, asthma at 7%, digestion issues at 7%, IBS at 6%, diabetes at 3%, and arthritis at 3%.
Financial Plans Grow More Complex
Seventy-six percent of creators said they are focused on saving in general, up from 32% in 2025, a 2.38x increase. Additional financial priorities included saving for a life goal at 39%, paying off debt at 39%, starting to invest at 38%, getting life insurance at 38%, buying a home at 26%, switching banks at 6%, refinancing at 5%, and selling a home at 4%.
When it came to major planned purchases, travel led at 71%, ahead of furniture at 48%, decor at 41%, a car at 38%, appliances at 33%, a new computer at 32%, a house at 26%, home renovation at 24%, dental work at 22%, a pet at 11%, and a wedding at 10%.
Japan, FIFA World Cup Lead Creator Calendars
Among travel destinations, the U.S. ranked first at 25%, followed by Japan at 22%, Canada at 19%, Mexico at 19%, Italy at 13%, general Europe at 13%, the UK at 11%, Greece at 11%, and Spain, France, Thailand, and the Dominican Republic each at 7%.
For the 2026 event calendar, the FIFA World Cup in June ranked first among H1 events at 19%. Coachella Weekend 1 in April reached 14%; New York City Fashion Week in September reached 21%; and Art Basel Miami in December reached 14% among H2 events. F1 Las Vegas in November reached 11%.
Platform and Audience Data
Ninety-seven percent of creators in the network maintain a presence on Instagram, 88% on TikTok, and 52% on YouTube. Audience size data showed that 46% of creators had fewer than 50,000 followers, 12% had between 50,000 and 100,000, and 42% had more than 100,000. Geographically, 72% of the surveyed network is based in the U.S. and 28% in Canada.
Apple topped the daily brand affinity rankings at 23%, followed by CeraVe at 22%, Stanley at 16%, Uber at 16%, Dove at 9%, Nike at 7%, Diet Coke at 7%, L’Oréal at 6%, Nespresso at 6%, and Lululemon at 5%.
Image source: #paid
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