6 Rising Fandoms To Discover In 2026
Seriously, these will be huge.
The world of fandom has exploded in the last few years, with an influx of new artists, TV shows, and people to be obsessed with.
While every year brings us new media to enjoy, there are always highlights that stand out. However, there is a golden age of fandom, and that was 2014 Tumblr. If you’re an older member of Gen-Z or just a child who had unrestricted internet access in the early 2010s, you’ll remember the horrors (and slays) of the infancy of internet stan culture.
If you’re not familiar with what Tumblr was like, reblogging and GIFs were the epitome of fandom back in the day. People would even reblog GIFS of their favourite singers, TV shows, and movies. Back then, the most popular content on Tumblr was GIFs of Harry Styles, American Horror Story, and various ships. Think Larry (Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles), Dramione (Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger, and Sterek (Styles and Derek from Teen Wolf for you uncultured swines.
And yes, fandom has evolved (arguably for the worse), but there are some amazing elements to fandom in 2025. For example, X has become a prime platform for stan culture, and while it was once Stan Twitter, X’s For You feature enables fans to connect with their favourite fandoms and new ones. In other words, algorithms are the key to discovering new media, artists, and characters to obsess over.
But as we near the end of 2025, what are the rising stars in the fandom world, and why are they growing at a rapid pace?
Eyekons (Katseye)
If you’re someone who is deep in music fandom, you’ll have heard of Katseye. The LA-based girl group, made up of six gorgeous young women, was formed in 2023, but the ladies rose to prominence in 2025.
Their hits Gnarly and Gabriela went viral on TikTok, and since then, the ladies have racked up a dedicated fan base. While the fanbase may’ve grown, now is the time to join, because Katseye have yet to release their debut album. Therefore, if you join now, you’ll be treated to vocals, choreography and the ultimate fan experience.
Here at That Fangirl Life, we haven’t spoken much about the girl group, but their rise has been sharp, like many viral TikTok stars. However, the ladies actually are a triple threat: they can sing, dance, and serve looks.
Watching their GAP advert, which was released in the summer of 2025, was a religious experience, and if you want a new girl group to obsess over to fill the hole that Little Mix has left, then these are your girls.
Really, they are the ones who have great genes.
As there are six members, every fan can have a different bias. That’s one of the reasons that female K-pop groups have become so popular, because fans love to pick the girl whose style, vocals, and personality resonate with them the most.
Furthermore, you want a fandom where there’s an active community, and this fandom is exactly that. Finally, the fandom name, the Eyekons, is not a bad brand name to be part of.
HUNTR/X (K-Pop Demon Hunters)
The HUNTR/X fandom is the name given to fans of the wildly successful musical film K-Pop Demon Hunters, created by Maggie Kang. K-Pop Demon Hunters is an animated Netflix film that follows three K-Pop stars, Mira, Zoey, and Rumi, as they live a double life as K-Pop stars by day, and demon hunters by night.
The film was released in August 2025, but has become a smash success in just three months. Soon after its release, it became Netflix’s most-watched film ever, and as of November 2025, the film is eligible for the 2026 Oscars.
You may look at those numbers and go, “This is an already established fandom,” but the wild ride of this movie is just beginning.
The franchise has shown it’s a money-making goldmine, and a sequel is already in development, with a 2029 target release date.
What is great about the HUNTR/X fandom is that everyone is welcome. Children love the catchy songs from the movie, like the chart-topping hit Golden, which has made its way into mainstream music charts. However, some adults love the animation and the demon-hunting aspect, which means the film isn’t solely focused on its music genre.
While the wait for the second film may be long, fans can join online communities to discuss theories and the film under threads like R/HUNTR/X on Reddit, and they can interact with other fans who have similar interests to them.
Whether you like the music, the characters or the fashion, the HUNTR/X fandom has something for everyone searching for a new community.
Formula 1
Some may not like us saying that Formula 1 is a rising fandom in 2025, but unfortunately, that is true. Yes, fans all over the world exist, and F1 is very much active with the recent Las Vegas GP event, but F1: The Movie brought many new fans to the sport.
F1: The Movie, released in June 2025, stars Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a once-promising Formula 1 driver who returns to help coach a struggling F1 team, and their rookie driver Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris).
This movie helped shine a light on the thrills and dangers of Formula 1 racing, but it also has a catchy soundtrack to immerse audiences in the movie. Just Keep Watching by Tate McCrae became a hit on social media, proving that F1 and pop culture mesh well.
No, Formula 1 has not declined in popularity, but this movie cemented its importance in pop culture and sport, which has encouraged new fans to watch every week.
Another reason why you should join the Formula 1 fandom is that it’s filled with creativity. Formula 1 edits of drivers and races have become viral on TikTok, with some of the most popular edits being of Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. Some are thirst traps, which, if you love attractive people, you’ll adore this fandom.
But seriously, the editors in this fandom are next-level. Those in the community can sit down and find edits of their favourite drivers and follow content creators who discuss all things F1 based on recent rankings, races and news. For female fans, especially, there is an opportunity to engage with female creators on TikTok who are fans of the sport.
Romance Book Tok
Book Tok is not a new fandom, but it is an evolving one. Primarily, booktok consists of popular genres like fantasy, sports romance, and also romantasy. Creators share their reviews and excerpts of books to engage with fans who also obsess over fictional characters.
One of the reasons why Romance BookTok is a great place to be is that it promotes self-expression and escapism. People who love to read romance can connect with other fans of the genre, find new recommendations for books, and talk about new books or popular series like The Chestnut Springs series.
Or, if you’re simply obsessed with fictional men, you can find hundreds of recommendations from fans of the same series and men like you.
There is always news and new content in the fandom, as there are many popular romance authors who release books every year.
For example, a huge recent announcement for romance fans was the casting of romance author Ali Hazelwood’s 2021 novel The Love Hypothesis, which stars Lili Reinhart as Olive and Tom Bateman as Dr Adam Carlsen. Additionally, an adaptation of Emily Henry’s novel People We Meet on Vacation is set to release in early 2026, so the content keeps coming.
Joining romance booktok encourages fans to read and explore sub-genres of romance. Sports romance books can interest those who like certain sports, while dark romances can interest those who like mystery and intrigue.
Despite the books coming under the romance umbrella, there are lots of genres to explore, and more than enough books to keep fans entertained.
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games has had an established fandom for well over a decade, but in recent years, there has been a resurgence in the fandom and the dystopian genre that took over the early 2010s. With the release of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in 2020, author Suzanne Collins cemented the idea that fans wanted more from The Hunger Games universe.
The book and film are a prequel to the original series, giving fans a peek into the life of young President Snow and Lucy Gray Baird, the victor of the 10th Hunger Games. But what does that have to do with 2025?
Well, in March 2025, Collins released the second prequel to the series, Sunrise on the Reaping, which is set during the 50th Hunger Games, when Haymitch Abernathy was chosen to compete. Shortly after, a film adaptation was confirmed with a star-studded cast, set to release in November 2026.
In comparison to ten years ago, when Mockingjay Part 2 was released, the fandom has never been more alive. Fans can look forward to seeing younger versions of the characters on screen and how the most recent novel will portray Haymitch, Effie, and Plutarch.
The resurgence of the fandom has created a range of new media for fans of The Hunger Games to consume, including new fanfics, fan edits, and videos discussing casting, scenes, and predictions for the upcoming movie.
The movie may be a year away, but joining the fandom now means fans have time to read the novels, rewatch the films, and become comfortable in the fandom, if they have left or are joining for the first time.
A teaser for the movie has just been released, which has stirred up discussions online…why not get involved?
Santos Bravos
Santos Bravos are joining the boyband ranks as the first Latin boyband with huge star power. Not only is this almost unheard of, but they have the backing to prove it, as they were created by management giant HYBE, which created K-pop sensation SEVENTEEN.
In 2025, we have a criminal lack of new boy bands to enjoy, a stark difference from ten years ago, when One Direction and 5 Seconds of Summer were dominating the charts. Joining this fandom now, while the five members are on the rise, is the perfect time, before the mania kicks in.
Fans of Latin music will love Santos Bravos, who embody everything that Latin music is: catchy, sexy, and danceable.
With the rise in popularity of Latin music in the last few years, thanks to artists like J Balvin and Bad Bunny, the momentum is there, and so is the hit-building potential. Like One Direction, Santos Bravos were formed through a reality show, formed by HYBE to find the next big boyband of the 2020s.
Honestly, there is something magical about watching an artist grow, and Santos Bravos are still in their early career stages, as their debut single, 0% was released in October 2025.
As well as releasing new music, fans of the boys can tune in to watch their band form as episodes of Santos Bravos are all available on YouTube. This is a rare, personable look into the selection process of a new boy band and the creation of a new artist.
For boyband fans who love nostalgia, it is almost akin to the 2010 One Direction video diaries, which isn’t something you can easily replicate!
