Latin America Trends to Watch in 2026: From TikTok Shop to Microdramas and AI, 5 Trends That Will Shape the Region’s Digital Economy in the Coming Year

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Rapid shifts in what consumers watch, how they search, and where they shop are reshaping Latin America’s digital economy. China’s growing influence is accelerating social commerce activity and microdrama viewership, AI tools are becoming central to product research, and consumers are demanding more authenticity amid an influx of synthetic content.

At the same time, platforms are forming deeper strategic partnerships to capitalize on new opportunities in the region’s rapidly growing digital ad market.

Together, these dynamics will redefine how brands connect with audiences in 2026. Explore five trends that will define the coming year in EMARKETER’s latest report:

  1. China’s ecommerce giants will double down on Latin America as their next growth frontier.

  2. Latin America will lead the next wave of global growth in microdrama consumption and creation.

  3. The flood of AI-generated content will spark a regional push for authenticity and regulation.

  4. AI tools will become an integral part of how consumers research products.

  5. Strategic partnerships will power the next phase of digital ad spending growth in Latin America.