Top 19 Categories of Trending Instagram Hashtags in 2025

With over 2 billion monthly active users, Instagram is the third most used and popular social media platform. What does that translate to you as a business or brand wanting to grow on the platform?

That means you need strategic plans and strategies to reach that wide audience and multiply your reach. One such factor to consider is hashtags.

Instagram hashtags are essential for increasing your reach on the platform. They help your posts appear in relevant searches, allowing more people to discover your content.

However, if you’re stuck and don’t know what hashtags are trending on Instagram today, stop by.

In this blog post, we will explore 19 trending hashtag categories to help you significantly increase your Instagram engagement in 2025. We’ll cover everything from popular lifestyle trends to niche interests.

Let’s explore!

How do Hashtags Work on Instagram?

Hashtags are keywords or phrases preceded by the “#” symbol. They categorize content and help users find posts about specific topics or interests.

When you use relevant hashtags on your Instagram posts, Reels, and Stories, you’re purposefully telling Instagram, “Hey, this content relates to these topics!” Interesting, right?

This allows your content to appear in search results when users search for those specific hashtags.

Hashtags on Instagram Posts

When you include hashtags in your post’s caption or first comment, your post becomes searchable under those hashtags. This will help Instagram users find your posts on their feed if they follow that hashtag. Or they can also find your post by searching for those specific hashtags.

Best Practices for Using Hashtags on Posts

Use a mix of broad and niche hashtags.
Research relevant hashtags to your content.
Avoid using too many hashtags (Instagram allows up to 30, but using too many can be overwhelming).

Hashtags on Instagram Reels

Similar to posts, hashtags on Instagram Reels help categorize and discover your videos. You can add hashtags in the caption or as stickers directly on your Reel. Using viral hashtags boosts the visibility of your Instagram Reels and helps the interested audience find them.

Tips for using hashtags on Reels

Use trending audio for your IG Reels and then viral hashtags associated with that audio.
Use hashtags specific to Reels, such as #Reels or #ReelsInstagram.

Hashtags on Instagram Stories

You can add hashtags to your Instagram Stories by typing them directly into the text box or using the hashtag sticker.

Tips for using hashtags on Stories

Use a combination of Instagram hashtags for followers and relevant niche hashtags to expand your reach.
Experiment with hashtag placements (e.g., in the top left corner, over the image) to see what works best for your Stories.

Trending Instagram Hashtags: Top 19 Categories

To get the most Instagram, it’s crucial to stay updated on trending hashtags today and use the best hashtags for Instagram for likes and followers.

Here is a list of trending Instagram hashtags today for your Reels, posts, or Stories:

1. General

#instagram
#photooftheday
#instagood
#picoftheday
#like4like
#followme
#beautiful
#happy
#instadaily
#love
#fashion
#nature
#art
#travel
#style
#food
#photography
#summer
#life
#music

Use these general hashtags for various types of content and increase your post’s visibility.

2. Social and Fun

#social
#fun
#party
#friends
#nightlife
#weekend
#outdoors
#adventure
#festival
#celebration
#goodvibes
#laughter
#joy
#together
#memories
#smile
#happiness
#chill
#relax
#enjoy

Use these hashtags for content related to social gatherings, fun activities, and enjoyable moments with friends and family.

3. Creative and Artistic

#creative
#artist
#art
#artwork
#design
#photography
#painting
#drawing
#illustration
#sketch
#digitalart
#handmade
#diy
#craft
#inspiration
#imagination
#abstract
#modernart
#contemporaryart
#artlovers

You can use hashtags for posts or stories showcasing artistic creations, creative processes, and inspiring artwork.

4. Fashion and Beauty

#fashion
#style
#beauty
#makeup
#hair
#fashionista
#ootd
#outfitoftheday
#stylegram
#fashionblogger
#beautyblogger
#makeupaddict
#hairstyles
#skincare
#fashionlover
#beautytips
#glam
#luxury
#designer
#model

These hashtags can be used for posts about fashion trends, beauty tips, makeup tutorials, hairstyles, and more.

5. Travel and Adventure

#travel
#travelgram
#travelphotography
#instatravel
#adventure
#explore
#wanderlust
#traveltheworld
#globetrotter
#travelblogger
#backpacking
#vacation
#holiday
#beach
#mountains
#city
#nature
#roadtrip
#solotravel
#bucketlist

Use these hashtags to showcase travel experiences, breathtaking destinations, and adventurous journeys.

6. Food and Foodies

#food
#foodie
#foodporn
#foodphotography
#instafood
#yummy
#delicious
#eat
#cooking
#baking
#recipe
#chef
#restaurant
#dinner
#lunch
#breakfast
#dessert
#vegan
#vegetarian
#healthyfood

7. Fitness and Wellness

#fitness
#workout
#gym
#health
#wellness
#fit
#healthylifestyle
#exercise
#yoga
#pilates
#running
#motivation
#inspiration
#strong
#mindfulness
#healthyfood
#weightloss
#nutrition
#mindbodysoul
#active

Use these hashtags for your Instagram posts related to fitness routines, healthy living, wellness tips, and motivational content.

8. Technology and Gaming

#technology
#tech
#gaming
#gamer
#videogames
#esports
#gaminglife
#gamergirl
#gamerguy
#pcgaming
#consolegaming
#mobilegaming
#twitch
#youtubegaming
#gamingsetup
#technews
#innovation
#gadgets
#futuretech
#techlover

You can use these hashtags to discuss technology trends, gaming news, esports events, and showcase gaming setups or tech gadgets.

9. Holidays and Events

#holiday
#holidays
#celebration
#event
#festival
#party
#newyear
#christmas
#thanksgiving
#halloween
#easter
#valentinesday
#birthday
#wedding
#graduation
#concert
#festivalseason
#holidayseason
#weekendvibes
#goodtimes

Use these hashtags for your Instagram posts and stories about various holidays, events, and celebrations throughout the year.

10. Business and Marketing

#business
#marketing
#entrepreneur
#smallbusiness
#startup
#businessowner
#marketingtips
#socialmediamarketing
#digitalmarketing
#branding
#sales
#b2b
#b2bmarketing
#leadgeneration
#businessgrowth
#success
#motivation
#inspiration
#worklife
#entrepreneurlife

These viral hashtags can be used in business strategies, marketing campaigns, entrepreneurial journeys, and B2B collaboration posts.

11. Home and Decor

#homedecor
#interior
#interiordesign
#decor
#home
#design
#homeinspiration
#instahome
#homeimprovement
#cozy
#homegoals
#minimalist
#scandinavian
#modern
#vintage
#diy
#renovation
#architecture
#furniture
#lifestyle

12. Sustainability and Eco-Conscious Living

#sustainability
#ecofriendly
#gogreen
#zerowaste
#sustainableliving
#ecoconscious
#greenliving
#recycle
#reuse
#reduce
#nature
#conservation
#environment
#climatechange
#saveourplanet
#plantbased
#vegan
#organic
#consciousconsumer
#sustainablefashion

Use these hashtags for posts about environmental issues, sustainable practices, eco-friendly products, and conscious living choices.

13. Pets and Animals

#pets
#dog
#cat
#dogsofinstagram
#catsofinstagram
#petstagram
#animal
#animals
#doglover
#catlover
#puppy
#kitten
#petlife
#adoptdontshop
#rescuedog
#rescue
#wildlife
#nature
#conservation
#animalrescue

14. Education and Learning

#education
#learning
#student
#teacher
#school
#college
#university
#knowledge
#study
#books
#reading
#backtoschool
#educationforall
#lifelonglearning
#teachersofinstagram
#studentsofinstagram
#onlinelearning
#homeschooling
#educationreform
#learners

15. Family and Relationships

#family
#love
#familytime
#familygoals
#relationships
#couple
#loveisintheair
#parents
#children
#kids
#grandparents
#siblings
#bonding
#memories
#togetherness
#blessed
#grateful
#familyfirst
#lovelife
#qualitytime

These trending hashtags on Instagram for likes are the best fit for use for family gatherings, romantic relationships, and cherished moments with loved ones’ posts.

16. Humor and Memes

Use the following hashtags for posts featuring memes, jokes, funny videos, and humorous content.

#humor
#funny
#memes
#meme
#lol
#lmao
#funnymemes
#dankmemes
#comedy
#laugh
#jokes
#witty
#sarcasm
#relatable
#funnyvideos
#comedycentral
#standupcomedy
#laughoutloud
#hilarious
#jokesoftheday

17. Music and Entertainment

#music
#musiclover
#musiclife
#musician
#singer
#songwriter
#band
#concert
#livemusic
#entertainment
#musicvideo
#pop
#rock
#hiphop
#country
#dance
#jazz
#classical
#festival
#musicislife

18. Sports and Fitness

#sports
#fitness
#workout
#gym
#sport
#sportslife
#athlete
#training
#exercise
#sportsday
#gameday
#fitnessmotivation
#fitlife
#healthylifestyle
#active
#sportsphotography
#sportsfan
#team
#competition
#victory

You can use these Instagram hashtags for various sports, fitness routines, athletic achievements, and sports event posts.

19. Mental Health and Wellness

#mentalhealth
#mentalwellness
#mindfulness
#selfcare
#selflove
#wellbeing
#positivevibes
#motivation
#inspiration
#stressrelief
#anxiety
#depression
#healing
#growth
#mindbodysoul
#gratitude
#innerpeace
#empowerment
#mentalhealthawareness
#youarenotalone

Use these viral hashtags for Instagram Reels to promote mental health awareness, self-care practices, coping mechanisms, and wellness tips.

Tips for Using Hashtags on Instagram to Gain Followers

1. Do Your Research

Before going into hashtag selection, thorough research is crucial. Understand your target audience intimately. Find the answers to the following:

Who are you trying to reach?
What are their interests?
What kind of content do they engage with?

Moreover, analyze your competitors closely and see the following;

What hashtags are they using?
How is their hashtag strategy performing?
What’s working for others in your niche?

You can use Instagram’s search bar to search effectively. Search for relevant keywords and explore the suggested hashtags that appear. This will help you discover relevant and trending hashtags.

2. Hashtag Selection

Then comes the hashtag selection. Note that you can’t use every other hashtag suggestion that appears in your posts and stories. Be specific with your hashtag selection and use only trending, relevant, and diverse ones for your content.

Your strategy must include a mix of broad and niche hashtags. Broad hashtags (like #travel or #food) reach a wider audience, while niche hashtags (like #veganbaking or #sustainablefashion) target specific interests.

Though Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags, avoid overusing them. Excessive use can harm your content reach, so ensure quality over quantity.

3. Keep It Relevant

Ensure your chosen hashtags accurately reflect the content of your post or Reel. The use of irrelevant or abundant hashtags can confuse users. So, constantly tailor your hashtag selection to each individual post. Different posts will require different hashtags to reach their specific target audience.

4. Use Hashtag Tools

Many tools can help you find relevant and viral Instagram hashtags for followers and identify trending topics based on specific keywords or topics. So, you can use these tools to help you plan and automate your hashtag strategy.

Moreover, they will provide insights into each hashtag’s popularity and competition level, helping you select the most effective ones. What’s more, you can also analyze the hashtags used by your competitors. This can provide valuable insights into what’s working for others in your niche and help you identify the popular hashtags.

Some of the tools you can use are;

Later’s Hashtag Suggestion tool
All Hashtag
Hashtagify.me

5. Go with Trends

Stay on top of the latest viral Instagram hashtag trends. Check the “Explore” page regularly to find trending hashtags and make a list of popular and relevant hashtags.

Furthermore, participate in popular hashtag challenges to significantly increase the visibility of your content and expose it to a broader audience.

6. Create Your Branded Hashtag

You can also create your own branded hashtags to specific your brand or account and let your followers remember you.

Encourage your followers to use your branded hashtags in their content and tag you. This will build a community around your brand, increase brand awareness, and track your content’s reach and impact.

7. Engage with Hashtagged Content

Actively engage with other users using the same hashtags. Like, comment on, and interact with their content. This helps build relationships within your niche, increases visibility, and can lead to valuable collaborations.

Moreover, follow accounts that consistently use relevant hashtags related to your niche. This can help you discover new accounts, stay updated on industry trends, and gain inspiration for your content.

8. Analyze the Metrics

Last but not least, you must always track the performance of your hashtags. Monitor which hashtags drive the most engagement, such as likes, comments, and saves.

Analyze your Instagram Insights to gain valuable data on your post performance. Identify which hashtags are most effective for your audience and structure your strategy accordingly.

Wrap Up!

Here is a comprehensive list of trending Instagram hashtags divided into various categories to help you choose the ones that best align with your content. The tip is to strategically incorporate the best hashtags for Instagram to increase likes and followers and amplify your reach, visibility, and engagement on the platform.

Remember to conduct thorough research, select relevant and trending Instagram hashtags, and consistently analyze your performance to refine your approach accordingly.

Do you want to take your Instagram marketing to the next level and automate all the tasks?

SocialBu is a social media management platform that helps you maximize your Instagram efforts. It allows you to bulk schedule your posts, track the performance of your content, and gain valuable insights into your audience.

Our powerful tool makes managing your Instagram presence easy, even if you’re short on time.

FAQs

How can hashtags on Instagram be used to gain followers?

For this purpose, choose relevant hashtags related to your content, mix popular and niche-specific hashtags, research trending ones, and use location-based tags if applicable to gain more exploration.

Does putting hashtags in comments work on Instagram?

Yes, including hashtags in the first comment of your post is just as effective as including them in the caption.

What is an Instagram Hashtag generator?

An Instagram hashtag generator is a tool that helps you discover relevant hashtags for your posts based on keywords or topics. It suggests popular and niche hashtags to increase your post’s visibility and engagement on Instagram.

How many hashtags should I use on Instagram?

Instagram allows up to 30 users, but you must use a mix of 5-10 broad and niche hashtags, which is generally recommended.

Why put hashtags in the comments?

Hashtags in comments can improve the visual appeal of your caption and make it easier for readers to read. It helps maintain the focus on your post’s central message or story without cluttering it with hashtags.

Which Instagram hashtags get the most likes?

Popular and trending hashtags often attract more engagement, but relevance is key.

The top Instagram hashtags that get the most likes are:

#likes (133,580,737 posts)

#love (2.1B posts)

#instagood (1.7B posts)

#instagram (1.2B posts)

#fashion (1.1B posts)

#photooftheday (1B posts)

#photography (1B posts)

#likeforlikes (77,319,315 posts)

#likeforfollow (14,289,358 posts)

#likesforlikes (7,192,337 posts).

What is the top Instagram hashtag?

The top Instagram hashtag is #love, with over 2.1 billion posts.

Rabiaa Nawaz

Rabiaa creates engaging and informative content at SocialBu that simplifies complex marketing strategies for businesses of all sizes. Rabiaa's dedication to clear communication and strategic content creation makes her a valuable asset to the SocialBu team.

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