Predictions for NA in 2026: Six Forces That Will Shape the Year Ahead
2026 will be a defining year for the non-alcoholic category. What began as an alternative to alcohol is evolving into something with its own identity, its own culture, and its own creative momentum. People are choosing NA options not because they have to, but because they genuinely want to, and that shift is reshaping the market from the ground up.
Here are the six trends we believe will influence the year ahead.
1. Functional Beverages Will Become the Most Dynamic Category in NA
In 2026, the fastest-growing corner of the NA world will be drinks designed around function. Consumers are increasingly choosing beverages that help them unwind, feel sharp, stay calm or recover, and they often look for several of those benefits at once. This “function stacking” mindset is quickly becoming part of everyday drinking culture.
Expect to see more beverages built with kava, kanna, adaptogens, botanicals, hydration blends and gentle-focus nootropics. As hemp-derived THC drinks face increased regulation, many brands will prioritize legal plant ingredients that support mood and wellbeing without intoxication.
The biggest prediction for 2026 is simple. Consumers will buy based on how they want to feel.
2. Tea-Based and Clean-Energy Drinks Will Redefine the Afternoon Lift
Tea-based drinks are entering their mature phase. Sparkling teas, matcha tonics, yerba maté and guayusa blends will continue to gain momentum as drinkers look for steady focus rather than caffeine spikes. These beverages fit naturally into daytime rituals, work rhythms and social settings that don’t require alcohol.
In 2026, we expect more sparkling teas with layered aromatics, more clean-energy tonics built around gentle caffeine and L-theanine, and more beverages designed to be savored. Calm and clarity will increasingly complement each other in this space.
3. Terroir-Driven NA Wines Will Step Into the Spotlight
Non-alcoholic wine is entering a turning point. More producers are choosing to focus on acidity, structure and minerality, the core elements that make wine expressive, rather than leaning on sweetness or carbonation.
Grapes are being selected specifically for non-alcoholic expression, and lower-intervention winemaking philosophies are gaining influence. Sparkling wines like Oddbird C already show how refined and balanced NA wine can be when made with intention.
In 2026, NA wine will continue to move away from imitation and toward its own identity.
4. Regional NA Beer Will Begin Its Craft Breakout
The NA beer category is ready for its next evolution. National brands built the foundation, and now regional breweries are poised to bring more personality into the space. Local flavor profiles, brewery identity and seasonal experimentation will begin shaping the category in meaningful ways.
Expect NA versions of regional favorites, limited-release styles, more taprooms carrying NA options and a greater sense of community around the category. This mirrors the early days of craft beer and signals a deepening of creativity and flavor.
5. Clean Labels and Transparent Formulations Will Become Non-Negotiable
Clean-label expectations will surge in 2026. Consumers increasingly look for simple ingredient lists, clear sourcing and natural sweetness. They want beverages that feel nourishing, not overwhelming, and they expect brands to communicate openly about how products are made.
Transparency will become a significant point of differentiation. The brands that embrace it will earn long-term trust.
Bonus Prediction: Zebra-Striping Will Become the Dominant Consumer Behavior
One of the most notable shifts is the rise of consumers who alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic choices depending on mood or occasion. These drinkers are not identifying as sober or as regular drinkers. They are simply choosing what feels right at any given moment.
This flexible approach will fuel NA category growth in 2026 and will influence how retailers stock shelves and how brands innovate.
Moderation is becoming a style, not a rule.
Our 2026 Outlook
If recent years were about proving that non-alcoholic options belonged, 2026 will be about defining what they can become. Each of the talking points above point toward a category maturing on its own terms, and adapting towards macro-trends of what people want in 2026 and beyond. A focus on health and wellness, true craftsmanship, transparency from the brands we eat and drink, and generally, escaping the (sometimes bad tasting, bad feeling) status quo of what has been "normal" thus far. We can't wait to see what this year brings.
