Why You Should Be Doing More Carousel Posts (Especially in 2026)
Carousel posts are one of the best styles of content you can be producing in 2026, on both TikTok and Instagram.
At a time when attention is fragmented, and video fatigue is real, carousels give you another way to capture someone without asking them to commit to a full video right away. They invite people to pause, swipe, and stay with your content a little longer.
You can tell stories.
You can share photos.
You can layer text, design, screenshots, notes, or memories.
Carousels are a great portal into creativity, and that’s why they work.
Below are the two carousel styles we’re seeing perform especially well right now, and how to use each one intentionally.
1. Storytelling Carousels (Our Favorite)
This is the most powerful use of the carousel format.
Instead of treating each slide like a headline, think of the carousel as a story broken into beats.
You’re picking one moment from your life:
an anecdote
a memory
a realization
a turning point
a small scene that carries meaning
…and unfolding it across multiple slides.
How to structure it:
Skip the header slide.
Don’t lead with “3 things I learned…” or “Story time.”
Go straight into the narrative.
Start with the first sentence.
Treat slide one like the opening line of a book.
It should make someone wonder: wait, what happened?
One thought per slide.
Let the story breathe.
The goal is curiosity, getting people to swipe because they want to know what comes next.
The magic of these carousels is that they slow people down and encourage them to stick with your content.
Bonus: Use storytelling carousels to promote longer writing.
Carousels are an incredible way to funnel people to your Substack or blog.
You can:
share the first part of a story
stop mid-moment
and invite readers to finish it via the link in your profile
This works especially well if the carousel feels complete on its own, but unfinished emotionally. People don’t feel sold to, they feel invited in.
2. The Photo Dump (With or Without Text)
Photo dumps are back, and they’re working—especially when they feel thoughtful instead of random.
This style is perfect when you’re:
traveling for a weekend
documenting a season of life
sharing a behind-the-scenes experience
or simply capturing moments you don’t want to over-explain on video
What makes a good photo dump?
Variety.
Instead of uploading ten similar shots, think like a montage:
Where did you eat?
What did the food look like?
Where did you stay?
What were the sleeping arrangements?
What did you pack?
What small details made the experience feel real?
You’re helping people feel the experience, not just see it.
Should you add text?
Text is optional but powerful.
Adding short captions or lines of context on each image helps:
fill in gaps we can’t see visually
share emotional or logistical details
turn a pretty post into a meaningful one
You can add text directly in Instagram or TikTok, or design the slides in Canva if you want more control.
Both approaches work. The key is clarity, not perfection.
Why Carousels Matter Right Now
Carousels:
capture attention
keep people engaged longer through swiping
work for storytellers and visual thinkers
give you a break from always being on camera
They’re one of the easiest ways to stay consistent when video feels hard—but you still want to show up.
If you’ve been feeling creatively blocked, burned out, or overexposed on video, carousels are a gentle way back in.
And in 2026, they’re not just filler content, they’re foundational to a robust social media strategy.
And if you want support, join us inside Personal Brand Accelerator (PBA), where we help creators develop their storytelling, strengthen their perspective, and build a personal brand that people want to stay connected to.
