What’s trending for back to school 2026

Back to school season has arrived. Adobe forecasts show that spending is likely to peak in the first 2 weeks of August, and we’re already seeing a notable upswing in both searches and transactions.

Searches for “school supplies” are now starting to climb steeply toward an annual peak.

If you’re an e-commerce store preparing for the back to school rush, now is the time to get your stockrooms and strategies in order. Sales of school supplies have already climbed above Prime Day levels across all major categories, with millions more dollars set to be spent in the coming weeks.

We’re expecting an upswing in all of the classic school product categories, like lunchboxes, backpacks, and binders. But Exploding Topics data also highlights some less obvious trends benefiting from a back to school boost.

Here are the trends and products you need to be aware of as parents and pupils gear up for the new academic year.

Clear backpacks and new avenues of self-expression

Backpacks are a traditional part of back to school retail, and 2026 is no exception. Compared with average June sales, revenue was up by 130% from July 1-14.

One 2026-specific trend we’ve observed is clear backpacks.

Searches have come down from an April spike, but they remain higher than in any previous year. And we expect to see volume increasing again as back to school purchasing ramps up.

The surge in clear backpacks is driven by evolving school policies. Clear bags are designed as a safety measure.

Tazewell County Public Schools are among the many institutions nationwide implementing a clear bags only policy from August 2026:

Established brands like JanSport and Under Armor have responded to meet the rising demand. Amazon Basics also makes a clear backpack, selling more than 3,000 units per month.

But clear backpacks don’t allow for much variety or self-expression. As a result, students are turning to accessories like bag charms.

“Bag charms” searches are up by 1,640% in the last 5 years. Further growth is projected into 2027.

British toymaker Jellycat has captured a large share of the bag charms market. As of the last available public data, annual revenue had hit $450 million, with pre-tax profits more than doubling year over year.

Labubus also famously had a major cultural moment recently as a bag charm of choice for children and teenagers. Interest has now faded, but adopting a similar blind box retail strategy could be an effective way to sell other charms ahead of a return to school.

A wider variety of back to school tech

In 2026, back to school spending has a huge technological component. And we’re not just talking calculators (although there was a 135% jump in calculator spending from July 1-14).

Almost all students come to college with a laptop. A survey of UC Davis students found 96.3% laptop ownership, while more than 6 in 10 owned both a laptop and a tablet.

Apple has duly rolled out a back to school promotion, covering both Macs and iPads. Other tech retailers will follow suit.

Viwoods is a smaller brand that looks well-positioned to capitalize on the back to school rush.

“Viwoods” searches have increased by 7,500% in the last 2 years.

The digital notebooks startup is known for screens that mimic the feel of paper, for more natural note-taking in classroom settings. It also integrates AI efficiency features like article summarization, citation suggestions, and quick translation.

Plaud Note is also seeing strong growth. The device generates organized summaries and mind maps from spoken prompts, making it a powerful tool for students attending lectures.

Since launching in 2023, there has been a noticeable upswing in searches for Plaud Note around the back to school season. Students and teachers can both get an educational discount.

Plaud hit $100M ARR in June, a 100x leap in the space of 2 years.

As well as the technology itself, students will also be buying various tech accessories and peripherals.

Portability and compactness are especially valuable features for students, who generally have to carry their equipment around campus. For instance, foldable Bluetooth keyboards have seen a steep recent search spike.

“Foldable Bluetooth keyboard” searches have increased by 8,300% in the last 5 years.

Tracking data from the Exploding Topics Trending Products database shows that the top selling foldable Bluetooth keyboards have averaged Amazon revenue of more than $13,000 over the past 30 days.

Other high-growth products that fit the portable tech accessories meta trend include foldable phone stands and portable monitor mounts.

The latest technology and accessories will be particularly in demand among students heading off to college, although tech is increasingly ubiquitous at all levels of education. The first “AI school” in the US is introducing AI as early as first grade; the list of back to school basics has certainly evolved over time, and we should expect to see continued evolution.

Lunchboxes with form and function

Lunchboxes are a major part of back to school spending. Adobe data shows that lunchbox sales jumped by 175% from July 1-14, and by 275% post July 4 (compared to average sales in June).

While it’s not an especially new trend, we’ve observed a long-term movement toward bento boxes.

“Bento” search interest has grown steadily over the last 15 years.

The traditional Japanese lunch box prioritizes functionality, featuring multiple neat compartments designed to hold different component parts of a meal.

Amazon’s top 3 best-selling kids’ lunchboxes are all currently bento-style.

But if practicality is king, then IP is queen. For younger children especially, lunchboxes still make heavy use of popular franchises.

The first non-bento kids’ lunchbox in Amazon’s top 10 is Minecraft-themed. Around 45 million children under the age of 15 play the vastly popular sandbox game.

Meanwhile, bento boxes are also making use of valuable IP. Bentgo, a leading seller of bento-style boxes, has collaborated with Bluey on a lunchbox and water bottle set.

Australian network ABC infamously ceded overseas and commercial rights to Bluey to the BBC when they co-commissioned the show, in exchange for the British broadcaster taking on 30% of production costs. The arrangement is now costing ABC up to $2.5 billion per year, such is the commercial success of the mega-hit.

And Bluey is not the only children’s IP behemoth. There are over 100,000 different Paw Patrol products on sale (lunchboxes included, obviously). Pokémon has grossed almost $300 billion all-time, driven in part by merchandise that remains hugely popular with kids today.

So if you’re looking to serve the back to school lunchbox demand, practicality plus instantly recognizable IP is a winning formula.

TikTok shapes the back to school wardrobe

Only around 1 in 5 public schools require that students wear uniforms. That rises to about 75% in private schools.

But back to school spending on clothing is rising regardless of uniform policy. Adobe data shows almost identical uplifts in revenue for kids apparel (185%) and school uniforms (190%) from July 1-14, compared to a June baseline.

Uniform spending has spiked more noticeably post July 4, rising by 325%. But kids apparel remains significantly elevated from what is undoubtedly a higher starting point; kids need clothes year-round, whereas there is only really one window for significant school uniform demand.

For students who don’t have uniforms, what styles are set to dominate in 2026? Barrel-leg pants are currently seeing elevated search levels.

“Barrel leg pants” searches are up by 8,500% in the last 5 years.

A barrel-leg design features a fitted waist, expanding to a flared or curved look around the thighs, before a sharp taper toward the ankle. Kids apparel giant Carter’s has a dedicated barrel-fit jeans range, which it describes the style as “the new cool.”

Boat neck tops are also showing significant traction ahead of the new school year.

“Boat neck top” searches have increased by 650% in the last 5 years.

Boat neck tops have the advantage of generally being school-appropriate, with high and wide necklines that run along the collarbone.

We’re also continuing to see overarching “aesthetics” rise to prominence through social media, primarily TikTok.

The TikTok Insights add-on from Exploding Topics shows you data like post growth and views growth, over an adjustable timeframe. You can also explore related hashtags, allowing you to get a better picture of the overall market and the conversations potential customers are having. For instance, here are the related hashtags for #barreljeans:

Right away, you have a great starting point for finding more trending styles, giving yourself the best preparation possible for back to school apparel season.

Where there was once “cottagecore” and “gorpcore,” popular styles in 2026 include “whimsigoth,” “Jirai Kei,” and “clean girl aesthetic.”

“Jirai Kei” searches have increased by 3,500% in the last 5 years.

Derived from Japanese culture, Jirai Kei literally means “landmine type.” It takes elements from classically hyperfeminine design (bows, lace, etc.,) but incorporates darker, more muted colors.

Not all aesthetics will necessarily comply with school dress codes. But teenage back to school shoppers in particular will definitely be drawing much of their inspiration from TikTok — and in some cases, shopping there too.

Get ready for back to school spending

There are clearly staple categories of back to school spending. But consumer habits are always evolving, and you need to make sure that your stockroom is ready for the student and parent shoppers of 2026.

Social media, technological advances, and even school safety policies are all shaping what “back to school” looks like this year from a retail standpoint. If you’re on top of the data, you can make sure you’re meeting the actual demand, instead of just guessing or chasing old trends.

Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Exploding Topics now to see how our trend insights can drive your e-commerce operations.