2026 is shaping up to be a very different year for subscription boxes.

Rising acquisition costs, rapid advances in AI, and a more educated consumer mean that what worked a few years ago simply won’t work going forward.

In this episode, I share my honest predictions for the subscription box industry in 2026, based on what I’m seeing right now across multiple subscription businesses and from working closely with founders at every stage.

We cover why retention will matter more than ever, how advertising is changing (and what to watch out for with AI), why community and connection are becoming a serious competitive advantage, and why profitability not vanity growth will separate the winners from the rest.

I also talk about why product experience and curation matter more than ever, why smaller niche boxes actually have an edge over mass-market brands, and why new launches in 2026 may have a bigger advantage than people realise.

If you’re thinking about launching a subscription box — or you already have one and want to make sure it’s built to last, this episode will help you focus on what actually matters going into 2026.