#09: Natural IP
A new paradigm is emerging where natural resources like rivers, forests and winds are viewed as stakeholders entitled to royalties, fundamentally shifting the terms of corporate legitimacy and environmental responsibility.
The Future 100: Energy Trends & Insights 2026
VML's vertical cut on the top 10 trends shaping the Energy sector includes expert insights on climate resilience and new-wave activism to guide your strategy
The cultural narrative around energy is evolving.
Energy leaders face a complex dilemma: powering the immense growth of new megacities and Next-gen malls while managing climate anxiety, activist pressure and system-wide vulnerabilities. The old playbook is no longer enough for leaders that need to build for a future that demands growth, resilience and responsibility all at once.
VML’s “Future 100: 2026” vertical cut unpacks the top 10 trends in Energy to guide your strategy and understand the shifts that matter to turn uncertainty into competitive advantage. We decode the complex forces impacting the energy sector, from the rise of climate-resilient infrastructure to the commercialization of radical new technologies. Instead of a verdict, this guide is a brief – casting energy companies as the system designers and guardians of continuity in a volatile world.
Top trends in Energy from our Future 100 report include:
#75: Dystopic luxe
Affluent consumers and businesses are investing heavily in decentralized, failsafe systems – from luxury bunkers to island-able sites – driving a new market for ultimate resilience and energy autonomy.
#99: Geoengineering
As the climate emergency intensifies, controversial geoengineering techniques are moving from thought experiments to funded pilots, creating a high-stakes arena of new risks and opportunities for climate action.
Download our 2026 Future 100 Energy vertical cut
The opportunity lies in evolving from a utility provider to a "guardian of continuity." This involves designing and operating failsafe systems like microgrids and onsite storage for critical infrastructure, driven by trends like Climate-resilient healthcare and Dystopic luxe. The full report details how to capitalize on these new, high-value markets.
The relationship is becoming more collaborative and value-driven. The Living loyalty trend shows that consumers expect to be rewarded for smart consumption, while New-wave activism highlights the need for brands to align with community values. The report explains how to build trust and create authentic partnerships in this new landscape
These mega-projects create concentrated demand for massive, round-the-clock power and advanced infrastructure. Trends like New capitals and Next-gen malls show a move toward dense, experience-rich hubs that require integrated solutions for energy, cooling, and mobility. The full report offers the strategic insights needed to plan for these large-scale developments and position your company as a key partner.
Watch our Future 100 video
Welcome to the 12th edition of “The Future 100” – VML’s unparalleled research report examining key global trends. This report features our latest projections, interviews with top industry experts, exclusive statistics and global consumer insights for 2026 from a proprietary 16-country survey.
About The Future 100 report:
After another year marked by economic upheaval, polarizing political currents and environmental setbacks, 2026 will be a year for building resilience, courageous creativity and redrawing the boundaries of what’s possible. From the personal to the planetary, from human engineering to geoengineering the climate itself, a new class of creators and collaborators is multiplying potential in ways we are just beginning to imagine.
Helping to shape these worlds are AI tools that democratize world building and new economic models for building empires. As both creativity and AI go global, voices from Buenos Aires to Busan are challenging Western dominance and creating tools that reflect their own cultures.
Amidst this “metamorphic” current, the desire for human connection remains unmistakable. In the year ahead, human impulse will shape brand strategies, influencing the top marketing trends in 2026, and draw people back to immersive, high-impact experiences that demonstrate the value of authenticity and unlock infinite possibilities.
Download our 2026 Future 100 report
Let's connect.
Contact us here to discuss how we can connect Future 100 trends with new opportunities for your brand.
