An expansive 2026 Mars Halloween lineup with more than 120 items has officially been announced, promising returning favorites and all-new delights like SKITTLES POP'd Creepy Crunch and TWIX Skulls. This year, treats for spooky season are responding to the demand for innovative textures and fun shapes, like SKITTLES POP'd in a Creepy Crunch flavor that's freeze-dried and crunchy, and TWIX Skull Singles and TWIX Skull Share Size, which serve up the classic cookie bar in a novel form.
Knowing that fans of spooky season are eager to start the festivities as soon as they can, Mars celebrated the Halfway to Halloween mark on May 14th with an evening of trick-or-treating. And fortunately for anyone with a sweet tooth, the 2026 Mars Halloween lineup is rolling out to stores and online channels in the summer, well in advance of October.
Consumer Demand Drives Foldable and Multi-Screen Devices
Consumers are adopting foldable and multi-screen devices as they seek more versatile and pocketable screen options for enhanced mobility and functionality.
Question 1
Which of the following types of devices have you personally used in the past 12 months?
Select up to 8
Question 2
What are the main reasons you use or chose this type of device?
Select up to 3
Question 3
How likely would you be to choose a foldable or multi-screen device the next time you purchase a smartphone, tablet, or laptop?
Watermelon Ice Cream Hack
Consumers are adopting the viral TikTok watermelon ice cream hack because it offers a simple way to make refreshing, dairy-free ice cream at home.
Question 1
Which best describes your experience with frozen watermelon "ice cream"?
Question 2
Have you ever made watermelon “ice cream” at home, by blending frozen watermelon into a soft, scoopable treat?
Question 3
How likely are you to make watermelon “ice cream” again?
Question 4
What did you like about making watermelon “ice cream”?
Select all that apply
Protein Cottage Cheese
Consumers are expanding their consumption of protein-rich cottage cheese products as TikTok-driven interest fuels innovation and market growth
Question 1
Compared with 12 months ago, how often do you consume cottage cheese or cottage-cheese-based products today?
Question 2
Which of the following, if any, have influenced your interest in cottage cheese or cottage-cheese-based products?
Select all that apply
Fruit Roll-Up–Wrapped Popsicles
Consumers are adopting Fruit Roll-Up–wrapped popsicles as a DIY viral treat inspired by TikTok for a fun, customizable, and edible frozen snack experience.
Question 1
Which best describes your experience with Fruit Roll-Ups wrapped popsicles?
Question 2
What, if anything, appeals to you about Fruit Roll-Ups wrapped around popsicles or frozen treats?
Select all that apply
Question 3
Where, if anywhere, have you seen or heard about Fruit Roll-Ups wrapped around popsicles or frozen treats?
Select all that apply
AI-Driven Creator Economy Tools
Creators are adopting AI-driven tools to monetize, remix, and engage audiences with innovative, consent-driven content, enhancing creative control and revenue opportunities.
Question 1
Do you currently create any kind of content for an audience on any of the following platforms?
Select all that apply
Question 2
Have you used any AI-powered tools to create or manage content in the past 12 months?
Question 3
What impact, if any, has using AI-powered tools had on your content creation?
Select all that apply
Trend Themes
Texture-first Candy — Crunchy, freeze-dried, and shape-shifted sweets reflect a growing market for sensory novelty that can differentiate seasonal products beyond flavor alone.
Early Holiday Retail — Summer rollouts for Halloween assortments show how extended seasonal calendars are creating more shelf time, digital promotion windows, and impulse-buy moments.
Shape-based Snacking — Iconic candies redesigned as skulls and themed forms highlight the potential for familiar products to gain fresh relevance through limited-edition visual formats.
Industry Implications
Confectionery — Candy brands are using texture, form, and seasonal storytelling to refresh legacy products while appealing to consumers seeking playful eating experiences.
Retail — Mass merchants and online channels benefit from earlier seasonal launches that expand merchandising cycles and encourage advance purchasing behavior.
Food Manufacturing — Novel production methods such as freeze-drying and molded formats point to new capabilities for creating distinctive, limited-run snack products at scale.
