Short answer
Open Explore and the Trending tab to see current trends, change the location in Explore settings to see another country or city, and search any candidate hashtag to check who uses it before you join in.
Key takeaways
- Trends are personalized by default; switch location for a neutral view.
- Many trends aren't hashtags at all, just names and phrases.
- Jumping on unrelated trends to promote yourself is spammy and can break X's rules.
Trending hashtags show what people are talking about right now. They're useful for joining a conversation, and a trap if you use them just for reach.
Where do I find trending hashtags?
In Explore, under Trending (and the For you and News tabs, which mix trends with stories).
On the web, Explore is the magnifying glass in the left sidebar; in the app, it's the search icon. Trending lists topics and hashtags with a post count or category. Tap one to see the conversation.
How do I change the trend location?
Explore settings > turn off the current-location option > choose Explore locations.
By default trends are tailored to you: where you are and who you follow. Switch to a specific city or country to see what's big there. It's useful for local businesses, travelers and anyone writing about a region. Details in how to see trends by location.
How do I judge a hashtag before using it?
Search it and read the Latest posts: who's using it, what for, and whether your post fits.
Some trending tags are about tragedies, controversies or in-jokes. A brand joining the wrong one is a classic mistake. If the tag is unrelated to your post, don't use it: X treats hashtag hijacking as spam.
What about evergreen hashtags?
Many useful tags never trend: industry tags, community tags, weekly chat tags.
Find them by searching your topic and noting what active accounts use. See how to use hashtags well for how many to use and where.
Questions people ask
How do I see trends for another country?
Explore > settings (gear icon) > turn off 'Show content in this location' > Explore locations, then choose a country or city.
How often do trends update?
Constantly. A trend reflects a spike in conversation over the last hours, so a topic can trend and vanish within an afternoon.
Can I find hashtags for a niche topic?
Search your topic, look at the Latest tab and note which hashtags active accounts actually use. Niche tags often never trend but are followed closely.