How to Use Hashtags on TikTok in 2026

Search online and you'll come across plenty of conflicting advice about TikTok hashtags, enough to leave you more confused than when you started. One article says they still matter, while another insists they don't. More amusingly, you'll even find creators posting videos about why you shouldn't use hashtags... with a caption full of hashtags.

The truth is that hashtags still have a place on TikTok, although their role has evolved. Used correctly, they can still support your content's discoverability and reach.

This guide explains how to use hashtags on TikTok effectively, including how to choose the right ones, where they fit into a broader TikTok SEO strategy, and best practices.

Do TikTok Hashtags Work in 2026?

Yes, TikTok hashtags still work in 2026, serving as contextual keywords that help TikTok's algorithm understand what your content is about, the topics it relates to, and the audiences most likely to find it relevant.

Why does this matter? TikTok has shifted from being a place where people simply scroll through an endless feed of entertainment to becoming a search platform where users actively look for specific topics, answers, recommendations, and products – much like how people use Google.

This shift has given rise to TikTok SEO, which is the practice of optimizing content by providing the algorithm with relevant signals about what your video is about and the audience it should reach. These signals include the words spoken in the video, on-screen text, captions, and, yours truly, hashtags.

That being the case, we’re well past the era when chucking in a lot of hashtags and topping off a caption with #fyp could act as a shortcut to views and visibility. TikTok's recommendation system has become far more sophisticated; these tactics alone won't carry a video if the content itself fails to capture attention and generate engagement.

What results can TikTok hashtags drive?

The results you can expect from hashtags usually fall into three areas:

Improved content discovery

Hashtags give users another way to find your content beyond their For You Page recommendations. Users can search for specific topics, keywords, or hashtags, and your content can appear in those results when it matches the search intent and aligns with other TikTok SEO practices.

For example, someone preparing for their first marathon might search "how to train for a marathon" on TikTok.

If your fitness brand has created a video covering beginner marathon training and used hashtags like #marathontraining or #runningtips, that video has a better chance of appearing when users search for those topics or browse related hashtag pages.

Better yet, as the content is reaching people already interested in that conversation, viewers are more likely to watch, engage, and respond positively. That gives TikTok a stronger indication that the video is worth pushing out to more people with similar interests.

Better audience targeting

The more accurately a hashtag reflects the content, the easier it is for TikTok to associate that video with users who regularly engage with similar topics.

For example, a beauty brand creating a video about repairing damaged hair could use a broad hashtag like #haircare.

However, a more specific hashtag like #curlyhaircare or #bleachedhaircare gives the algorithm more context that the content relates to users looking for advice on maintaining natural curls or caring for bleached hair, respectively.

Community building

Remember popular challenges like Pringles' #PlayWithPringles or Gymshark's #Gymshark66? These campaigns show how hashtags can bring people together on TikTok.

Hashtags can give audiences something to participate in, a way to connect with others doing the same thing, and the freedom to add their own personal spin. More importantly, this community can become a valuable source of user-generated content, giving brands more opportunities to showcase real customer experiences.

TikTok Hashtag Strategy: Tips & Best Practices

Use a mix of relevant hashtags

A strong hashtag strategy combines different types of hashtags, each serving a different purpose:

Broad industry hashtags: These describe your product or service category. For example, a nutrition brand creating content about meal planning could use a broad hashtag like #diet or #nutrition.
Niche audience hashtags: These focus on a narrower interest, community, or audience segment within your industry. The same nutrition brand may use a niche hashtag like #highproteinrecipes or #mealprep.
Content-specific hashtags: These describe what the video itself offers. Is it a tutorial? Product review? Comparison? A skincare brand publishing a video explaining the difference between retinol and vitamin C could use #skincaretips to signal that the video is educational content.
Community and trend hashtags: These connect your content with ongoing conversations, challenges, movements, or emerging interests within your niche. Use these hashtags only when they aligns with your audience and your brand’s expertise.

TikTok allows up to 5 hashtags per post. Consider using one broad industry hashtag, two niche audience hashtags, one content-specific hashtag, and one community or trend hashtag (if applicable).

Research hashtag ideas before you post

Research how people are talking about your topic on TikTok. This helps you discover hashtags that are relevant to your niche, your audience, and the type of content you're creating. Here are a few ways to find them:

TikTok Search autocomplete: Begin typing a keyword related to your topic into TikTok's search bar. TikTok will suggest common searches based on what users are actively looking for, making it a useful source of hashtag and content ideas.
Top-performing videos: Search for your topic and study the videos at the top of the results. Pay attention to the hashtags they use consistently, especially those that appear across multiple high-performing videos.
Competitors and creators in your niche: Review the hashtags used by brands, creators and publishers targeting a similar audience. Rather than copying every hashtag, look for recurring patterns that align with your own content strategy.
TikTok Creative Center: Browse trending hashtags by industry, region, and time period to identify conversations gaining traction. You can also explore related creators and top-performing content to determine whether a trend is relevant to your brand.
Comments and related searches: Pay attention to the language people use in comments and TikTok's related search suggestions. They're a gold mine for discovering emerging topics and audience interests before they become widely used hashtags.

If you want an easier way to start, use Virlo’s free hashtag generator to get 15 strategic hashtags optimized for reach and engagement.

Don’t use the same hashtags on every video

While TikTok doesn't appear to punish accounts for reusing hashtags, copying and pasting the same hashtags across every post can limit your ability to reach different audience segments. After all, each video is likely to have a different purpose or cover a different topic than the last, so adjust your hashtags accordingly to keep them relevant.

Validate hashtags with content intelligence

Before adding a hashtag to your content, take a closer look at the videos behind it. Are they attracting the type of audience you're trying to reach? What hooks, formats and topics are “winning”? Are those videos aligned with your brand, or is the hashtag trending for an entirely different reason?

This is where content intelligence comes in. Virlo, for example, surfaces the top-performing videos and creators behind a topic, so you can see what's driving a hashtag instead of judging it by popularity alone.

Once you understand what content is performing well, who it's resonating with and which patterns keep showing up, it's much easier to decide whether that hashtag fits your audience and content strategy.

How to Add Hashtags on TikTok

Adding hashtags to your TikTok videos takes only a few steps:

Upload your video in the TikTok app.
Add your caption.
Type “#” followed by a relevant keyword.
If TikTok displays relevant hashtag suggestions, you can tap one to add it, or continue typing your chosen hashtag manually.
Publish your video.

Can I add hashtags to TikTok videos after posting?

TikTok allows you to edit a post's caption, including its hashtags, for up to seven days after publishing. During that period, you can make one caption edit per day.

If the edit window has expired or the feature isn't available on your account, your alternatives are to add hashtags in a comment or repost the video with an updated caption and hashtag strategy.

Popular TikTok Hashtags by Industry (2026)

While trending hashtags change from week to week, the examples below are popular evergreen hashtags that can help TikTok understand your content and associate it with relevant topics and audiences when used appropriately

Treat them as a starting point, then research emerging hashtags in TikTok Creative Center or Virlo to discover new opportunities.

Popular TikTok hashtags

#fyp
#foryou
#foryoupage
#viral
#trending
#tiktokmademebuyit
#learnontiktok
#smallbusiness
#tutorial
#tips

Beauty & skincare

#beautytok
#skincare
#skincaretips
#makeup
#grwm
#beautyhacks
#hairtok
#selfcare
#glowup
#beautyroutine

Food & nutrition

#foodtok
#recipe
#foodie
#mealprep
#healthyrecipes
#highprotein
#cooking
#easyrecipes
#homecooking
#nutrition

Fitness & wellness

#fittok
#fitness
#workout
#gym
#gymlife
#fitfam
#running
#homeworkout
#wellness
#fitnessmotivation

Fashion

#fashiontok
#fashion
#ootd
#style
#styleinspo
#outfitinspo
#streetstyle
#fashionhacks
#grwm
#thriftflip

Travel

#traveltok
#travel
#wanderlust
#bucketlist
#solotravel
#budgettravel
#traveltips
#travelguide
#adventure
#beautifulplaces

Home & DIY

#hometok
#homedecor
#diy
#organization
#cleaningtips
#homeimprovement
#interiordesign
#diyprojects
#homehacks
#roommakeover

Business & marketing

#smallbusiness
#business
#entrepreneur
#marketing
#digitalmarketing
#socialmediamarketing
#businesstips
#branding
#contentmarketing
#startup

Technology

#tech
#techtok
#technology
#gadgets
#techreview
#software
#coding
#programming
#developer
#ai

Personal finance

#personalfinance
#money
#budgeting
#investing
#financialliteracy
#moneysavingtips
#sidehustle
#passiveincome
#debtfreejourney
#wealthbuilding

Pets

#pettok
#dogs
#dogsoftiktok
#cats
#catsoftiktok
#petcare
#puppy
#dogtraining
#pettips
#adoptdontshop

Hashtags Are Only One Part of a Successful TikTok Strategy

Hashtags help TikTok understand what your content is about, but they don't explain why certain videos outperform others.

If you want to consistently create content that reaches the right audience, you also need to understand the creative patterns behind successful videos, including:

The hooks that capture attention in the first few seconds.
The video formats audiences engage with most.
The content angles and messaging creators use to present ideas.
The creators shaping conversations within your niche.
The topics, sounds, and trends gaining momentum before they become saturated.

Virlo's Content Research Agent automatically surfaces breakout videos, outlier creators, trending hashtags, sounds, and content formats based on the keywords and markets you want to track.

It also uses Outlier Detection to identify videos that are significantly outperforming a creator's usual performance, helping you spot emerging opportunities while competition is still limited.

Instead of researching hashtags one by one, you can understand the complete context behind what's succeeding in your niche and create content backed by real market intelligence before investing time, budget, and creative resources. Get started with Virlo today!

FAQs

How many hashtags are allowed on TikTok?

TikTok allows you to add up to five hashtags per post. Consider using all five by combining broad industry hashtags with niche audience hashtags, content-specific hashtags, and, where appropriate, a community or trend hashtag.

How long should a TikTok hashtag be?

There is no official character limit for an individual TikTok hashtag. Although you can create longer hashtags, short, descriptive hashtags are generally easier to read and understand. There's little benefit to making a hashtag longer than necessary when a simpler hashtag communicates the same idea.

Do I need to put hashtags in the comments?

No, you don't need to put hashtags in the comments. Your primary hashtags should be included in the video caption, where TikTok uses them as part of the contextual information that helps categorize your content.

If you can't edit your caption after posting, you can add hashtags in a comment as an alternative. However, the caption should remain the primary place for your hashtag strategy.

The truth is that hashtags still have a place on TikTok, although their role has evolved. Used correctly, they can still support your content's discoverability and reach.

This guide explains how to use hashtags on TikTok effectively, including how to choose the right ones, where they fit into a broader TikTok SEO strategy, and best practices.