Is Veganism Dead?

Is veganism dead? OMG, no. That’s it. That’s the speech.

First, my rant that started this post...

Is veganism dead in 2026? Honestly? I keep seeing the negative headlines and I don’t really care. What is kinda funny to me is that the people who were once called the loud, annoying vegans in the room are now the quiet ones. Not because we gave up. But because we’re not defensive anymore. Who knew?! And I love that for us.

Veganism hit a peak. It was everywhere. Bloggers in every niche. If you followed Finding Vegan in 2015, you know. Every recipe imaginable. Every fact about animals, the planet, and health posted, reposted, debated and rehashed. If you were curious, all you had to do was Google. Recipes. Charts. Community. First-person essays. Case closed. So when fake meat stocks plunged, long-term vegans just shrugged. Like secretly happy, even. Honestly, I will not miss standing at Disneyland being told my only vegan option is an Impossible Burger that smells like beef, which is literally the thing I do not want. And the protein panic, the bone broth, the collagen coffees - protein boost at Starbucks OMG. I’ve seen all of this before. Butter in coffee. Keto everything. From fat free to food combining to raw food diets. Food fear cycles always persist. Sadly. And the “one ingredient foods only” thing? Eggs, steak, full-fat milk, spinach, potato. Caveman diet replay. What’s kinda really funny is that veganism is built on one-ingredient foods. Beans. Vegetables. Fruit. Nuts. Seeds. You’re just combining them so they taste good. Salt, pepper, spice..

So no, veganism isn’t dead. Big companies may have moved on. Whatever. Pop culture might be bored. Fine. Celebrities aren’t shouting about it for free PR. Meh. But I guarantee you this: anyone who was vegan ten or twenty years ago for real reasons is still vegan. We’re just older now. We have kids. Jobs. Lives. Less interest in labels. This generation doesn’t want strict rules or names and that’s fine. I love the young kids. The culture changed. The food didn’t. The only thing that makes me sad is that curiosity might dip because the word VEGAN - and yes keywords matter - is not “cool” right now. But am I worried? No. Beans and rice and guacamole and warm corn tortillas with fresh salsa. Pasta marinara. Fluffy vegan chocolate cake. They all remain undefeated. And you can’t cancel vegetables. We’re still here. Just quieter. And kinda a little cooler because of it.. Peace.

What's Up with Vegans in 2026?

But seriously... A few months back, I was cringing as fake meat stock prices plunged. Not because I owned any of that stock, but because I have never loved fake meat. Sorry. But when you go vegan to escape the taste, texture and vibe of meat, you don't really want that back. I will do the occasional Veggie Grill chick'n sandwich or tender, but the beef stuff is a no go.

But I digress....

Is Veganism Dead in 2026?

I’m finally talking about this topic because it’s a new year and technically Veganuary - and this used to be the season of all things plant-based. Vegan challenges. Buying cookbooks. Embracing nooch. Baking vegan cupcakes for a friend. Blending a smoothie a day .. yes, any time of year, and learning five more creative, delicious ways to use a can of beans. Or tofu. Raw cashews. That broccoli sitting in your produce drawer.

Spoiler alert: the actual best way to prepare broccoli takes about 5–10 minutes. Steamed in a big pot with EVOO, garlic, and lemon. That’s it. No big secrets here.

And that is what veganism represents to me. Simple. Real. Kind.

Not fake meat burgers or fancy processed “vegan versions” of “real foods” like jerky, hot dogs, chicken, or eggs. Yeah — I actually love some vegan products like Just Egg and Field Roast hot dogs, but I don’t need them. And I’ve always hated vegan burgers that try to taste like meat. Sorry, Beyond and Impossible. If you love them, go for it.

Veganism has always been about keeping it simple. Real, whole foods — produce, legumes, nuts, seeds, farmer’s markets, eating the rainbow. Protein is easy, you guys. Please stop saying vegan life needs more of it. Eggs are easy to ditch if you want to ditch them.

The Real Story: Vegans are Still Cool in 2026

See, it's a subheading, so it's true. Screenshot it. No, really. This.

It's called fact checking and I've done it already. I know them. I am them. Vegans are still kindness warriors slash culinary creatives slash badass rebels slash that random person who just doesn't talk about it.

Veganism isn't trendy. It's forever. And forever shit is always cool.

Where Did the Vegans Go?

We all had babies? Living out lives in our 30's 40's 50's... And we all hate TikTok? Well, most of us? No, there are a few on there, promise.

But honestly, the reason I stopped posting as many vegan recipes here on the blog and halted everything on Finding Vegan — basically, why I kind of paused my passion for sharing vegan content — is because of two reasons..

I became a mom. Less time to be creative, content-making me.
I kinda thought it was… enough. Saturated. Done. Over. Vegan max out. I thought there were already too many recipes out there. Too many amazing ideas. Too much information. Too many vegans telling people it’s cool and easy and awesome to go plant-based, or at least lean that way.

Case closed. Yay.
My work here is done.

But over the past few years, I’ve noticed the backlash. The slow-growing negativity. The headlines. The protein-in-everything vibe. Yes, even Starbucks coffee. Side note: remember when people would put butter in their coffee, guys?? The "new" weird upside-down food pyramid thing. The return to all things meat and dairy. And still collagen-y. I saw people drinking bone broth for breakfast. And red meat being cool again. Also, acting like anything with more than one ingredient is toxic.

And quite frankly? It’s annoying the crap out of me.

OG Vegans Are Kinda Back?

So here I am. Back at square one — or maybe square ten — and totally willing to step on a green soapbox if people need it.

Because yes, I’m still vegan.
No, I don’t think veganism is dead.
And yes, I still think it’s the healthiest way for my own body to live — body, soul, and planet.

Go on. Give me all your 2026 negativity, headlines and “studies” and whatever else you want to throw at me. I’ve been vegan for 20 years. And I’ve read it all. I’ve seen people and trends come and go.

And what never changes? The core people. The ride-or-dies.

Vegan Core

Is veganism dead? No. Why? The core audience. The forever vegans. Not because it was ever cool, trendy, or a fast way to lose weight. Vegan for something deeper .. something words never explain perfectly.

I see you. I love you. And honestly, I love that we don’t even need to be that defensive anymore — because we know the truth.

Veganism is not dead because of us.

I feel sad that meat has made such a comeback.
Sad for the animals.
And sad for the seven-year-olds who don’t want to eat animals and feel weird about it at school.
Sad for vegan teens who might be ridiculed.
And sad for new vegans questioning their choices because why would anyone go vegan now, when it feels like it’s in a downturn?

But mostly, I’m sad for the animals.

The cows.
The pigs.
The chickens.
The sheep.
The turkeys.
Yes — even the fishies.

Look, I’m not perfect. I feed my cats animals every day. My kid eats full meat hot dogs when she’s out with friends and has no clue what the difference is yet. I own leather. I’ve accidentally bought wool. I eat honey every day.

Who f-ing cares.

I’m not a “sometimes vegan,” but if you are? I’m thrilled. I actually love a sometimes vegan. Thank you for using the word. Thank you for choosing it when you can.

So with that, let’s share a little vegan inspo — because this world really needs it right now.

10 Things About Veganism That Make Me Smile

Beans are still cheap, filling, and undefeated. Add rice and huge win.
Roasted vegetables. Ridiculously easy. A little 90's side dish vibes. But I'm in.
Pasta exists. That’s it. That’s the point.
Creativity never runs out — there’s always another way to cook a vegetable.
Vegan desserts continue to shock people in the best way. Watching someone say “WAIT this is vegan??” never gets old.
Farmers markets feel like church for vegans. Produce everywhere, dogs on leashes, soy or oat lattes in hand.
Vegan aged cheese. Again, “WAIT this is vegan??” never gets old.
Cashews remain the most magical food on Earth. Milk. Cheese. Sauce. Cream. Icon behavior.
You can turn literally anything into a bowl. Grains + greens + sauce = emotional stability.
Dairy nostalgia fades fast. Like… shockingly fast. Your body moves on before your brain does.

10 More Things About Veganism That Make Me Smile

No one ever regrets eating more vegetables. Not once. Not ever. Name one person.
Vegan food makes people weirdly passionate. No one argues harder than someone who “could never.”
The creativity never ends. Vegetables actually require imagination — and that’s kind of the point.
Being vegan sharpens your taste. You notice herbs, textures, citrus, heat. Your palate grows up.
You'll probably learn to cook. Huge bonus.
Vegan comfort food. Chili, soup, pasta, potatoes.
There’s something quietly powerful about choosing compassion when no one’s clapping.
Animals don’t have to be cute to deserve kindness. Looking at you, fish.
Vegans age well. Not sorry. It’s a thing. Ask dermatology.
You don’t need permission to eat this way. No trend, study, or influencer required.

5 More Things About Veganism That Make Me Smile

Veganism scales beautifully. One meal. One day. One swap. All of it counts.
So many unintentionally vegan foods already exist. Fries. Oreos. Peanut butter. Pasta. Life is generous.
The internet can’t cancel plants. Vegetables have survived every trend cycle so far.
Vegan food is extremely photogenic. Color theory alone is on our side.
There is always a sauce. And that sauce will save the day.

Why I’m Still Optimistic (Even Now)

Here are a few recent headlines and moments that keep me hopeful:

“Plant-based eating linked to lower heart disease risk” — again. Still. Always.
More doctors and dietitians publicly endorsing plant-forward diets instead of extreme elimination trends.
Schools and institutions quietly expanding plant-based options — even when it’s not loud or branded.
Climate conversations always circle back to food systems. Always.
Younger generations asking better questions about animals, sustainability, and food ethics.

Veganism doesn’t need to be trendy to survive.
It just needs people who care — quietly, consistently, imperfectly.

And we’re still here.

MUAH. ~K

Need some more inspo? Snag my FREE vegan cheat sheets.

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follow me: @kathypatalsky @findingvegan