The best times to post in 2026

A video's first hours decide its distribution: if it performs fast, the algorithm pushes it further. Posting when your audience is online is therefore no detail. Here are the benchmarks for 2026 — and their limit.

The slots that perform

• TikTok: 12–2 PM (lunch break) and 7–10 PM. Sunday evening is often excellent.
• Instagram Reels: 11:30 AM–1:30 PM and 6–9 PM. Tuesday and Thursday come up regularly.
• YouTube Shorts: 5–9 PM on weekdays, and weekend mornings (9–11 AM).
• LinkedIn: 8–10 AM and 12–2 PM, Tuesday to Thursday. Avoid weekends.
• X: 8–10 AM and 6–8 PM; hot topics beat the clock.

Why these averages aren't enough

These slots are averages. Your audience has its own habits: a fitness account performs at 6:30 AM, a gaming account at 11 PM. After a few weeks of posting, your statistics are worth more than any article — including this one.

The three-step method

• Weeks 1-2: post at the average slots above.
• Weeks 3-4: compare performance by posting hour in your stats.
• Then: lock your two or three winning slots and hold them.

Or let the tool decide

The Chatedits calendar suggests slots from your own data, platform by platform, and the Auto-channel publishes automatically at the best time. Timing becomes a setting, not a question.