Interactive emails: The inbox trend dominating 2026

If 2025 was the year of AI hype, 2026 is the year email will finally change.

Not because of algorithms or privacy updates — but because emails will stop being static.

Interactive emails — sometimes called micro-landing pages in the inbox — are now one of the biggest trends in e-commerce marketing.

And they’re reshaping the way brands engage, collect data, and convert.

Why now?

Inbox competition has exploded.

Gmail and Outlook quietly updated their engagement models earlier this year, rewarding emails that drive actions rather than passive opens.

Privacy rules reduced tracking accuracy. Users are more selective about where they click.

The result?

Brands need emails that do more, inside the email. And they’re finally getting the tools to do it.

What does “interactive email” actually mean?

Interactive emails allow subscribers to engage without leaving the inbox.

These elements behave like tiny landing pages:

• product carousels

• style or size pickers

• micro-quizzes

• polls, surveys, NPS

• interactive comparison tables

• expandable sections (accordions)

• shoppable product blocks

• scratch-to-reveal codes

• embedded review forms

They reduce friction, boost engagement, and get users to act immediately — which inbox algorithms now love.

Although “interactive email” sounds futuristic, some of the mainstream ESPs now support parts of this trend.

Platform	Native support for interactive / micro-landing-in-email features	Add-on / Integration required for full interactivity	Key strengths/notes
Mailchimp	Yes: supports dynamic content blocks, carousels, hover & basic interactive elements (“gallery that changes when you click a picture”)	For full micro-landing (forms in email, add-to-cart inside email), you’ll likely need external modules/integrations (e.g., Involve.me)	Perfect for smaller brands; excellent template & automation features; interactive features emerging.
Klaviyo	More limited native interactive features (primarily dynamic/personalised content) — no major published AMP-interactive blocks cited	Likely needs custom coding or third-party “interactive email” specialist integrations	Strong in ecommerce automation, segmentation, and flows — but interactive email might require extra setup.
Brevo	Supports dynamic emails (content that changes by attribute) and claims “interactive email experiences within Brevo” via integrations (e.g., Mailix)	For fully embedded actions in email, you’ll need integrations like Mailix or custom code	Good value; dynamic content strong; interactive capability exists but may need add-ons.
Drip	Focuses on automation and e-commerce integrations; doesn’t highlight embedded micro-landing-in-email features explicitly	Likely requires external interactive email tools or custom HTML/AMP	Best for ecommerce automation + data-driven flows; interactive email is less emphasized.
The Marketer	Supports “shoppable emails” and dynamic product blocks	Depth of interactive elements (quizzes, forms inside email) might require custom code or extra modules	Good ecommerce-friendly features, including product blocks, but interactive email may still require dev/extra.

This means that most ESPs support light to medium interactivity natively, but true micro-landing experiences usually require:

• AMP-style modules

• custom HTML

• or approved third-party integrations

This isn’t a limitation — it’s an opportunity. Brands that invest even in light interactivity can see outsized results.

What works best right now

• “Which product is right for you?” quiz blocks

• Shoppable carousels for new collections or top sellers

• In-email review/NPS requests

• Preference collectors (“Are you shopping for yourself, family, or home?”)

• Dynamic bundles configured inside the email

• Before/after sliders in beauty, home, lifestyle

• Gamified reveal codes for seasonal campaigns

These are not gimmicks — they drive actual performance.

If you’re preparing for 2026, this is the moment to test at least one interactive element per campaign. Start with:

• a quiz to segment new subscribers

• a shoppable block for your hero products

• a one-question survey to capture preferences

• an accordion email to reduce scroll fatigue

• a comparison module for high-consideration products (like electronics)