You open TikTok for a five-minute break. Three videos in, you’ve seen the same sound, reaction, and oddly specific joke six times. Congratulations: you’ve found a meme.
Trending TikTok memes move quickly. One day, everyone’s using the same format; the next, it’s yesterday’s news. For creators and businesses, that speed can make memes tricky to follow, but it also makes them a fun way to keep your content timely and relatable.
So, what are people joking about this September? We’ve rounded up the TikTok memes trending in September 2026, along with ideas for adapting them to your own content without forcing your brand into the joke.
Short summary
- TikTok memes can lose momentum quickly, so timing matters. If a trend fits your brand, use it while people still recognize the joke.
- Adapt the meme to something your audience knows or experiences instead of copying another creator’s version.
- Skip memes that don’t fit your brand, even if they’re everywhere on TikTok. Forcing the connection usually makes the post feel out of place.
- Put your own spin on the caption or scenario while keeping the original joke recognizable.
- Don’t let trends take over your TikTok strategy. Mix timely memes with the regular content your audience follows you for.
Trending TikTok memes in September 2026
September has brought a new round of TikTok jokes and formats, with creators turning everyday situations, niche references, and familiar characters into memes.
Here are the TikTok memes we’re seeing this month, what each one means, and how the trend works.
1. Jimothy the raccoon
Every so often, the internet agrees on something. In September, it agreed that Jimothy the raccoon was having a moment.
The wild raccoon from Seattle became an unlikely internet celebrity thanks to his unusual shape and famously unbothered walk. TikTok users quickly turned him into a mood, a coworker, a Monday morning, or themselves trying to survive the end of a long week.
2. The SpongeBob handcuffs meme
Sometimes you don’t need a new meme. You just need to dust off an old one. The SpongeBob handcuffs meme comes from a 2017 episode where SpongeBob is arrested, only for his comically oversized handcuffs to slide right off his wrists.
The screenshot has been circulating for years, but it picked up a fresh wave of attention in September.
The joke works whenever something looks like a serious problem but is actually ridiculously easy to escape—like being “trapped” in a meeting that has a leave button.
3. Gucci Morty
Morty got a luxury makeover, and TikTok had thoughts. The Gucci Morty meme uses an edited image of Morty from Rick and Morty dressed in Gucci, usually paired with slick edits, “aura” jokes, or captions about suddenly becoming the coolest person in the room.
The contrast between anxious Morty and his completely unbothered new persona is what makes the joke work.
It’s the kind of meme that lets creators say, “Me after one minor win,” without actually saying it.
4. The Polyester Edit
The Polyester Edit is less a single image and more a meme-style video format. A character or person stays in the foreground while a rapid-fire collection of clips plays behind them, creating an intentionally chaotic, low-budget-looking edit.
The name itself became part of the joke, with creators using the format for everything from Spider-Man edits to The Backrooms. It took off across TikTok because it feels deliberately over-the-top—and because the whole point is that the edit looks like it probably took five minutes, even when it absolutely did not.
How to make the most of TikTok memes for your brand
Memes can make your brand feel more human, but jumping on every viral joke can make your content feel forced. The trick is to adapt the meme to your audience, not squeeze your brand into the meme.
So, before you jump on the next TikTok meme, keep these tips in mind:
- Move quickly: Memes have short lifespans, so post while people still recognize the joke. If the trend has already disappeared from your feed, it may be better to skip it.
- Keep it relatable: Connect the meme to a common customer problem, work moment, or industry situation your audience will immediately understand.
- Put the joke first: Your audience should enjoy the post even if they never buy from you. Don’t turn every meme into a product pitch.
- Match your brand voice: Skip memes that clash with your usual tone or values. Not every trend needs a brand version.
- Add your own spin: Use the recognizable meme format, but change the scenario or caption to fit your audience instead of copying another creator’s version.
- Know when to skip it: If you need three paragraphs to explain the joke, the meme probably isn’t a good fit for your brand.
Use TikTok memes while they’re still relevant
The best TikTok meme for your brand isn’t necessarily the one everyone else is using. It’s the one you can connect naturally to your audience while the joke is still relevant. If the connection feels forced or the trend has already passed, skip it and wait for the next one.
Planning your regular TikTok posts ahead of time also makes it easier to leave room for trends when they pop up. With SocialBee, you can create and schedule your TikTok content in advance, then quickly add a trending meme when there’s one worth joining.
Start your 14-day SocialBee trial and keep your TikTok content planned without missing the moments you want to be part of.
