Popular Hashtags on Bluesky

Trying to stand out on Bluesky? Start with the right hashtags.

Bluesky might be the new kid on the block, but it’s growing fast. With over 35.98 million users already and a 30% annual growth rate, your posts are competing with a lot of noise. Hashtags are your shortcut to visibility.

But here’s the twist: Bluesky doesn’t have a trending tab or a universal hashtag search. So how do you know what’s popular?

That’s what this guide is for.

We’ve scanned the platform, talked to active users, and tracked what’s showing up in feeds. You’ll find the most popular hashtags on Bluesky right now, along with tips on how to use them to get seen.

Let’s get you discovered.

Why Hashtags Matter on Bluesky

If you’ve used social media before, you’re probably familiar with hashtags. But hashtags on Bluesky serve an even more critical function than on other platforms.

Bluesky hashtags facilitate content discovery in both algorithmic and chronological feeds. When you add a hashtag to your post, you’re essentially categorizing it and making it discoverable to others interested in that topic.

This is particularly valuable on Bluesky because the platform doesn’t have a native “Trending page” like Twitter or Instagram.

Without a centralized trending page, tags drive organic discovery on Bluesky. When users search for a specific hashtag, they can find all posts tagged with it, regardless of who posted them or whether they follow those accounts. This makes hashtags one of the primary ways new connections form on the platform.

Many users wonder, “Does Bluesky use hashtags like other social networks?” The answer is yes, but with some unique technical differences that we’ll cover later in this blog.

Bluesky’s Architecture & Hashtag Implementation

1. AT Protocol Overview

The AT Protocol (Authenticated Transfer Protocol) serves as the backbone of Bluesky’s innovative social networking platform. Understanding this protocol is essential to grasping how hashtags operate within the Bluesky ecosystem.

The AT Protocol’s primary function is to enable distributed identity and data management. Unlike conventional social platforms, where a single company’s servers control your identity and content, this protocol lets users maintain their digital presence across various servers and applications.

This distributed structure significantly influences hashtag functionality on Bluesky. Since hashtags are embedded within post metadata, they remain accessible to any client compatible with the AT Protocol. This ensures consistent hashtag behavior throughout the network, regardless of which Bluesky client you choose.

Additionally, the protocol’s architecture makes hashtag data transferable. When you migrate to another Bluesky client or as new applications emerge, your hashtag history and the relationships you’ve built through hashtags stay preserved.

2. Feed Types & Hashtags

Bluesky offers different types of feeds, and hashtags play a unique role in each one. Understanding these differences can help you use hashtags more effectively.

• The chronological feed shows all posts under a tag by timestamp. When you search for a hashtag in this feed, you’ll see the most recent posts first, regardless of their popularity or engagement levels. This is similar to how hashtag searches worked on early Twitter, before algorithmic sorting became prevalent.

• In contrast, algorithmic/custom feeds weight engagement metrics like likes and boosts when surfacing tagged content. These feeds might prioritize posts that have received more engagement, even if they’re not the most recent. This helps surface quality content that might otherwise get buried in a purely chronological feed.

Custom feeds can also be created by users and developers to filter content based on specific criteria, including hashtags. For example, you might create or subscribe to a custom feed that shows posts with multiple art-related hashtags from accounts with a minimum follower count.

3. Spring 2024 Hashtag Launch

While Bluesky launched in 2023, full hashtag functionality wasn’t implemented until Spring 2024. This update brought several improvements to how hashtags work on the platform.

The Spring 2024 update introduced full support for multi-word tags, underscores, and numeric characters. This means you can use hashtags like #PhotoOfTheDay, #Summer_2025, or #Top10Tips without any issues.

The update also established a character limit of 100 characters per hashtag, which is quite generous compared to other platforms. Special characters are stripped except for underscores, which helps maintain consistency and searchability across the platform.

These technical details might seem minor, but they have a significant impact on how hashtags function and how users interact with them. The flexibility of Bluesky’s hashtag system allows for more nuanced categorization and discovery than many other social platforms.

Real-Time Trending Hashtags (Sept 2025)

As of Sept 2025, Bluesky’s hashtag ecosystem is thriving with diverse communities and interests. The platform doesn’t have an official trending page, but third-party tools like trendingworld.bsky.social takes snapshots of the “firehose” (the stream of all public posts) every 30 minutes to identify trending tags.

Tags from the last 30 minutes 🧭:1. #art 2. #bb27 3. #Auspol 4. #writingcommunity 5. #OC 6. #Trump 7. #AI 8. #digitalart 9. #wip 10. #EmmysAd: @terraprotege.bsky.social.

— Trending – World (@trendingworld.bsky.social) September 15, 2025 at 5:30 PM

Here’s a look at some of the most popular hashtags across different categories:

• #art: The #art hashtag consistently ranks as one of the most used tags on Bluesky, reflecting the platform’s strong creative community. With 1,800 posts per hour and 25,000 impressions every 30 minutes, it’s clear that art content performs exceptionally well on Bluesky.

• #caturday: Lifestyle tags like #caturday show the platform’s more casual, fun side. This tag peaks on Saturdays (as you might expect) but maintains steady usage throughout the week.

• #Superman: Fandom hashtags like #Superman tend to spike around events like movie releases or comic conventions. These tags create temporary but highly engaged communities.

• #oc: The creative community on Bluesky extends beyond traditional art, with tags like #oc (original content) gaining significant traction. This tag spans various media types, from writing to digital art to music.

• #Texas: Local hashtags like #Texas show how Bluesky users are forming geographic communities. These tags help users connect with others in their area and discover local events or news.

• #GoodMorning: Time-based tags like #GoodMorning create daily rituals and community interactions. These tags tend to follow global time zones, with usage moving across regions as different parts of the world start their day.

Tip: Check Bluesky’s firehose via public clients or RecurPost’s Trending Tags widget daily to stay on top of emerging trends. Hashtag popularity can shift quickly, especially around current events or seasonal themes.

Anatomy & Technical Details of Bluesky Hashtags

1. Syntax Rules

Bluesky follows simple rules for creating hashtags:

• Prefix: Every hashtag starts with #.
• Max length: 100 characters.
• Characters: You can use letters, numbers, and underscores (_).
• Multi-word tags: No spaces are allowed, so use underscores instead (e.g., #PhotoOfTheDay).
• Special characters: All special characters except underscores are automatically removed by Bluesky’s clients.

2. AT Protocol Representation

Hashtags on Bluesky are saved in a structured part of each post’s data, not just in the text. They’re stored in something called a “hashtags array,” which is a format that apps can easily read. So any app built on the AT Protocol can spot and display those hashtags without guessing. It’s all neatly organized behind the scenes.

This standardization is what allows hashtags to work consistently across different Bluesky clients and servers. It also enables developers to create tools that can analyze hashtag usage and trends across the entire Bluesky network.

The AT Protocol’s approach to hashtags reflects its broader philosophy of data portability and interoperability. Your hashtags aren’t just visible within a single application; they’re part of the protocol-level metadata that travels with your posts wherever they appear in the AT ecosystem.

3. Special Handling

Bluesky implements several special handling rules for hashtags that affect how they function on the platform. One of the most notable is case-insensitive matching.

This means that #Art, #ART, and #art are all treated as the same hashtag. When you search for any of these variations, you’ll see posts with all case variations.

Many users ask, “Are Bluesky hashtags case sensitive?” The answer is No. The system treats different capitalizations of the same hashtag as identical for search and discovery purposes. However, the original capitalization is preserved in the display of the hashtag in your post.

Duplicate hashtags in a single post are automatically merged. If you include #art multiple times in one post, it will only be counted and indexed once. This prevents hashtag stuffing and keeps posts cleaner.

Unsupported symbols are automatically removed by client libraries. If you try to use a hashtag like #art&design, it would be processed as #artdesign. This automatic cleaning helps maintain consistency in how hashtags function across the platform.

Measuring Popularity: Quantitative Metrics

To truly understand how hashtags perform on Bluesky, you need to look at several quantitative metrics. These measurements help you gauge a hashtag’s reach, engagement, and longevity.

• Posts per hour is perhaps the most straightforward metric. It simply counts how many new posts are being created with a particular hashtag each hour. High-volume hashtags like #art can see 1,800 or more posts per hour during peak times.

• Total impressions measure how many times posts with a particular hashtag have been viewed. This metric gives you a sense of the hashtag’s reach beyond just the number of posts. A hashtag with 25,000 impressions in 30 minutes is reaching a significant audience.

• Engagement rate is calculated by dividing the total number of interactions (likes, replies, and boosts) by the number of impressions, then multiplying by 100 to get a percentage. A healthy engagement rate on Bluesky is around 8-15%, with 12% being a strong average for popular hashtags.

• Unique users count how many different accounts are using a particular hashtag. This metric helps distinguish between hashtags that are being used by a broad community versus those being used repeatedly by a smaller group of users.

• Trending window measures how long a hashtag maintains above-threshold volume. Most hashtags trend for 24-48 hours before activity returns to baseline levels, though some evergreen hashtags maintain consistent usage patterns.

Tip: Use RecurPost’s CSV export feature to track these metrics over time for hashtags relevant to your content. This historical data can help you identify patterns and optimize your hashtag strategy.

How RecurPost Integrates with Bluesky

RecurPost, a social media scheduling tool, added native scheduling support for Bluesky. This allows users to schedule posts directly on Bluesky while also tracking hashtag performance through the RecurPost analytics dashboard. With RecurPost, you can:

• Schedule posts with relevant hashtags
• Track the performance of hashtags in real-time
• Monitor your content’s performance across different social media platforms (including Bluesky)

By utilizing RecurPost’s analytics, you can get valuable insights into which hashtags are generating the most engagement, helping you refine your hashtag strategy and maximize your reach.

Scheduling Hashtags with RecurPost

Step-by-Step Scheduling

RecurPost makes it easy to schedule Bluesky posts with optimized hashtags. Here’s how to get started:

• Go to RecurPost and log in with your account.
• Navigate to the “Accounts” section and add your Bluesky account under “Add social profiles” by following the prompts.

• Click on “Share a Post” and choose your Bluesky profile.
• Add your text, links, and images (if any) for the post and tap on Customize.

• Use niche-specific hashtags that match your post. Keep them short, popular, and tailored to your audience. Tap the blue AI icon for Bluesky-specific suggestions, or try the free RecurPost hashtag generator.

• Select “Schedule for Later” and choose a date and time when your audience is most active, or simply hit “Auto-Schedule” to let the system pick the best time for you.
• If you want the post to repeat, add it to a RecurPost content library for future reuse (Optional).

• Finalize by clicking the scheduling option.

Content Library

One of RecurPost’s most time-saving features is its content library, which allows you to save frequently used tag groups for one-click insertion.

For example, if you regularly post art content, you might create a tag group that includes #ArtShare, #Photography, #DigitalArt, and #CreativeMinds. Instead of typing these hashtags each time, you can insert the entire group with a single click.

The content library also allows you to organize hashtags by theme, audience, or campaign. This organization makes it easier to maintain a consistent hashtag strategy across multiple posts and content types.

You can also set up rotation rules for your hashtag groups. This feature automatically varies the hashtags used in your posts to prevent repetition and reach different audience segments.

Best Practices & Advanced Tips for Relevant Hashtags

Mastering hashtags on Bluesky requires more than just knowing which ones are popular. Here are some best practices and advanced tips to help you get the most out of your hashtag strategy:

• Mix Broad + Niche: One of the most effective strategies is to combine high-volume hashtags with more targeted ones. For example, pair a broad tag like #News with a niche tag like #LocalEvents. The broad tag gives you reach, while the niche tag helps you connect with a more specific audience.

• Limit Tags: While Bluesky doesn’t have a strict limit on the number of hashtags per post, using too many can make your content look spammy. Aim for 3-5 relevant hashtags per post to maintain readability while still maximizing discovery.

• Timing Matters: Schedule your posts around peak times in your audience’s time zone. For global audiences, this might mean scheduling multiple posts throughout the day to catch different time zones. RecurPost’s analytics can help you identify when your audience is most active.

• Refresh Tags Weekly: Hashtag popularity isn’t static. Monitor shifts in hashtag rankings and adjust your strategy accordingly. What works this week might not work next week, especially for Bluesky trending topics or current events.

• Leverage Communities: Join Bluesky groups that spotlight tag-specific content. Many communities have formed around specific hashtags, and participating in these communities can increase your visibility and engagement.

• Research Before Posting: Before using a hashtag, search for it on Bluesky to see what kind of content is typically associated with it. This helps you avoid using hashtags in inappropriate contexts and ensures your content reaches the right audience.

• Create Branded Hashtags: If you’re building a brand or community on Bluesky, consider creating your own unique hashtag. Encourage your followers to use it when sharing related content to build a searchable collection of posts.

• Track Performance: Regularly review which hashtags are driving the most engagement for your content. Double down on what works and phase out what doesn’t.

Common Pitfalls & Solutions for Hashtag Usage

Even experienced Bluesky users can fall into common hashtag traps. Here are some pitfalls to avoid and solutions to implement:

• Overusing obscure tags is a common mistake. While niche hashtags can help you reach specific audiences, tags with very low usage (fewer than 500 posts per hour) might not have enough viewers to make an impact. The solution is to balance niche tags with more popular ones that have at least 500 posts per hour.

• Tag-stuffing refers to cramming too many hashtags into a single post. This makes your content look spammy and can actually reduce engagement. Instead, focus on 3-5 high-value tags that are directly relevant to your content.

• Ignoring performance data means missing opportunities to refine your strategy. Many users choose hashtags based on gut feeling rather than actual performance. The solution is to review your RecurPost analytics weekly and adjust your hashtag strategy based on what the data tells you.

• Scheduling at off-hours can significantly reduce your post’s visibility. If you post when your target audience is asleep or offline, your content might get buried before they ever see it. Align your posting schedule with the hours when your audience is most active on Bluesky.

• Using irrelevant hashtags to gain visibility can backfire. While it might temporarily increase your reach, it can damage your reputation and lead to lower engagement over time. Always ensure your hashtags are relevant to your content.

• Inconsistent hashtag usage makes it harder for followers to find all your content on a particular topic. Develop a consistent hashtag strategy for recurring content themes.

• Neglecting local or community-specific hashtags can mean missing out on connecting with nearby users or specific communities. Research and incorporate a relevant local or community hashtag.

Action Plan for Beginners

1. Install RecurPost: Sign up for RecurPost and link your Bluesky account.

2. Identify trending hashtags: Start by selecting popular hashtags from this post, or use RecurPost to check trending tags.

3. Schedule your first post: Add your content and hashtags, then choose the optimal time for posting.

4. Review performance: After 24 hours, analyze the engagement of your post using RecurPost’s analytics.

5. Iterate: Adjust your hashtags weekly based on performance to optimize reach.

Conclusion

Hashtags on Bluesky offer a unique opportunity for users to expand their reach and engage with like-minded communities. By following best practices, tracking performance, and using tools like RecurPost, you can make the most of hashtags on Bluesky to boost your content’s visibility and engagement.

Keep experimenting, stay on top of trends, and refine your hashtag strategy for continued success.

FAQs on Popular Hashtags on Bluesky

Shalini Nagar

Shalini Nagar is an experienced content writer with a proven track record of creating diverse and engaging content across various formats. With years of expertise in crafting blogs, articles, she excels at delivering compelling narratives tailored to different audiences.