3 Seasonal and Celebration Trends We’re Forecasting for 2026

The way we celebrate and connect is shifting in meaningful ways. As we look ahead to 2026, three exciting trends are emerging, redefining gatherings, gifts, and shared moments and placing more emphasis on joy, well-being, and creating genuine connection.  

From elevating everyday hosting, to infusing celebrations with health-conscious choices, and embracing laid-back, intimate gatherings, these trends invite us to rethink how we come together and create memorable experiences.

Discover a preview of the key trends featured in our upcoming premium Seasonal & Celebration trend reports, designed to inspire and inform your strategic planning. 

1. Elevated Everyday Hospitality

   Creating more joy-filled moments means taking the opportunity to elevate everyday experiences, with the aim of fostering connection with family, friends, and neighbours. 

   Weekend morning brunch, Saturday family night, and Sunday lunch are all opportunities for bringing celebration and ritual to weekend family life. Impacting snacking, games, craft, hobbies, entertainment, party and socialising, it’s time to reconsider what we celebrate and how.

2. Wellness–infused

   Whether it’s through gifts like beauty products, plants, and food, or through a themed gathering, celebrations and occasions are a key opportunity to improve physical and mental wellbeing.

   Birthdays, weddings, hen/bachelorette parties, Valentine’s, Christmas and New Year’s Eve are all opportunities to experience an enriching alternative experience where the goal is to leave calmer, clearer and feeling better than when you arrived.
   

3. Laid-Back and Intimate Gatherings

   There is a shift towards smaller, more relaxed celebrations, prioritising comfort and informality. This trend is driven by a desire for meaningful connection and personal well-being, especially after years of social disruption and ongoing economic pressures.

   Consumers are prioritising comfort and emotional fulfilment over large, extravagant parties. Impacting everything from gifts to gatherings, this new pace and soft ethos challenges our pre-conceived ideas about the frivolity of parties.  

Are you working on your seasonal ranges for 2026 and beyond?

In response to the growing seasonal market, we have launched our Seasonal & Celebration Trend Subscription, helping retailers, manufacturers and brands understand the future consumer mindsets informing this space. From established celebrations like Christmas and Thanksgiving to new types of celebrations such as Thinking of You Week and pet birthdays, we cover a spectrum of categories from paper goods to gift.