New International Housewares Association (IHA) research reveals that home and housewares products are increasingly central to how consumers plan to entertain and celebrate key life moments in 2026, according to the 2026 IHA Occasions and At-Home Entertaining Surveys released this week.
The annual surveys — conducted for IHA by Morning Consult — provide detailed insights into how consumers anticipate purchasing home and housewares products for celebrations and at-home gatherings in the coming year. Findings were published on IHA’s independent industry news platform HomePage News.
Housewares gain momentum in gift giving
Results from the Occasions Survey indicate that home and housewares items are gaining traction as preferred gifts across several life events, including engagements, weddings and new home purchases. A greater share of respondents said they are likely to choose housewares items – such as kitchenware and home décor – for these key occasions in 2026 compared with the previous year.
The survey also highlighted rising interest in celebrations tied to new-pet ownership and college-bound students, signaling opportunities for retailers to align housewares assortments with evolving lifestyle and gifting occasions.
At-home entertaining continues upward trend
The At-Home Entertaining Survey shows that nearly 28 percent of consumers plan to host more home gatherings in 2026, with younger generations – including Gen Z and Millennials – expressing the strongest intent to increase entertaining at home. The research found that spending time with friends and family remains the top motivation for hosting, and the cost-effectiveness of at-home events compared with dining out continues to support this trend.
The surveys also reveal aspects of party planning that influence purchase decisions, such as desire for aesthetic or decorative housewares and practical challenges hosts face when preparing gatherings – insights that can inform merchandising and marketing strategies across the industry.
Broader industry implications
IHA said the 2026 findings underscore the importance of home and housewares as part of life’s memorable moments — from celebrations to everyday hospitality. The trends offer retailers and suppliers a data-driven view of consumer priorities, enabling better alignment of product offerings and promotional efforts with evolving household and entertaining behaviors.
Full reports on the 2026 IHA Occasions and At-Home Entertaining Surveys are available on HomePageNews.com, where industry professionals can explore detailed breakdowns and demographic insights.
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