Products for the home and home will have an increasingly relevant role in consumers' lives in 2026, according to recently released results from the 2026 Home Occasions and Gatherings surveys conducted by the International Housewares Association (IHA). Both reports were published today on HomePageNews.com, the IHA's independent news and information platform.

The Occasions survey shows how household items are gaining prominence as preferred gifts at different key moments in life. Meanwhile, Home Gatherings survey reveals that hosting gatherings at home —whether to celebrate important milestones or simply for no specific reason—continues to grow, especially among younger generations.

“In the midst of economic uncertainty and the dissonance of the global context, our homes become an increasingly valued refuge,” affirmed Derek Miller, president and CEO of it HAVE. “These surveys demonstrate the growing appeal of hosting gatherings at home and how home products are becoming more relevant as gifts to celebrate key moments.”

The surveys reveal intentions to purchase household products and organize meetings in 2026, as well as the main factors that motivate consumers and the type of support and information they seek when choosing gifts and planning meetings.

Survey on Occasions

The 2026 Occasions Survey shows that home and home products are gaining momentum as preferred gifts in eight key events of life: engagements, bridal showers, weddings, moving or buying a home, adoption of pets, baby showers, beginning of university life and retirement.

For example, 42% of consumers said they would consider gifting a home product for an engagement, up from 21% in 2025. For gifts for students starting college, 38% said they would likely choose a home item, up from 17% the previous year. Similar numbers are seen at baby showers: 43% indicated they are likely to purchase a product tied to the home, up from 24% last year.

The Occasions Survey data is disaggregated by the eight key events and includes information on the expected frequency of these celebrations in 2026, the types of household products with the highest purchase intention, and the most relevant demographic differences.

Other notable findings include:

• Celebrations for the arrival of a new pet are becoming a part of life in the United States: 36% of respondents said they are likely to attend an event for the adoption of a friend or family pet in the next 12 months (up from 31% the previous year).

• Whether due to optimism or home purchases actually underway, all income levels – except the highest – show a greater willingness to celebrate a move or the purchase of a new home in 2026.

• Kitchen items continue to be the top product category for wedding gifts (51%), followed by home organization and decor (34%) and bedroom items (33%).

Home Gatherings Survey

The 2026 Home Gatherings Survey shows that interest in gathering people in familiar spaces continues to increase, even after the increases recorded in recent years. 28% of respondents anticipate hosting more home gatherings in 2026, up from 24% in last year's survey (50% plan to do it to the same extent and 19% consider they will do it less).

Younger consumers are leading this trend, with Generation Z leading the growth, with 47% planning to host more gatherings at home, followed by Millennials, at 39%. In contrast, Generation X's intention fell four points, while that of Baby Boomers remained relatively stable.

The main reason is the desire to spend more time with friends and family (51%), although the existence of a specific event to celebrate also influences (37%) and the fact that entertaining at home is usually cheaper than organizing a meeting in a restaurant or other public space (31%).

Other notable results include:

• Cleaning up afterward is the biggest challenge for those hosting at home (31%), followed by preparing everything at once (22%), cooking (15%), planning (9%) and keeping food warm (7%).

• Half of consumers say they occasionally purchase products to create a certain aesthetic (23% said they do so regularly, 15% always, and just 10% never).

• When asked what would encourage them to organize more gatherings at home, ideas or tips for low-budget celebrations topped the list (46%). Recipes were almost as popular (45%), followed by specific party theme ideas (32%) and general tips for entertaining (30%).

Methodology

The IHA Occasions Survey 2026 was conducted by Morning Consult between November 1 and 3, 2025, on a sample of 2,200 adults in the United States. Interviews were conducted online and data were weighted to represent a target sample by age, gender, race, educational level, and region, as well as cross-referencing gender by age and race by educational level. The results of the total survey have a margin of error of ±2 percentage points.

The IHA 2026 Household Gatherings Survey was conducted by Morning Consult between October 31 and November 2, 2025, on a sample of 2,226 adults. Interviews were conducted online and data were weighted to represent a target sample by age, gender, race, educational level, and region, as well as cross-referencing gender by age and race by educational level. The results of the subset have a margin of error of ±2 percentage points, depending on the audience analyzed.

Full reports from both surveys can be found at HomePageNews.com