A Friendsgiving invitation with a terracotta arch on a cream background, framed by illustrated pumpkins in orange, yellow, sage green, and brown, resting on a burlap mat surrounded by dried oak leaves, pinecones, linen fabric, white and orange pumpkins, and a dried orange slice.

Design: Wander + Slate

Holiday host mode activated! This year’s holiday hosting trends prove the best gatherings don’t need a fancy ballroom or caterer. People are staying in, keeping guest lists small, and choosing parties that resonate with them. In “Top Holiday Trends 2026” we covered this season’s biggest trends, and in “Top Holiday Card Trends for 2026” we covered the trending cards. Now, we’re sharing the holiday party ideas for 2026 that are already filling calendars. 

A cream striped gift tag with green script and watercolor illustrations of a stocking, candle, book, star, ornament, and wrapped parcel, tied with twine to a kraft paper gift topped with pine sprigs.

Favorite Things Party 

At a favorite things party, every gift comes with a story. Each guest brings a few of something they love, all under a pre-agreed price, so someone else can love it too. It could be a hand cream, a lip balm, or the fuzziest socks known to humankind. Everyone explains why they love it, then draws numbers to take home someone else’s pick. Your invitations should spell out the price cap and how many items to bring. Tie on gift tags that name each guest’s pick, and every item becomes its own keepsake.

A round white metal ornament with a wreath of illustrated Christmas cookies, including snowmen, stars, mittens, and a decorated tree, hanging from a white ribbon on a frosted, lit Christmas tree.

Ornament Exchange  

Move over cookie swap, the ornament exchange is this season’s must-host, and it comes with just the right amount of mischief. Guests bring one wrapped ornament each and draw numbers to decide the order. When your number’s called, you can unwrap a new ornament or steal one that’s already been opened. That’s where things get interesting. Little rule cards keep the game friendly and add a fun twist. Write them on sticky notes and stick them around the table, or tuck them into each guest’s place setting.  Try “Steal It or Keep It,” or “Swap With the Person on Your Left.” A few wild cards keep everyone guessing until the very last gift is opened. 

A Friendsgiving invitation with a black line drawing of friends reaching across a dinner table seen from above and a mustard yellow panel at the center, layered on a yellow envelope and set on a ceramic plate with white pumpkins, a gold fork, a rust linen napkin, and autumn leaves.

Friendsgiving

Friends are the new family, and Friendsgiving is where the shift started. A certain ’90s sitcom (Friends) may have made the idea famous, but the 2026 version has grown its own tradition, complete with a proper name. Think a soup night with crusty bread that feels instantly cozy, while a chili cook-off gives everyone a job and bragging rights (turkey optional). Send Friendsgiving invitations that name the theme and assign the dishes. Set a little gratitude card at each place, and then pack any leftovers into labeled containers so the feast lasts all weekend. 

A Christmas party game poster with a voting grid, ornament-shaped family photos, and candy-striped borders on a wooden table, with hands holding a gold pen over it and a pine garland, mercury glass candle, wrapped gift, and glowing Christmas tree behind.

Merry Mahjong and Cozy Game Nights 

Mahjong is the breakout game of the season, and your group chat has probably already floated the idea. It’s social, a little strategic, and ideal for long winter nights. Send game night invitations, then set the table with a festive mat and printed scorecards so no one’s hunting for any scrap paper. Personalized playing cards are handy for anyone who’d rather deal with a round of rummy between games. At the end of the night, crown your game night champion with a custom trophy mug, and let them brag about it until next year. For even more Mahjong party ideas and cozy pastimes, check out “New Year, New Hobbies: The Coziest Pastimes for 2026.”

A lit cream pillar candle printed with bold red serif lettering, sitting on a whitewashed wood surface with two matchsticks and a pink glass vase against a gray wall.

Merry Movement and Wellness Socials 

Not every holiday party needs a hangover. Pilates-and-brunch meetups and sober-curious gatherings are reshaping holiday plans, letting friends catch up without the next-morning regret. Your invite can set the tone (bring a mat, wear something comfy). A mocktail menu gives the table a focal point, especially with some fun seasonal names like a Cranberry Cookdown, or Rosemary Sparkler. Wrap things up with wellness-minded favors such as scented candles, a custom water bottle, or a notebook for setting New Year’s intentions. 

A checkered Christmas favor box in red and white. Some Christmas decorations can be seen lying behind the favor box and there's a sticker with cookies displayed on the front of the box.

Cookie and Baking Swaps 

Bakers, this one’s for you! A cookie exchange party is a holiday classic because it’s easy to host and even easier to enjoy. Choose a sweet theme for your invites, and ask each guest to bring a dozen cookies plus a few printed copies of their recipe. Arrange everything on tiered stands for a bakery-case display moment. Then, hand out your treat themed favor boxes so that your guests can fill their own as they browse. Leftovers become favors, recipe cards get kept for years, and nobody goes home empty-handed (or hungry).

A sheet of return address labels with a pink Christmas tree on a red block, partly covered by a pale mint envelope with one label applied, on kraft paper with pine sprigs, twine, a wrapped gift, and wooden snowflakes.

Card-Stuffing Parties

Signing, stuffing, and stamping a stack of holiday cards on your own can feel like quite the chore. Consider turning it into a wine night instead, and the task becomes the official kick-off to the festive season. Invite a few friends, pour a glass, and set out pens, stamps, and return address labels at a shared table. Need some design inspiration first? Browse our “Top Holiday Card Trends for 2026: Your Complete Guide to This Season’s Best Styles” for the latest, trending designs.

A matchbox with a vintage Santa illustration and a red and pink striped border, slid open to show white-tipped matches, resting on a red and green plaid napkin beside a mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows and a cinnamon stick, with frosted pine and fairy lights behind.

Home Merch and Hotel-Worthy Guest Stays

Your home deserves its own merch, and hosts are naming their houses this year, whether it’s “The Hartley House” or “Casa Collins,” and adding that name to everything from mugs to welcome signs. It’s the easiest way to give holiday guests a B&B-worthy stay. Hang a welcome sign by the door, set a holiday mug on the guest room nightstand, and leave a little card with the Wi-Fi password. Custom matchboxes printed with your house name look perfect beside a scented candle, and guests will always want to take these goodies home too. Consider it your five-star review in the making. 

Three white hot chocolate packets with gingerbread men, ornament, and holly labels standing in a white box, with a matching sticker sheet in front, surrounded by pine branches, red and gold baubles, a pinecone, and an iced gingerbread cookie.

Holiday Birthdays and Winter Baby Showers 

December birthdays tend to get swallowed by the holiday rush, and winter baby showers are competing with an already packed calendar. A punny holiday party theme gives them their own spotlight. For birthdays, try “Sleigh! It’s Your Birthday,” and  “Oh What Fun, I’m One!” For showers, “A Little Snowflake Is on the Way” and “Oh Deer, Baby’s Almost Here” suit any gender for a winter bash. Carry the pun from the invite to the party décor, then send guests off with themed favors such as hot cocoa kits. 

A vision board party invitation with a cream arch over a pink checkered pattern dotted with retro snowflakes, angled beside a gold envelope on a pale pink surface scattered with red star confetti.

Manifestation Parties 

New Year’s Eve still calls for the traditional bubbly, and a countdown, but plenty of hosts are adding a reflective twist. Manifestation and vision board parties invite guests to map out the year ahead with magazines, scissors, and glue sticks. Themes like “New Year, New Me” or “Written in the Stars” pair beautifully with foil and metallic details, so think celestial invitations, star confetti, and moon-phase gifts. Guests can leave with their finished boards, ready for 2027.

The holidays are about the people around the table, not the number of parties on the calendar. Try picking one or two trends that suit your crew. Maybe it’s a Mahjong night with the neighbors, or an ornament exchange that becomes an annual tradition. Whatever you choose, give it a name, send the invites early, and the memories will handle themselves.