FRANKFURT, Germany – What’s on tap for the holiday décor this year? Christmasworld, the trade fair that took place in Frankfurt, Germany, earlier this month, presented several shifts in seasonal trends for 2026, highlighting new directions in color, texture and motifs.
While traditional Christmas themes and color schemes remain strong, there was room for exploration.
“There are a lot of jewel tones, deep colors,” said trend advisor Leigh Ann Schwarzkopf in a HAT video interview with Tom Mirabile of Springboard Futures in Frankfurt. “We’re seeing the traditional reds and greens, but [they are] very saturated. And then almost any shade of red or green you can imagine — from pinks with a little iridescence thrown in, to green and mint and things like that. So, it’s a lot of fun color for everyone.”
Here are seven trend takeaways from market:
Reds run deep
Traditional Christmas red is not going anywhere, particularly this year when updated traditional looks are surging across other areas of home. But the red palette has deepened and expanded to include darker and moodier shades like wine, mulberry and reds with purple undertones. In its report of Christmasworld, trend forecaster WGSN referred to a “moody elegance” for Autum/Winter 26/27 with deep red and brown tones “bringing warmth and elegance to the home and gifting.”
The pastel pinks that dominated the landscape last year have started to fade.
“Last year, it was really pink. This year, there are more dark colors, like aubergine,” said a representative of the German company Gasper.
Pink constantly cycles through the palette, according to Tom Donckels, a key account manager for the Belgian company J-Line. “But we see it less in decoration,” he acknowledged.
Black and white
Black and white graphic imagery, such as checkerboards and stripes, has returned to home décor, and although it may not be the first color combo you think of when you think seasonal, it popped up in numerous showrooms in Frankfurt. There were black nutcrackers, artificial trees made from glittery black garland, and wreaths made from black feathers. Black and white checkerboard motifs were used to accent more traditional red and white figurines.
WGSN noted a trend in dark interiors, “as consumers grow comfortable with #ModernGoth looks and come to understand the restorative qualities dark tones provide.”
Nonetheless, black can be a tough sell for Christmas, said Donckels at J-Line. “We sell some pure black items to furniture stores and décor shops that are more high-end, but it’s hard,” he said.
Neutral Christmas
Earthy browns and beiges, on the other hand, have taken hold in holiday and have expanded beyond the expected woodland themes. Paired with cream and other wintry whites on everything from miniature wooden trees to a conical display constructed from chocolate macarons, they offered a soothing, cozy palette that speaks to comfort and familiarity.
Tropical Bounty
Messe Frankfurt‘s signature product presentation at Christmasworld was called Tropical Bounty, and it celebrated Christmas on the beach marked by hot colors such as flamingo pink, bright orange and turquoise, with a dash of glitter, tropical motifs and plenty of fish and other aquatic animals. It recalls tropical countries where Christmas is joyful and colorful and celebrated with music and fireworks. “We want to surprise people, spark emotions and share inspiration — with colors that make people smile and decorations that tell stories,” said the design team at 2Dezign, which put together the display.
Flocked, furry, feathered
Soft and touchable textures were a hallmark of this market, with plenty of flocked finishes to go around, alongside plush, puffy bows and Dr. Seuss-like feathery trees in a wide range of colors. WGSN noted this “comforting softness” in its report. “Supreme softness and feather-like branches breathe newness into classic formats,” it said. “These designs also signal the demand for the #AlternativeChristmasTree, which can be styled and used across different celebrations throughout the year.” It also highlighted pipe-cleaner crafts in large-scale and mini trees.
Big on bows
Anyone tired of bows will be disappointed. They were everywhere in Frankfurt — oversized, stuffed, sitting atop or on trees, or used as a décor element in hard goods such as sculptural ceramics.
Animal magnetism
Animals — whimsical, nostalgic or bold and sassy — were the stars of the show. Beyond perennial holiday icons such as reindeer, there were brown bears and polar bears, snowy owls and swans, lots of fish and other sea creatures. And the market still loves the dachshunds that were trending last year in holiday and gift.
