Experiences are taking a bigger share of holiday gifting. Deloitte's 2026 Holiday Retail Survey found that half of U.S. shoppers plan to give an experience this season, up from 39% just two years ago. Younger shoppers are driving the change, and it's reshaping what "a good gift" looks like.
What's trending
Deloitte surveyed 4,000 U.S. consumers between August 26 and September 10, 2026, for its 2026 Holiday Retail Survey. Among the findings:
- 50% of shoppers plan to gift an experience, up from 47% in 2025 and 39% in 2024.
- Among Gen Z, 51% plan to gift experiences, up from 41% last year.
- Gen Z and millennials together are expected to account for 50% of holiday spending, the first time younger generations have reached that share.
- Average planned household holiday spending is $1,654, up 4% from 2025.
Why it's resonating
The shift toward experiences reflects what many people say they want from the holidays: time together, not more stuff. An experience can be a concert ticket or a cooking class. It can also be something simpler, like an evening with the people you care about.
Younger adults in particular have embraced holiday traditions built around friends, such as Friendsgiving and friends' Christmas parties. When half your gift budget is going toward experiences anyway, hosting one becomes a natural way to give.
The party as the present
A gift exchange party sits right at the crossroads of this trend. Guests still bring a gift, but the real draw is the game. In a White Elephant, people unwrap, steal and swap presents, and the best moments are usually the reactions, not the gifts themselves. Ask anyone who's been to one: the stories last far longer than the scented candle.
For hosts, it's a low-cost way to give friends a memorable night. A single gift limit keeps spending in check, the format works for anyone from close friends to neighbors, and the party itself becomes the shared experience.
If you're planning one, it starts with the invite. A polished design such as this editable navy and gold White Elephant gift exchange invitation can be customized in Canva and texted to guests, so the experience starts the moment they open the message.
The bottom line
Deloitte's numbers suggest that this year's most popular gifts won't all come wrapped. For many hosts, the best present they can give is an evening worth remembering, and a gift exchange party delivers exactly that.