Progressive Calendars 2026

February 2026

MAKING IT A DATE

With phone calendars, online versions, and digital reminders going off all the time, plenty of folk keep predicting the death of the paper calendar and diary, which have been around since Roman times. But seeing everything written down is much easier for many, and the numbers going back to dated products or finding them for the first time are growing.

Here, Progressive Calendars toasts the continuation and expansion of the important dated products sector.

Carousel Worldwide acquires Avonside

Carousel Worldwide has continued its expansion in the global calendar and gift publishing world, with its acquisition of Avonside Publishing

The move brings together two of the UK’s most recognisable names in calendar publishing, strengthening Carousel’s position as a leading global supplier of calendars and stationery products, which the company says opens new opportunities for creativity and international growth.

“We have worked together with Avonside for many years, and they have built an impressive reputation for image and product quality, reliability and impeccable customer service”, said Gillian Richmond, md of Carousel Worldwide. “We are excited to welcome their team on board and to bring Avonside’s expertise and titles into Carousel Worldwide’s range. Together we will be even stronger and this enhances our strategy for continued international growth,” she added.

Avonside’s existing catalogue, featuring top-selling dog, animal and travel calendars, will continue to be produced and distributed under the brand.

Gillian added that both companies are committed to ensuring a smooth transition for staff, suppliers and customers and to maintaining the quality, reliability and customer service, with the combined business being run from Carousel’s head office in Exeter, while the Avonside team will continue working from its base in Melksham.

“We are proud of what our small team has achieved over the years”, said Avonside md and coowner David Higgins, who has run the company since 2002 with Rob Jane as a director since 2013. “Joining Carousel Worldwide is a natural extension of our long-standing cooperation and opens exciting opportunities for our team and our customers,” added David.

Carousel Worldwide, which represents Carousel and Gladstone Media, is exclusively distributed in north America by Lang Brands, which acquired the assets of Lang Companies including Lang, Wells Street By Lang, Turner brands, and Lang.com from Design Group Americas

DGA is the subsidiary which IG Design Group disposed of in June to the Hilco capital group for $1 (74p) in June following a fall in revenue and the imposition of Trump’s import tariffs.

Founded in 1982, Lang is considered a premier supplier of licensed and art-driven calendars, greeting cards, and gifts, and the combination with Carousel Worldwide creates the world’s largest wholesale supplier of calendars and related dated products.

Reds are top date

The reigning Premier League champions proved football’s resilience in the calendar world as the Reds took the title again in Danilo’s top 10 for 2026 products.

Holding off the challenge from new title KPop Demon Hunters, which entered the list at number two, Liverpool FC held onto top spot, while rivals Manchester United dropped to two places to fourth, and Arsenal kept the sporting contingent red although the London club dropped from fifth to eighth.

In second place was KPop Demon Hunters, Netflix’s smash-hit animated musical which has become the streaming platform’s most-watched show, with fans keen to snap up licensed merchandise, while kids’ favourite Bluey climbed from sixth place when it entered the 2025 chart to come in third for 2026.

Wicked climbed from ninth to fifth, with the calendar having stills from the latest release in the franchise Wicked: For Good, but Disney Stitch dropped to ninth place from fourth.

Another cult Netflix hit is Stranger Things which returned to the chart in 10th place, but there was disappointment for pop star Taylor Swift who, after coming straight in at number one with the 2024 dates and being third for 2025, has now fallen out.

Sixth place went to the recently-reformed 90s band Oasis, still riding high after their comeback tour and having hit the 2025 chart in eighth spot –while 85-year-old British pop legend Sir Cliff Richard’s popularity persists, never falling out of the top 10 he was fourth in 2022, third in 2023, fourth again in 2024, seventh last year, and rode high again this time around at number seven in the table.

Progressive Calendars is a supplement to Progressive Greetings’ February 2026 edition.

Editor: Tracey Bearton.

Editorial Director: Jakki Brown.

Commercial team: Warren Lomax and Tracey Arnaud.

Published by Max Publishing, designed and printed by Method UK.

Copyright: 2026.

CALENDARS: NEWS

Broadening the niche

This year Good Tuesday celebrates its second birthday since become a B Corp business, the first calendar and stationery company to achieve this status.

With sustainability at its heart, for 2027 the publisher’s dated products range “reflects the way modern customers shop, looking for design-led products that feel aspirational, relevant and considered, whether they are buying for themselves or as gifts,” according to Angus Johnston, director who runs the business with his partner, Michele Ferron.

Explaining that its design process continues to be “trend-led, informed by colour direction, illustration styles and wider lifestyle aesthetics”, he said the trends are then “interpreted across a balanced mix of hero designs with wide appeal, alongside more distinctive, niche themes that allow retailers to curate depth and personality within their calendar ranges”.

A time to reflect

Launching nearly 500 products for 2027 is a huge undertaking for The Gifted Stationery Company, the result of an extensive review of the company’s whole dated selection by Julian Massie who heads up the business, which was acquired by the Swan Mill Group in October 2024.

“Even in a time where digital devices are a necessity for running your life, we know people value a physical diary or calendar,” Julian said. “As has been proven time and time again, the physical experience of writing things down means you’re more likely to remember information whether it be a diary appointment, a to do list or a shopping list.

“As the demand for physical dated products remains prevalent, choice is paramount when we put our collections together – 25% of our square calendars are completely new titles, and our slim calendar offer is twice the size of last year. This is really exciting for us and initial customer feedback has been really positive over the multitude of changes we’ve made.

“People also see planners, diaries and calendars as lifestyle and wellness tools, not just as scheduling aids. Writing in a physical calendar or diary forces you to pause and reflect, allowing you to be more intentional with how you spend your time.

“With this in mind, we have reengineered our offer to ensure a generous selection of planners and diaries to accommodate the needs of our wide range of customers. Not only do we have plenty of different diary formats including a new page-a-day diary, but we’ve changed the internal pages to make them far more useful and in line with changing needs.

“In addition, our planners and organisers are each designed differently for 2027 to take into account different-sized families and needs to help everyone manage their busy lives.”

Above: Gifted has reviewed its whole dated offer.

Core expansion

Sustainability remains a core part of Danilo’s product development process – the licensed product specialist has reduced unnecessary packaging and continues to introduce more plastic-free and fully recyclable components across selected lines, with further expansion planned into 2027 and beyond.

Licensing director Dan Grant said retailers continue to report strong repeat purchasing from families seeking functional, reliable formats with the added appeal of much-loved characters and brands.

“In response, we’ve continued to strengthen our family-friendly formats, with family organisers such as Bluey, Disney Classics, RHS and more, showing sustained growth as households look for practical, easy-to-use planning tools,” he said. “Our deluxe planner format, launched in 2024, continues to perform well – and the addition of Liverpool FC and Manchester United FC has provided even wider appeal.”

This enhanced organiser format, with generous planning space, integrated Post-it notes, a things-to-do pad and a branded pen, is building into a go-to gifting solution for consumers wanting a stylish organisational product.

Dan explained that evergreen licences remain a key strength for Danilo with classics such as Winnie The Pooh, Disney Classics and The Gruffalo continuing to drive cross-generational appeal and dependable retail performance.

Building momentum across a wide mix of genres and licences, Danilo is also looking forward to a significant wave of major movie launches in 2026, including Toy Story 5, Disney’s live action Moana, Minions 3, Star Wars The Mandalorian and Grogu movie and the latest Marvel instalment, Avengers: Doomsday – all of which bring fresh calendar and diary additions to the portfolio.

Danilo is also pleased to have already introduced Netflix’s biggest movie KPop Demon Hunters with a 2026 calendar and will expand the range across diaries, cards and wrap.

The new year also sees the addition of the Angry Birds licence, a long-established gaming and entertainment brand with strong global nostalgia and fresh momentum ahead of The Angry Birds 3 movie release. Alongside this, gaming remains one of Danilo’s biggest growth areas, driven by consistently strong demand for Minecraft, Super Mario Bros and Pokémon across multiple formats.

More than dates

In an age of automated reminders and digital calendars that live quietly in people’s pockets, the continued relevance of printed calendars and diaries not only endure, they thrive believes Portico Designs’ director Charlie Czul. She said: “For consumers, calendars and diaries remain deeply personal items. They sit on desks, kitchen walls and bedside tables, becoming an essential part of daily life.

“A diary is rarely now just a planning tool; it’s a confidante, a creative outlet, a place where intentions are set and memories are captured. We have seen this with the increased trend of journalling, and our Rituals collection leans into this. The diaries not only track your important dates but guide you through the calendar year on your goals and reflections.”

Explaining that a calendar often acts as a visual anchor in the home or workplace – a small but constant source of inspiration, humour or calm, Charlie said Portico sees this reflected in the popularity of its licensed brand collaborations, including Rosie Made A Thing, Caroline Gardner and Peanuts

And she believes this creates an emotional connection which gives the category its strength as “shoppers increasingly look for products with meaning, tactility and longevity, calendars and diaries tick all the right boxes”.

Charlie added: “They are affordable gifts, easy self-purchases and, crucially, items that feel thoughtful without being overcomplicated. In a world of fast consumption, the idea of something designed to be used every day for a whole year carries real appeal.”

With design and content continuing to be key differentiators, Portico is seeing strong demand for products that reflect lifestyle and identity – from wellness-led layouts and nature-inspired imagery to witty humour, art-led designs and niche interests.

And Charlie has also seen a growing appreciation for quality, with paper stock, binding, finishes and sustainability credentials forming part of a consumer’s purchasing decision.

As Charlie continued: “As we look ahead, the future of calendars and diaries feels reassuringly human. While technology will continue to shape how we organise our lives, it can’t replicate the satisfaction of pen on paper, the pleasure of turning a page, or the comfort of a familiar format marking the rhythm of the year.

As long as people value reflection, creativity and connection, calendars and diaries will remain more than just dates on a page – they’ll remain part of the story of everyday life.”

Return to nostalgia

Bold, expressive colours and interesting textures are trending, according to Flame Tree Publishing, which has ranges that lend themselves to this.

There’s artwork that spans classic favourites like Van Gogh and Hokusai, nostalgic designs such as Moomin, and contemporary artists including Nina Pace, Anna Stead, Jade Mosinski and Emma J Shipley

Frances Bodiam, md said: “We’re seeing a strong return to nostalgia, which we celebrate through our much-loved collaborations with Moomin, Flower Fairies, Peter Rabbit, Alice In Wonderland, Spike Milligan, and now Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five

“There is an appreciation for stationery that feels tactile and thoughtfully made. Our Artisan Art range has a beautifully flexible finish that’s a pleasure to use, while our classic foiled journals add a touch of everyday luxury.”

Flame Tree continues to evolve its calendar and diary formats to meet modern lifestyles and values – the Artisan Art range is made with vegan leather to appeal to customers actively seeking animal-free alternatives. And portability is increasingly important, so the publisher has introduced pocket-friendly formats such as the Artisan Art pocket diaries and slimline pocket diaries, ideal for an everyday carry and planning on the go.

Frances added: “A key driver behind this growth is the desire for mindfulness and a conscious break from technology. As phones and social media dominate so much of daily life, many people are choosing to reconnect with a real, tactile diary.”

She explained that sustainability continues to be a key priority with all calendars and diaries now made using FSC-certified paper and packaged without shrink wrap, while the products from Andrews McMeel Publishing feature fully recyclable materials, such as sturdy chipboard easels in place of plastic.

Stepping up

The Amber Lotus collection Flame Tree distributes furthers these efforts by using soy-based inks and wraparound cover flaps instead of shrink wrap, and partnering with How2Recycle and Trees For The Future.

Museums & Galleries has long published a curated selection of design and heritage calendars based on major licences but, for 2027, there’s a major step change in the operation, with a dramatic increase in the number of titles overall, as well as new formats.

Sophie Bylina Williams, M&G relationships manager, explained: “The developments have been sales-led, with customer feedback greatly influencing the moves.

“We’re introducing two calendars in support of our partner charities Macmillan Cancer Care and British Heart Foundation for the first time, another new format is family organisers, and advent calendars, launched with great success last year, have also benefited from the new Angela Harding licence and 3D format addition.”

Above: M&G’s new charity calendar.

YOUR 2026 BESTSELLERS BEGIN HERE with danilo

DANILO is gearing up for an action-packed year with a fresh wave of exciting calendar and card launches across film, TV, music, gaming and sport. From major movie moments to milestone anniversaries and global events, 2026’s line-up is built to deliver standout bestsellers – driven not only by families and collectors but also by the continued rise of the kidult market, where adults embrace the characters and franchises they grew up loving.

Movie & TV Magic for 2026

2026 is shaping up to be a blockbuster year, and Danilo’s calendar programme captures the biggest releases hitting screens in perfect chronological order.

The year kicks off in style with Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man arriving in March, followed by the cosmic adventure of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie in April.

Spring then flows into a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu launching in May, before Disney Pixar magic returns with Toy Story 5 in June.

Celebrating Iconic Anniversaries

Summer heats up even further in July, with a trio of major family favourites hitting cinemas: Minions 3, PAW Patrol ‘The Dino Movie’, and Disney’s live action version of Moana. Completing the year is the longawaited Angry Birds 3, which lands in December to close the season on a high.

2026 sees some of entertainment’s most cherished franchises celebrating milestone anniversaries, creating an ideal moment for fans and collectors alike. Winnie the Pooh reaches his 100th year milestone, alongside a trio of big movie franchises hitting their 25th anniversaries including Harry Potter, Shrek and The Lord of the Rings, plus the 10th anniversary of Stranger Things. Each of these anniversaries will be celebrated through carefully curated designs that tap into nostalgia, storytelling and enduring global fandom through Danilo’s calendar portfolio.

New Additions

Danilo continues to expand into new genres and audiences, with one of the most exciting additions being KPop Demon Hunters. This rising global franchise will be launching with a dedicated calendar & diary, alongside a card & giftwrap range. As K-pop and anime continue to surge in popularity across all demographics, this new arrival presents a fresh opportunity for retailers looking to younger, trend-led consumers.

Sports Events & Team Favourites

Sport remains one of Danilo’s strongest categories, and 2026 is set to be another year of thrilling sporting events. With the Rugby Union Six Nations, Premier League Football, The Champions League, The FA Cup, The 2026 FIFA World Cup and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup all taking place next year, sport promises to be a major focal point for fans. With official Premier League Football team calendars and a broad selection of sport-led designs, Danilo’s range continues to offer impressive annual performance across the market.

Its recent acquisition of Avonside Publishing reinforces Carousel Worldwide’s position as UK’s largest calendar publisher, underpinning its need to keep up with the trends in both designs and lifestyle. Progressive Calendars made a date with Martin Rees-Davies, the company’s licensing and business development director to find out more about its research, development plans and sustainability strides.

PLAYING ON TRENDS

Driven by wider consumer trends, the calendar and dated market is ever changing, and Carousel Worldwide is continually tracking insights, across formats, designs, licences, artists, IP and sustainability.

What’s in a name?

Carousel Worldwide’s licensing and business development director Martin ReesDavies highlights how the company has highlighted a number of lifestyle trends as consumers’ priorities shift with how they want to spend their time.

“Event and experiences now have much more importance as well as connections with friends and family,” revealed Martin. “There is definitely a desire for better planning and organisation. This, as well as the penchant for setting yearly goals, life goals, journalling, and personal development podcasts are all having a bearing on the calendar market.”

Martin also highlights how the post-Covid drive for people to seek a better work-life balance has led to consumers looking to create their best living space as part of the

The last couple of years has been a period of remarkable change for Carousel Worldwide, including a new name, acquisition of US assets, change in management, and environmental successes.

Formerly known as Carousel Calendars, the Exeter-based publishing company changed its name to reflect its growing role on the global stage.

Carousel Worldwide is the fusion of Carousel Calendars, the largest publisher and distributor of calendars and diaries, and a joint project with Go!Retail, the biggest retailer of calendars in the US. This project sees Carousel Worldwide further expanding into the US market, marking a significant step for the company.

Carousel Worldwide’s expansion of its distribution to a more global scale has been aided by its acquisition of Gladstone Media, taking over the design and publishing of 2026-dated products onwards for the business which, under Leonard Phillips and based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, has been a highly regarded calendar publisher since 1995.

Gillian Richmond took over the helm as managing director of Carousel in late 2024 when Steve Plackett stepped down from the role after many years, becoming production director to continue his long association with the group.

And the latest news, which broke in early January 2026, is that Carousel Worldwide has acquired Avonside Publishing with its existing catalogue of dog breeds, animal and travel calendars, which will continue to be produced under the Avonside brand from its base in Melksham.

WFH lifestyle, with travel and adventure also forming a key part of this.

Martin explained that ensuring there is ample space for writing on a calendar has become key, encompassing many of these consumer trends.

Testament to this, since Carousel Worldwide introduced its exclusive week-to-view wire wall calendar eight years ago their sales have increased 937%, while its A4 week-to-view formats have seen a 28% increase in sales over the last 10 years, with Carousel introducing an A3 week-to-view format to provide even more useable space. And, with the working from home and home office increases, sales of its mini wall calendars are up by 73% over the past eight years.

They say you can tell a lot about a person by the friends they keep, well you can also tell a lot about a nation’s lifestyle changes by the calendars and diaries they keep!

Future-proofing

Since 2019 Carousel Worldwide has made significant progress in its environmental commitments – 90% of its six million calendars are now plastic-free, and the publisher has removed over 90% of plastic packaging from the 4,000-plus cards, jigsaws, and various other products.

After extensive research and discussions with industry leaders in gold-standard offsetting schemes, Carousel decided to pursue the ScienceBased Targets Initiative (SBTi), a rigorous and impactful

commitment that does not permit offsetting, but ensures the publisher continues to drive emissions reductions. Carousel Worldwide aims to future-proof its business by further engaging its suppliers to meet Scope 3 reduction targets, continuing to transition company hybrid vehicles to fully electric models, working towards securing solar panel installation and seeking new efficiency opportunities to drive further reductions towards the 2030 goals.

Giving and living

Carousel’s sales of licensed calendars have increased by 82% in the past decade, with those driving fundraising for charities are also on the rise.

For the 2025 dated season Carousel Worldwide published just under a million charity calendars – both licensed and exclusive – an increase of 240% since 2015!

If you go back 15 to 20 years, there were a lot of charity calendars around, but the vast majority were published, printed and sold by the good causes organisations themselves.

“However, this market has shifted considerably over the last 10 years,” explained Carousel’s Martin Rees-Davies. “Consumer and retailer habits have changed, charity catalogues have declined, and so customers have supported charity calendars through different channels, such as through general retail, online and Amazon.”

And Carousel Worldwide’s partnerships with eminent charities have increased over the years, now including National Trust, English Heritage, Oxfam, Marie Curie, Royal Botanical Gardens Kew, Women’s Institute, Women For Women

and Guide Dogs.

PICTURE IN THE

Simpler times

Specialising in traditional, nostalgic advent cards and advent calendars, The Porch Fairies’ range includes a selection of licensed

Traditional ‘open door’ advent calendars have been around since German printer Gerhard Lang came up with the first commercial version in 1908, while the chocolate ones didn’t appear until the 1950s with Cadbury joining the party in 1971.

PG covers some of the developments in the genre.

Paper sculptures

collections across Medici Nostalgia World, Foxwood Tales, Claire Fletcher and Holly Pond Hill.

“There’s a growing trend for the traditional advent full of magical memories,” explained co-owner Fi Bishop, “reminding us of childhood innocence, when a robin or a sprig of holly lay waiting behind each door, all beautifully hand-illustrated.

Pure theatre

Having bought the Caltime brand and special machinery needed to manufacture the picture versions back in 2013, the big news from Woodmansterne on the advent calendar front for 2026 is that the publisher is rebranding.

As advent calendars continue to grow in both creativity and importance within the festive season, with consumers increasingly seeking designs that feel special, decorative and worthy of display, the company will continue to balance tradition with fresh, imaginative concepts, now under the Woodmansterne name.

Art director Ian Blake explained that this year’s development introduces something new to the category while staying true to the warmth and nostalgia customers expect.

“For 2026 we’ve focused on a 3D theatre-style scene, which creates real impact when displayed,” Ian said. “It adds

“These timeless advents transport us to an era when life was less complex and we appreciated simpler things.”

The Porch Fairies range has plenty of newness for 2026, and all 12 hanging advent calendars are now in a more postage-friendly A4 size with a £2.60 trade price, while the 16 A5 advent cards come with envelopes at a trade price of £2.20. Fi added: “Among the new designs are Fiona Owen's Woodland Magic from the Nostalgia World collection, which is simply stunning, Claire Fletcher's Twilight Tree is full of Christmas tree delights, and Candlelight from Foxwood Tales is pure magic on a calendar!”

depth and presence, making the calendar feel like a festive centrepiece in the home.”

Alongside this innovation, Woodmansterne has continued to evolve its classic advent styles.

“We’ve kept the traditional look and feel that people love,” he added, “while also introducing a cruise-ship themed design for those who enjoy travelling during the Christmas period. It brings a playful, contemporary twist to the range without losing that festive charm.”

Following on from the success of Museums & Galleries’ domed advent calendar range from 2025, with its £5.15 SRP, the publisher now has four designs from celebrated British wildlife and landscape printmaker Angela Harding Angela herself views these as paper sculptures – she has hand-produced each design herself with M&G then translating the template into printed form in its first advent collection with the artist this year.

These amazingly intricate large die-cut and pop-out advents have a £12.50 SRP and the four new advents complement M&G’s range of Angela Harding Christmas cards - the artist’s first festive card range.

Cue the music

Danilo continues to offer its popular musical advent calendars for brands such as Peppa Pig, Harry Potter and The Snowman and The Snowdog, alongside standard paper advent calendar formats available across a broad selection of Premier League football clubs as well as entertainment licences.

Pre-Christmas treats

Gone are the days when the only type of advent calendars were the cardboard ones with a set of windows opening to reveal festive or religious pictures.

So many brands have now caught on to the idea of a pre-Christmas treat with the windows or boxes opening to reveal all sorts from boozy tipples and foodie indulgences to toys, crafty delights and beauty bits.

And the growing popularity of these Christmas countdowns has seen various lists of the top versions, with Sock Geeks using SEO-optimisation and checking out the brands people actually search for and questions they ask, to come up with the list of the best 20 for the festive season just gone.

1. Fortnum & Mason's Beauty Advent Calendar 2025 – understated luxury in a reusable drawer-style chest. £265

2. Jo Malone London Advent Calendar 2025 – miniature colognes, travel candles and bath & body luxuries £360

3. Bonne Maman Advent Calendar 2025 – mini jars of jams, marmalades and limited-edition spreads £29.99

4. Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2025 – 24 themed micro builds and minifigures £25.99–£29.99

5. Lego Harry Potter Advent Calendar 2025 – magic mornings with micro builds inspired by Hogwarts £29.99

6. Lego City Advent Calendar 2025 – classic with mini vehicles, festive accessories and city themed characters £19.99–£24.99

7. ASOS Face + Body Advent Calendar 2025 –smart mix of skincare, makeup and wellness picks from trending labels £98

8. Boots No7 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar 2025 – packed with skincare stars and everyday makeup must haves £60 (approx)

9. Revolution Beauty Advent Calendar 2025 – 24 surprises across eyes, lips and face, with skincare extras tucked in £50

10. Hotel Chocolat Advent Calendar For Two 2025 – sharing the countdown with two chocolates behind each door £26–£35

11. Lindt Lindor Advent Calendar 2025 – creamy, melt in the middle truffles £10–£15

12. The Fragrance Shop Advent Calendar 2025 – discovery size scents, minis and body treats £120–£150

13. Soap & Glory House of Glory Advent Calendar 2025 – crowd pleasing bath & body staples £48

14. Rituals Premium (Diorama) Advent Calendar 2025 – foaming shower gels, body scrubs, candles and fragrance sticks £120–£145

15. Wera Tools Advent Calendar 2025 – precision bits, screwdrivers and clever accessories £55–£70

16. Hot Wheels Advent Calendar 2025 – mini die cast thrills of cars, track accessories and surprises £19.99

17. Pokémon Advent Calendar 2025 – figures, accessories and seasonal surprises £29.99–£39.99

18. BrewDog Craft Beer Advent Calendar 2025 –limited releases and fan favourite brews £49–£69

19. Master Of Malt Whisky Advent Calendar 2025 –30ml samples from distilleries around the world £99–£199

20. Sock Geeks Advent Calendar 2025 – 24 pairs of personality-matched socks £240

Forget the chocs!

Chocolate for breakfast may be a child’s delight but getting them off to school in the lead-up to Christmas is difficult enough without sticky smears all over their uniform!

David Byk, ceo of Ling Design and The Great British Card Company, laughed: “We’re continuously seeing increases in our advent calendar sales and believe the market has moved away from those with chocolate in them – I don’t think breakfast chocolate is viewed positively these days, even in December!”

As a result, the company has expanded its collection of advent calendars for 2026.

“Our sales in 2025 were 20% up on strong sales the previous year and our customers are telling us about excellent sell through too,” said David.

Both Ling and GBCC are building on their successes of 2025 and have larger ranges – more styles and a broader base of religious, juvenile and fun designs. Plus, there are more options in both landscape and portrait advents in a wide selection of price points.

“We know lots of advents are posted so all of ours come with envelopes with lots of attention paid to size so they can go through the mail,” adds David.

As part of its expanded 2026 product offering, Ling Design has launched a new 3D die-cut and foil finished advent calendar to position it as a pre-Christmas gift.

“Not only do our advents look beautiful when placed on a mantlepiece or hung on the wall, they’re completely plastic-free, including the packaging, meaning you can enjoy the countdown to Christmas day in an environmentally-friendly way,” adds David.

Sticking with it

Giving youngsters an interactive festive experience is the thought behind Flame Tree Publishing’s range of advents that include seasonal stickers they can also be used to decorate books, pencil cases – or on wrapped gifts.

For 2026, Flame Tree welcomes new designs into the collection, including a Royal Ballet advent calendar which has a sticker with a seasonal dance image from the Royal Ballet illustrator Kate Hester, a classically trained ballet dancer and self-taught artist based in London.

And there’s also the Christmas Bookshelf advent calendar, featuring an array of nostalgic story titles and in every window there’s a sticker of a festive item.

HIGH QUALITY CALENDARS, GIFTS AND STATIONERY

FLAME TREE continue to produce beautiful Fine Art calendars and diaries and are passionate about working with, and publishing new, diverse and upcoming artists as well as promoting museums and galleries across the UK and the exhibitions that they will be holding through the calendar year. 2027 calendars continue to be produced to the highest quality with Plastic Free Packaging and FSC materials.

Selling calendars, diaries and advents can be good business for indie retailers as they make relatively inexpensive gifts or for people to treat themselves. Here a handful of indies give the lowdown on sales of 2026 dated products in their shops.

RETAILER REACTIONS

WITH SALES A DATE

Carl Dunne, owner, Cards & Gifts, Dronfield

“We noticed a big change from the square calendars popular for 2025 to the tall slim ones. I’m guessing the reasons for the change were down to postage or just cheapness with the cost of living.

That said we stocked Dronfield-themed calendars one and sold 40 of the square format ones, which was more than last year, but of the smaller A5 Dronfield calendars, having sold 60 in 2025 we increased our order to 100 and sold out! Customers like to buy these a gift to post.

We ordered these from Jacksons wholesalers in Sheffield who never fail you when you pre-order high volumes. We put them on sale back in June and they were selling.

On slim calendars we sold a lot more of floral themes titles, of which we offered 16 different variations, ordering from the Gifted Stationery Company

We also had a couple of specialised ones like trains and tractor which did OK, plus had some Tatty Teddy and Violent Veg slim calendars from Carte Blanche

I ordered some of Tiger Feet’s own brand family planners and we sold a reasonable number.

We did notice another big increase in calendars featuring roaring ladies of the 20s from Tiger Feet, for which we ordered slims, squares and the fridge/notebook diary calendar.

For diaries I cut back on the number of designs this year but increased the volume of each, ordering the majority from Tiger Feet. We put these on sale in June which was earlier than 2024 – but ended £800 up saleswise on diaries and calendars, which for a little independent retailer, is absolutely phenomenal!

“We only have a very small handful of 2026 dated products left so nothing to worry about. I’ve put them in the sale just to get rid of them to clear the deck for Valentine’s.”

Stephanie Morrison, owner, The Gift Box, Peebles

“We always do well with advent calendars in various forms. I sell them in cards, traditional flat calendars and the 3D pop-n-slot ones from Roger La Borde. Last year the advent calendar cards from The Art File and Cinnamon Aitch went really well for us – and they’re cheaper to post than a standard-sized calendar.

I do find a lot of my customers buy advents for grown-up children that are away from home, as a wee reminder of past family traditions. These days people buy an advent calendar per person, but I do recall back in the 80s sharing a calendar with my brothers and fighting over who

Chris Beards, co-owner, Manton’s Cards, Port Erin

“Our advent calendar sales were steady, with our main success being refillable advent boxes – 24 small numbered boxes inside a larger box –and we also sold out of the reusable cloth advent calendars.

On dated products we focused on The Art File for 2026 and sold out of nearly all the calendars and diaries we had and are now actively looking for new suppliers.”

from supermarkets and charity shops the key is to stock something they don't necessarily have.

Roger La Borde’s 3D pop-n-slot ones as ever were really popular. We always make sure we make up a display model of each one, which is a brilliant way to dress the window and helps customers visualise the sets. The publisher brings out new designs every year, but the original treehouse design is still one of the best sellers!

I have stocked Portico for a long time and by far the bestselling design has to be Rosie Made A Thing followed by Caroline Gardner. The RMAT family calendars are the first to sell out with the slimline diary and slimline calendar being among the best sellers for us.

This year among The Art File’s lovely illustrated calendars, Into The Forest was the most popular one.

As ever I had a few calendars and diaries left after Christmas –people wait to buy them in the sale or maybe need to buy as they didn't get given one for Christmas - but as of 5 January my calendars were almost sold out.

Our calendars and diaries sales held steady. As there’s a lot of competition

Ssshh! Don't tell anyone, but I buy my personal diary from a local competitor – it’s a very slimline month-to-view one by Museums & Galleries, which is perfect to fit in my bag!”

Day-To-Day, Wall, Mini Wall Calendars, Planners & Diaries

Janet Ross-Jordan, Cards and Gift Wrap, Isle of Lewis

“Advent calendar sales were very strong again for us. The Reindeer Stables design by Amanda Loverseed, produced by Lilac Tree Designs, was my bestseller and has been for many years. Advent card sales were also up on the previous year, and it really feels like the traditional advent calendar is making a comeback… retro is definitely in!”

Calendar and diary sales remained steady year on year for us, with a few standout favourites leading the way.

The Wrendale Designs collection continues to be a top seller, both for calendars and diaries, and that’s reflected in our stock levels, with just around half a dozen calendars and a single diary left at the start of January. I can see why – I use the Wrendale hardback diary myself for work. I struggled for years to use a diary consistently, but the tactile quality of this one, with its foiled cover and beautiful illustrations on every page, makes it such a joy to use. It’s so well laid out too, with handy sections for birthdays, things to do, and a monthly planning sheet, so it really keeps me organised.

At home we also use the Wrendale family calendar, which has

become an absolute essential for us. Most family calendars only seem to allow space for four people, but there are five of us in the household at the moment so the Wrendale version is perfect. When there were six of us, it still worked brilliantly as my husband and I shared a column – it’s well known that the children have a far busier social calendar than we do!

Alongside Wrendale, I added The Happy News calendars to our selection and they’ve been really well received. The bright, uplifting illustrations have gone down particularly well with customers looking for cheerful, positive designs to brighten up their homes.”

Sarah Laker, owner, Stationery Supplies Marple and Wilmslowd

“Functional office diaries are our best sellers by far, black is always top but in more recent years we've added brighter colours which go down well, especially orange.

We stick to traditional advent calendars with images behind the doors. I love hearing customers talk about how nostalgic the calendars make them feel and seeing them come back year after year to buy them. Our favs are the range were by The Art File – the designs are simply stunning.

Calendar and diary sales held steady for us. We print our very own Marple charity calendar, with photos by local photographers and printed less than a mile from our shop. The 2026 title was our eighth calendar and we've raised over £2,000 for local charities in this time – the 2027 one is already being planned!

I always buy plenty of diaries and office calendars as I like to keep a few in stock all year. It's amazing how many people change jobs or spill coffee on their diary throughout the year. The latest I've ever sold one was at the beginning of December!

Personally, I'd be lost without my A5 Leuchtturm diary. I've tried many different ones over the years but settled on its week-to-view diary several years ago. It's got everything I need - elastic closure, pocket for random import notes at the back, ribbon page markers, pen loop and is incredibly hard wearing. I especially like that the left-hand page is a week-to-view and the right-hand page is lined for my notes.”

Helen Southgate, co-owner, Cards ’N’ Things, Hellesdon

“Advent calendar sales were good for us. We stocked paper ones, Thornton’s chocolate ones (including some we could personalise with a name) and, for the first time, we had the Legami erasable pen train. Our calendar sales are a mix of fancy and functional titles, selling similar quantities of both. We sold out of the East Anglian Air Ambulance diaries and calendars we stock for which we give 100% of the sales to the charity.

The top-selling calendar for us was a slim planner in red and black, nothing fancy, while our bestselling diary was a hardback A4 week-to-view

Sales of dated products held steady for us. We sold our first 2026 diaries in July and we didn’t have many 2026 calendars left at the end of the year and those that we did have been sold at half price.

In the shop we use a hardback A4 week-to-view diary and, I personally use a Smythson planner that I've had since 2012 – I love a paper diary!”

IN WITH THE NEW

Ohh Deer

There’s something about a new calendar or diary that really gets even the most ardent digital nerd excited. All those pages of possibilities, dates of anticipation, and a theme that you enjoy, which just doesn’t happen with a boring phone or Google calendar! Check out some of the new 2027 releases here.

Avonside Publishing

For 2027, Ohh Deer is introducing desk calendars for the first time! Designed in a sturdy A-frame style for easy, at-a-glance planning, each calendar features 6x6in frameable art prints and two monthly views, with a second, expanded layout offering extra room for daily notes – because life gets busy.

Available in six designs from the publisher’s popular ranges and licences, including Cath Kidston, Ken The Cat, The Natural World, Frame It, Natural History Museum and Steven Rhodes. Ohh Deer co-founder Mark Callaby said: “This is a fresh new format with serious shelf appeal – trusted bestselling prints, practical design, and plenty of gift-worthy charm!”

The Art File

For 2027, customers can choose between 17 new designs in The Art File’s collection, with eight from the in-house team and nine designs created in collaboration with talented external artists.

Every calendar contains 12 art illustrations, has a medium gloss finish and is completely plastic-free, with artists including Robert Reader, Natasha Newton, and Merle Goll. One notable collab has been with Stacey McNeill, Fox Under The Moon author and illustrator, where The Art File has expanded its licensing collection to include a wall calendar along with the bestselling card collection.

Having founded the individual dog breed calendars market within the UK and Europe Avonside Publishing – now part of Carousel Worldwide – has extended the range for 2027 with the addition of Goldendoodles and Cockapoo Puppies

While dogs remain a firm favourite, Avonside has built its range over the past 25 years to now publish over 230 premium quality, plasticfree wall and slimline calendars including Animals, Birds, Art, Automotive, and Travel.

The Gifted Stationery Company (Gifted)

Danilo

Sharing the newness, Julian Massie, head of The Gifted Stationery Company (Gifted) summed up: “It’s been a year since we were acquired by the Swan Mill Group and after having done a full review of our dated offer from every title to every photo used in each of our calendars and planners, we have made significant changes for 2027 product.

We’re thrilled to be launching nearly 500 products across our dated 2027 collection, with 25% of our square calendars being completely new titles, and our slim calendar offer is twice the size of last year. This is really exciting for us and initial customer feedback has been really positive over the multitude of changes we’ve made.

“Our very popular dog breeds calendars and the huge number of ‘scenic’ from across the country have been updated for 2027 and so has the rest of the collection, as we focus on a product that is used for 12 months and forms a focal piece of the house so needs great attention. At Gifted, we’re proud to offer all of this at great value too.”

Danilo as ever is holding off for a bit before revealing the cover designs of its 2027 products, but its licensed signings roster is as expansive as ever, across leading entertainment, music and sports properties as well as heritage and design-led brands, plus charity tie-ups.

The 2027 portfolio spans calendars across A3, square, slim, collector editions, deluxe, minis, my first, desk and organiser formats, plus advents.

Flame Tree Publishing

Good Tuesday

For its 2027 calendar collection, Good Tuesday is continuing to work with several notable independent artists, including Han Valentine (pictured), Nina Brooke , Ashley Percival and Abbie Frank

Good Tuesday’s director Angus Johnston summarised how: “Each brings a recognisable visual language that translates trends into artwork with strong shelf impact and clear customer resonance.

Broad appeal designs drive volume and gifting, while niche collections create points of discovery and storytelling. Together, they allow calendars to sit confidently alongside homeware, lifestyle and gift categories, rather than being treated as purely seasonal products.”

Flame Tree continues to showcase a diverse range of talented artists in its 2027 calendar range, including Kerem Beyit, Emma J Shipley, Maritza Lisa, Jane Tattersfield, Bee Brown and André Sanchez

One of two new collaborations is Enid Blyton: The Famous Five Wall Calendar, courtesy of Hachette's Children's Group. This art calendar gathers 12 lovable covers from stories with informative text accompanies each work in this art calendar and the datepad features previous and next month’s views.

The other is an official Anne Stokes wall calendar which gathers 12 of her lifelike portrayals of fantasy subjects.

The new releases build on proven favourites while introducing fresh, desirable formats. The new Pocket Artisan Art diaries launch with a curated selection of bestselling artists, featuring designs by Angela Harding, Utagawa Hiroshige, and Vincent Van Gogh, and the publisher is continuing its collaboration with Moomin

The company’s simline pocket diary collection showcase some of Flame Tree’s strongest-performing designs, including Hokusai and a Bodleian Libraries artwork, and the partnership with Flower Fairies continues with designs in this new range.

And there are also many new 2027 titles from Andrews McMeel brand (which includes the four imprints of AMP, Amber Lotus, Abrams, and Rizzoli Universe).

• Fourth Wing – two new calendar and diary formats celebrate the bestselling series and feature all-new fan artwork and quotes.

• Jane Austen – classic literature is on trend with The Quotable Jane Austen wall calendar set to appeal to book lovers and rom-com buffs, with Marjolein

Bastin’s nature-inspired illustrations paired with the author’s timeless wit.

• Spicy Book Club – the romance genre saw the largest growth in the print book market for 2025, including a triple-digit increase in sales of romantasy. This 16-month weekly/monthly planner has a chilli pepper rating system and spicy stickers.

• Katie Daisy – a weekly planner, day-to-day calendar, wall calendar and deluxe weekly planner feature the artist’s colourful paintings of her favourite things, hand-lettered quotes, and customisable habit trackers.

• Ornithography – based on Jessica Roux’s bestselling Ornithography: An Illustrated Guide To Bird Lore and Symbolism, this wall calendar blends myth, symbolism, and natural beauty into a visually captivating collection.

• Cats Rule The Earth Tarot – this wall calendar creatively reinvents traditional tarot cards with modern, charming cat illustrations.

• Lightlark Saga – from the New York Times

bestselling YA romantasy series, this wall calendar with bonus poster has 13 illustrations of beloved characters

• Tiny Chef – a viral sensation with over 11million followers, constant celebrity amplification, and awards including an Emmy. Tiny Chef shares snapshots from his life inside and outside of the kitchen in his humble garden tree stump.

• Eggsdoodz – as @eggsdoodz Erin Siney has cultivated an audience of more than 575k fans across socials with her cozy doodles and affirmations. This wall calendar combines cottagecore-inspired art and heartfelt messages with fan-favourite stickers.

Museums & Galleries

Introducing two calendars in support of its partner charities Macmillan Cancer Care and British Heart Foundation, M&G is donating 10% of the suggested £11.99 SRP to these causes.

The Macmilllan calendar showcases paintings by popular M&G artist Louise Rawlings , while the BHF calendar focusses on British Landscape photography.

Family organisers is a new format for M&G, which is publishing two titles –Brambly Hedge and Chris Dunn’s Wind In The Willows, licences that are well proven in its main calendar range. Both feature unique imagery in the family organisers with internal layouts divided into five columns for family members and a monthly day-by-day column.

The main range of calendars includes all of M&G’s customer favourites – the V&A, British Library, and British Museum, plus designers and artists such as Catherine Rowe, Emma Frances Grant, Annie Soudain, Helen Ahpornsiri, Emily Burningham, Eric Ravilious, and new artist Sue Welfare, whose calendar focuses on her prints of British bird life.

Carousel Worldwide

There is an enormous amount of newness from Carousel Worldwide for 2027, including…

• Laura Ashley – a timeless heritage brand since 1953, Carousel was keen to work with the designs that have an enduring appeal, the range includes the new A3 WTV format, Wall, Slim and Notebook.

• Thomas Kinkade – a range of calendars and diaries showcases the themes of connection, belonging, and strength of family from this highly popular artist.

• Santoro – a diverse range of calendars licensed from Santoro including Gorjuss, Masterpieces, Fusilli Reasons and its Bango Berry brand. The humour of Masterpieces and Fusilli Reasons – Life Is Full Of Pastabilities –are great additions to Carousel’s humour range.

• I Like Birds – an extensive range of calendars and diaries featuring highly colourful and attractive birds across different formats.

• Marie Curie – Carousel is delighted at the opportunity to combine its expertise with the vital work of the UK’s leading endof-life charity, in A4, slim and slim diary products.

• Jesuso Ortiz – the Spanish artist, licensed through The London Studio , tells his stories through whimsical illustrations that feature an everyday object as the main subject. Wall, A4 and Notebook.

• Jelly Armchair –a wall calendar from the wonderful humour range full of big silly puns and colourful illustrations.

• Year Of The Ham – a wall calendar in support of Great Ormond Street Hospital to help with ground-breaking research into children’s health. The humour calendar has been shot by renowned photographer Myles New using fun costumes and slogans for every ham featured, including Hamela Anderson, Sherlock Hams, and Frosty The Snowham.

• Wire-o-walls - building on the success of the week-to-view wireo-walls the publisher has gone a step further with an A3 WTV giving increased space for all those weekly activities.

FOR ALL YOUR CALENDAR AND DIARY NEEDS