The 2026 version of the PPAI Expo, which traditionally attracts the country’s largest and most prominent promotional product providers and distributors, recently wrapped up in Las Vegas. As usual, the event showcased emerging trends and hinted at which branded promotional products might be popular for the coming year.
This year, the themes seemed to revolve around simplification: ways to declutter your life, reduce stress, and generally promote wellness—for people as well as the planet—through more convenient and “mellow” products.
So what can we look forward to in 2026? Based on what was featured at the January show, the coming year will be all about standing out without being flashy; about elevating your brand through gifting and experiences. Following is a summary of what we learned—the most prominent trends for 2026—along with some ideas about specific items within each category that might fill a specific need.
Cooled Down Colors Balanced with Primary Colors
For 2026, the dominant color palette will feature cooler tones complemented by modern neutrals, all mixed with light and airy hues.
For what it’s worth, the color of the year (did you even know there was such a thing?) is Cloud Dancer, an off-white shade that goes with every brand. Meanwhile, navy blue, deep plum purple, dark green, and deep brown are emerging as the darker trending shades, balancing out Cloud Dancer with notes from the far end of the spectrum.
For lighter colors, look to lilac, stone, light sage, beige, light blue, and sand as popular choices. Additional trending shades feature traditional primary colors such as red, yellow, and royal blue. Bright pink and orange round out the palette, offering a fun and vibrant twist.
Strategically (and Amusingly) Small Is In
Big is out. Tastes are trending micro for 2026, as manufacturers are promoting items that are easy to store, pack, and carry without taking up a lot of space. While some of these new, hassle-free micro products are actually practical and useful, many are simply novelties, meant for pure entertainment purposes.
Examples:
Notebooks: Need to jot down an idea or reminder? These small jotter notebooks fit easily in your bag or back pocket so they can accompany you everywhere. The Neoskin Pocket Spiral Notebook and Pen set measures roughly 6” x 3.5”—perfect for conferences, seminars, and everyday use where convenience is important. If looking for a spiral-bound solution that lies flat and is easy to use, the Corner Coil Notebooks offer 30 sheets of convenience and simplicity that fits in the smallest of pockets at 2.75" x 5.25".
Drinkware: While these mini vessels may not slake a powerful thirst, they are fun and definitely unique. The 2 oz. Mini Stainless Steel Tumbler with straw is small but mighty—perfect as a novelty, party favor, or memorable branded giveaway at your next event. Need something larger? The 6.7 oz. Hydro Flask Micro Hydro Mini Bottle delivers hot or cold beverages in a minimalistic package. Just slip it in your pocket, clip it to your bag, or drop it in your lunch box.
Backpacks Charms: Just what everyone needs: a backpack for their backpack. The Mini Backpack Bag Charm puts the “fun” in functional, offering a small, zippered compartment that’s perfect for storing essentials like earbuds, charging cables, or other tiny must-haves. Clip it right to your “real” backpack or bag. Similarly, the stylish Puffer Lip Balm Holder keychain is designed to hold your favorite lip balm or gloss, keeping your essentials close at hand without taking up a lot of space.
Cheese is Trending. Seriously, Cheese.
The latest trend in home and kitchen gifts is probably not what you were expecting. This year, it’s all about cheese.
It probably shouldn’t be that surprising. After all, as a corporate gift, cheese-related items are not exactly high priced, making them affordable, but they are also not cheap enough to be a general giveaway, making them valuable and prized.
What qualifies as a “cheese-related” item? Charcuterie boards, for one—all shapes and sizes. Then there are mini fondue sets. And cheese knife sets. The list is…well, not endless, but longer than one might imagine.
Examples
Beechwood and stainless steel cheese curlers like the Boska Amigo are a growing trend among kitchen appliances. Stylish and attractive, this kitchen utensil creates delicate curls of cheese or chocolate—perfect for salads, pastas, appetizers, and desserts. Ask about getting your hands on one with your logo laser engraved.
Travel Accessories
A carryover from 2025, travel accessories are still a popular item among manufacturers and distributors. Packing cubes, convenient and stylish toiletry bags, luggage tags with built-in locator technology, power adapters—anything that makes travel easier is highly desirable.
Examples
Luggage: Users love whatever can be packed or carried on a plane. For instance, the Samsonite Outline Pro Carry-On and Convertible Backpack Set easily slips over carry-on luggage to add hands-free storage while in transit, then converts into a backpack for everyday use at the end of the flight. Speaking of hands-free, the Samsonite Travel Beverage Caddy sits on top of a carry-on suitcase, providing a convenient carrier for two standard-sized coffee cups, travel mugs, water bottles, or soda cans.
On-Site Booth Activations and Activities
Interactive activities in the booths themselves were a big hit at the PPAI Expo and will continue to be popular throughout 2026. Allowing them to assemble customized promotional products onsite encourages visitors to linger at your booth and provide a memory they will carry with them long after they leave.
Marine Layer took on this trend by offering onsite patch application at their retail stores. This activity kept visitors at the stores longer than usual and increased the perceived value of their brand.
For instance, leather goods can be embossed at the booth, or wood products can be engraved quickly on site. Non-product related activities include onsite “petting zoos,” where visitors can interact with puppies or other animals—a known stress-reducer. Competitive games like corn hole or raffles have also been employed to keep visitors hanging out.
If considering in-booth activities, note that any skilled work should be done by professionals. These professionals are not hard to find; OnFulfillment can help you find quotes and availability for various services.
Examples
The Leather Lab is a modular on-site stamping station where visitors are invited customize their own leather notebooks. It’s a hands-on, turnkey, and very memorable experience that users will enjoy long after the event is over.
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High-End Decoration
Creating leather, suede, rubber, or other embroidered patches that can be applied to headgear or any other materials will enjoy a banner year in 2026.
Three-dimensional decoration methods for materials such as metal elevate the look of any item. Full-color fabric or embroidered patches allow for more color at a lower cost, while gloss imprints on materials like glass, plastic, and rubberized materials creates tone-on-tone look that adds texture to any product.
Examples
Molded Rubber Patches and Appliques
Rubber patches offer a unique way to represent your brand in a way that won’t be missed. These three-dimensional decorations can be applied to hats, notebooks, travel accessories—virtually anything you can wear or carry. PMS color matching is available.
Metal Art
Rubber too tame? Metal art decoration is a unique process that produces a custom-crafted metal version of your logo, creating a striking and durable design that stands out. These can be applied to lots of items, including premium drinkware.
Cohesive Collections
A cohesive collection of branded items that can be combined in a single kit or collected over time as part of an incentive program will enjoy a successful 2026. These collections can take just about any form you can imagine—your imagination is your only restriction.
Examples
Three-Piece Gift Set
These three-piece gift sets include a branded hard-cover journal, ballpoint pen, and water bottle, all packaged in a stylish, branded gift box. Matching products combined with elevated packaging increases the value of every item and improves the perception of
OnFulfillment Can Help You Realize Your 2026 Plans
Just getting started on your 2026 event planning? OnFulfillment can help. We have access to any branded promotional merchandise you can imagine, and our skilled sales reps can help you brainstorm some memorable and exciting gifts.
Want to learn more? Simply visit the OnFulfillment contact us page and complete the form to request a meeting.
