14 Christmas and holiday card design trends we love for 2026
If you’re the type of person whose stockings are already hung by the chimney with care, you’re probably already browsing holiday or Christmas card trends for 2026. We’re creative types ourselves, so we can relate! While Santa makes his list and checks it twice, our Design Team is making its own list of Christmas card inspirations. After all, they know a thing or two about graphic design trends.
So, what can you expect from our newest class of holiday cards and invitations? Creative Director Cat Chi describes our 2026 holiday collection as a celebration of whimsy and self-expression. “We’ve been feeling inspired by the resurgence of DIY and crafting, both in everyday occasions and holiday decorating. From utilizing DIY-influenced collage techniques and introducing whimsical linework, to reinterpreting nostalgic plaid textures and riffing on cinematic holiday film titles, we’ve tried to bring stylistic breadth to our new assortment that reflects our users’ personal style in ways that feel authentic to them.”
No matter what you’re searching for, our Design Team has something we know you’ll love. Browse the top 14 Christmas graphic design trends of 2026, and hear from our talented designers about what inspired our holiday party invitation ideas this season.
1. Frosty snowfall
Depending on where you’re spending the holidays, cold weather might be as synonymous with the season as chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Whether you’re walking through a winter wonderland or spending the end of the year in a tropical paradise, snow and frost are always a central holiday theme. Steeped in shades of deep blue and snowy white, these expressive designs may be inspired by the cold, but still evoke a sense of comforting warmth.
To capture the chilling beauty of the season, Senior Art Director Mariya Pilipenko designed “Snowflake Swirl,” a nostalgic nod to the holidays with a frosty twist. “I love the look of vintage printed holiday cards and packaging, so for this design, I wanted to capture that feeling with wonky letterpress linework, a limited color palette, and whimsical layers of pattern and snowflakes. It felt like a little puzzle, piecing together all the different elements to create a sense of movement. Hopefully it captures the feeling of a perfect snowy day!” Cozy up with frost-filled designs like “Charlie’s Tree” by Peanuts and “Frosty Snow” by Paperless Post to help you get into the snowy spirit.
2. Whimsical scribble
Whimsy and scribbles go together like Christmas cookies and a cold glass of milk. Playful, curly designs accented with painterly watercolor details make this style feel joyful and bright, while wobbly linework nods to the perfectly imperfect, like a hand-wrapped gift under the tree on Christmas morning.
For Senior Graphic Designer Jin Xia, whimsical scribbles represent the festive energy you can only find around the holidays—as you can see in her design, “Merry Things.”
“I had so much fun working with this whimsical scribble style! From bows and candy canes to gift boxes and ornaments, I got to draw all my favorite holiday things with expressive lines and playful patterns. Everything comes together to capture that festive excitement of the holidays!”
Find your holiday spirit with designs full of whimsy, like “Coupe Full of Cheer,” to bring extra delight to those cold winter nights.
3. Festive plaid
Nothing says “holiday season” like cozying up by the fireplace wearing your comfiest flannel pajamas. For graphic designer Zee Zhang, the holidays are all about those special moments that make you feel warm and fuzzy inside (and outside). “Friendsmas is one of my favorite holiday traditions,” Zee explains. “It makes me think of getting together with friends at Christmas, dancing, sharing good food, and having fun.”
Zhang’s goal in designing “Jolly Friends” was to create a Flyer invite that captures the cozy holiday aesthetic that only Friendsmas can give. “My visual inspiration came from classic winter flannel. I love its cozy, fuzzy texture and nostalgic feel. I abstracted the plaid and stripe patterns into a red and pink holiday palette, using subtle blurring to recreate the soft, hazy quality of flannel, while layering in real flannel textures to make it feel more realistic. I wanted the Flyer to feel festive, playful, and full of energy, just like a Friendsmas celebration. Working on it has made me even more excited for Christmas this year!”
Warm up in style this holiday season with comforting designs in festive plaid patterns like “Tartan Frame” and “Cozy Plaid.”
4. Silver screen holiday dreams
There’s nothing more comforting than watching your favorite film during the holidays. Inspired by the boldness and elegance of classic movie title cards, this cinematic design trend blends the magic of the holidays with the joy of the big screen. Of all the Christmas card ideas of 2026, this one is sure to leave your guests feeling starstruck.
Gather the VIPs in your life with holiday Flyer designs like “Television Tinsel,” “Wintry Weather Wreath,” and “Fireside Delight.” Grab some popcorn, find a comfortable chair, and make all your silver screen holiday dreams come true.
5. Retro collage
The holidays are about bringing together loved ones from different parts of your life—family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers—to create a collage of magical memories. To highlight this spirit of togetherness, the retro collage style trend blends bold cut-outs and vintage themes, creating a unique mix of imagery, textures, and tones. Invites like “Caroling Cheer” by graphic designer Nicole Ban evoke a playful yet elevated style, combining this unique mixed-media collage style with animated elements.
“For this Flyer, I was inspired by holiday patterns and textures,” says Nicole. “I sourced, printed, and scanned images of fabric, gift wrap, and paper to create an animated collage of music notes as Christmas tree ornaments. The speed of the animation creates a musical rhythm and evokes the joy that the season brings.”
Celebrate the season of gifts galore with vintage-inspired collage designs like “Pass the Presents” or “Pick a Present.”
6. Beautiful bows
Whether you’re adorning a present wrapped with care or accessorizing an outfit for a holiday cocktail party, you can always add a touch of festive flair by adding a bow. A rare combination of timeless and trendy, adding ribbons and bows to an invitation adds a touch of elegance to any merry celebration.
On her “Painted Bow Cutout” design, Creative Director Cat Chi explains, “I was inspired by the popularity of bows as celebratory décor and adornment, and the full satin bows I used on my own tree last year! I wanted this watercolor bow to look lush, full, and gestural.”
Decorate your holiday season in festive bows with our sweet “Holiday Bows” photo card, the classic and minimal “Bow Impression” by Sugar Paper, or the lush florals of “Cottagecore Border” by Dogwood Hill.
7. Midcentury illustration
While tapping into holiday nostalgia, our Design Team was drawn to the confident linework and jaunty typography of the midcentury aesthetic. Designer Benny Kessler explains how the joy of Christmas morning inspired their midcentury-style “Unboxing” Flyer. “When looking at present-themed designs that we already had on-site, I saw many that shared a similar compositional approach: multiple boxes of presents, either gridded into a pattern or stacked atop one another,” Benny says. “With this design, I wanted to explore something different. The jaunty, singular silhouette of the present captured, for me, the excitement of opening a present, and fit with the midcentury stylings that we wanted to capture in this design.” Travel back in time with more vintage designs, such as “Reindeer Sparkle,” for a dash of fanciful, nostalgic holiday cheer.
8. Classic greenery
The halls aren’t the only things getting decked with boughs of our favorite greenery. This classic-for-a-reason trend fills our noses with scents of pine and our hearts with holiday cheer. For an extra-special touch, try a design flecked in gold foil, or choose a photo card to display a family photo. If you’re seeking a quintessential Christmas party invitation design, you can’t miss with a touch of fir-inspired greenery.
Admire the lovely branches in designs like “Garland Frame” by Paperless Post or “Berry Garden” and “Longleaf” by Dogwood Hill for an invitation that will spread the warm fuzziness of holiday magic.
9. Animal companions
This trend is inspired by our favorite Christmas tales, from Santa’s misfit reindeer to the mice in “The Nutcracker.” Let’s be honest, there’s no cuter way to share your season’s greetings than with an elegantly illustrated animal companion. Depending on your preferred style, you can interpret this trend in so many ways, from the wining and dining woodland friends of Happy Menocal’s “Fox Party” to the playful childhood spirit of “White Elephant Cutout” by Cheree Berry Paper & Design. Just be sure to leave extra room at the table for whatever furry friends may wander by.
10. Hand lettering
For this trend, our designers leaned into the unexpected with playful proportions, stylized silhouettes, gestural line work, and painterly color palettes. Ligatures on hand-drawn or custom lettering are playful, bold, and unforgettable.
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but artistically crafted words such as these can be even more impressive. So if unique, thoughtfully crafted lettering brings you holiday joy, choose a stylish, festive design like the ’70s-inspired “Oh Joy,” “Jolly Good Time,” or “Wishing You Cheer.”
11. Moody Christmas glow
Sophisticated and painterly, this trend highlights lush greenery in deep, dimensional tones that feel rich and atmospheric. Paired with darker backgrounds, these designs lean into texture and detail, evoking both drama and coziness.
While designing “A Winter Night”, senior designer Taryn Smith says, “I was inspired by talking night-time walks in the park after the first snow. Everything is gentle, still and wondrous. I was particularly interested in illustrating a single moment along the path to emphasize the bouncing light and glow off the falling snow.”
Get into the mood of this glowing trend with designs like “Lit Christmas Spruce” by John Derian, “Filled with Magic” by 2021 Co., or “Glowing Evergreen” by Felix Doolittle.
12. Expressively bold
Give good tidings with boldly drawn lettering from our holiday invitation collection. Playful wishes of holiday cheer cascade across the cards in hand-drawn letterforms, like “Bold in Gold,” or photo card “Joyful Wishes,” for which Senior Art Director Mariya Pilipenko drew inspiration from classic album covers. “I loved the concept of subtly referencing a vintage holiday record with large retro letterforms and incorporating photos into the text, as if you and your family released the ultimate holiday album,” Mariya explains. Whether you’re caroling outdoors or simply humming holiday hymns at home, you can still get into the festive spirit with bold Yuletide invitations.
13. Cheeky illustrations
This one’s for Santa’s little helpers who delight in levity—those who want their Christmas wishes delivered with a bit of wit. At least that’s how our designers approached these humorous and festive designs. They drew inspiration from playful forms, sumptuous details, and visual storytelling—like the jovial dancing in “Santa Spectacular.” On this invitation, Designer Benny Kessler remarks, “A Santa doing the can-can is so iconic! It was especially fun to work on the shape language of Santa as a jolly, carefree character. I would definitely want to be invited to this party.”
Embrace your cheeky side with witty designs featuring clever illustrations like “Santa Cocktail” by Mr. Boddington’s Studio and “Dangle a Cocktail” by Paperless Post.
14. Pink and green Christmas
Mix things up this holiday season by forgoing the classic reds, greens, silvers, and golds—and discover the pretty, preppy combination of pink and green! For a uniquely festive tone, embrace a pink and green palette for a modern spin on classic holiday colors, with designs that feel both fresh and familiar.
“Retro Christmas Tree” by Senior Designer Taryn Smith was inspired by midcentury holiday cards. “I loved how artists from that era either used bold, graphic shapes for Christmas trees or meticulously illustrated every branch,” she explains. “I aimed to blend these two styles into a contemporary design that still pays homage to the original inspiration. I wanted the design to feel like a fun and funky celebration, bursting with vibrant textures and colors.”
Get tickled pink—and green—this winter with cards like “Christmas Eve Flight” by Louise Pretzel or “Santa’s Toast” by Paperless Post.
Keep up with Christmas and holiday card design trends
No matter what designs speak to you, Paperless Post has thousands of options to bring your favorite holiday card invitation trends for 2026 to life. Choose a design from our in-house artists, or one of our design partners like Rifle Paper Co., kate spade new york, and many more. Holiday cards have never looked better, or been easier to create and send.
Need help deciding what to write in your Christmas card or when to send it? We can help with that, too.
Now that you’re brimming with ideas and Christmas card inspiration, find your perfect online holiday greeting card at Paperless Post.
Invite guests to mix and a-mingle with festive designs you can email, text, or share.
