Christmas Tree Trends 2026

The big Christmas tree trends for 2026 are warm and rich. Deep burgundy, wine red and copper are taking over from bright classic red, oversized bows are staying, and vintage-style glass baubles are back on the tree. Cosy natural textures are in, and so are lights that are far less fiddly to hang. Underneath all of it sits a quieter shift: decorations made to last, and materials that go back into the cycle when they’re done.

That direction comes from Christmasworld, the Frankfurt trade fair where the world’s decoration makers show next season’s ranges. Its three 2026 trend worlds share one guiding principle: be “connected with nature”. Handy, because a real tree is about as connected with nature as Christmas gets.

Here’s what’s trending, how our elves would style each look on a real tree, and what Australian families actually chose last Christmas.

The 2026 colours: burgundy, copper and cream

If 2026 has a signature colour, it’s a deep, grown-up red. Messe Frankfurt’s roundup of the season’s new ranges describes trees in “cream, wine red and burgundy, beautifully paired with gold, black and metallic finishes”. Christmasworld’s bolder trend direction goes further again: “Copper in all its shades takes the lead”, alongside reds and violets. On a real tree those shades do something an artificial green can’t manage. Deep red and copper glow against dark natural needles, so the tree does half the styling for you. Keep to two or three colours and the look stays rich rather than busy. A little cream stops the darker shades feeling heavy, which matters in a bright Australian lounge room in December.

Big bows are staying

Bows had a big 2025 and they aren’t going anywhere. Melbourne styling business The Festive Store lists “oversized, high-gloss bows” among its 2026 trends, alongside tartan, which it traces back to Ralph Lauren’s Christmas displays in London. On a real tree the trick is placement. Tie each bow around a branch close to the trunk where it’s sturdiest, rather than hanging it off the soft tips. Wired ribbon holds its shape for weeks, and a big velvet bow makes a lovely topper if you’re short on ceiling height.

Vintage and heirloom glass

Glass is having a moment, and it’s the one trend on this list you can do for nothing.

Christmasworld’s 2026 displays featured glass baubles with “frozen effects, icy transparency”, and the season’s product roundup describes trees that “sparkle with lavishly decorated glass ornaments”. The Festive Store puts it plainly: “delicate glass baubles, warm metallics, and softly glowing lights”. All of which is a good excuse to bring down whatever has been living at the top of the wardrobe since last January. Glass is heavier than plastic, so hang the weightier pieces deeper in the tree where the branches are strongest, and keep anything irreplaceable above small hands and waggy tails. Our guide to real Christmas trees and dogs has more on that.

Cosy textures, minus the heatstroke

The other big mood for 2026 is cosy. Messe Frankfurt describes Scandinavian “light natural tones” with “faux fur, feathers and wool”, knitted baubles and soft plush stars, while Christmasworld’s minimal direction leans on fine wood and clean geometric shapes. Faux fur in an Australian December is a big ask. The version that works here swaps it for wood, paper and linen, with dried citrus if you’re feeling keen. It photographs just as well, and nothing sheds, melts or needs a jumper.

Lights that are easier to live with

Anyone who has spent a December evening untangling fairy lights will appreciate this one. Among the 2026 launches at Christmasworld was a string-light system whose “multiple shorter sections connect magnetically”, making it “adaptable to different tree sizes” and, best of all, “completely tangle-free”.

Whatever you hang, choose LEDs on a real tree. They run cool, draw less power, and in a warm white they flatter this year’s deeper reds. Keep the water topped up, check the leads before they go on, and switch everything off at bedtime. Our real Christmas tree safety guide covers the rest.

Decorations that go back into the cycle

Sustainability is baked into this year’s trends rather than bolted on. Christmasworld’s lighter trend direction describes “environmentally friendly materials” in “circular, forward-looking design: what we own mindfully returns to the cycle”, and the season’s new ranges include baubles made from recycled glass and gift ribbons that are “fully compostable”. A real tree sits comfortably in that company. Ours are grown with our partners at Yeowarra and nurtured for three to five years before they’re cut for your delivery run. When the season’s over, book a collection and our elves take the tree back to the farm to be mulched, so it feeds next year’s seedlings instead of going to landfill. We plant a tree for every tree we sell.

What Australian families actually chose last year

Here’s something the trend reports can’t tell you. Of the trees ordered online from us between October and December last Christmas, nearly half, 48.5%, were the 6ft Medium. The 7ft Large took 28.7% and the 5ft Small 22.9%. So while the trade fairs talk about towering statement trees, the Australian reality is a 6ft tree in a normal lounge room, decorated by kids who are not consulting a colour palette.

“The most perfect lush Christmas tree I have ever seen, people are asking if it is fake!”
Georgie Wilding

2026’s surprise star: the dachshund

Every year throws up a wildcard. This one has short legs. Messe Frankfurt reports that the dachshund “becomes an essential Christmas motif in 2026”, in mouth-blown glass, straw, felt, knitted fabric and wood. We’re not arguing.

Choosing a tree for your look

Let the style guide the size. Heavy glass and big bows want a fuller tree with sturdy branches, while a pared-back paper-and-wood look can carry a smaller one. Ours come in Small (5ft), Medium (6ft) and Large (7ft). Measure your ceiling and allow about 30cm for the stand and the topper. Our guide to choosing the best real Christmas tree walks through it, or pop your postcode into our real Christmas tree page to see what’s available near you. Once it’s standing, keeping it fresh takes about 30 seconds a day.

FAQs

What are the Christmas tree trends for 2026?

Rich, warm colours: burgundy, wine red, copper and cream. Oversized bows, vintage-style glass baubles, cosy natural textures like wool, wood and paper, and tangle-free lights. Underneath it all is a push towards decorations that last and materials that can be recycled.

What colours are trending for Christmas 2026?

Deep reds lead, especially burgundy and wine red, paired with cream, gold, black and metallic finishes. Copper is the other big one, with Christmasworld’s trend experts saying “copper in all its shades takes the lead” in 2026.

Are real Christmas trees still in fashion for 2026?

Yes. This year’s trends are built around natural materials and being “connected with nature”, and a real tree is the most natural centrepiece there is. Deep reds and copper also look their best against real green needles.

Are LED lights safe on a real Christmas tree?

LEDs are the best choice for a real tree because they stay cool to the touch and use less power. Keep the tree watered, check the leads for damage before you hang them, and turn the lights off when you’re out or asleep.

What should I do with my real Christmas tree after Christmas?

Book a collection with us. Our elves collect in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and on the Gold Coast in the first week of January, and every tree goes back to the farm to be mulched. Outside those areas, check your council’s green-waste collection.

Where these trends come from: Messe Frankfurt, Christmasworld Trends 26+ and Glamorous and Cloud-Soft: Christmas Trends for 2026 (29 July 2026); The Festive Store, Christmas Decorating Trends 2026 (Melbourne, 18 March 2026). Order figures are our own online orders, October to December 2025.