Gift Guide: What Gen Z Is Shopping For This Holiday Season
The holiday season is rapidly approaching, and if you’re still scratching your head wondering about last minute marketing ploys to inspire purchases from Gen Z shoppers, you’re not alone. What this generation of young consumers wants is constantly evolving, and this year it isn’t all about skincare and tech gadgets. Based on our survey from our Youthtellers (ages 15-28) holiday shopping habits have largely shifted to a want for personalization and experience-based spending.
For this season, at least, gifting is less about price or prestige and more about emotional resonance. With inflation and economic uncertainty on the rise, financial fears are shaping Gen Z shopping this holiday season.
What Gen Z Shopping Looks Like This Holiday Season
Gen Z shopping is more varied than last year. Now young people aren’t requesting niche items, but niche experiences. The focus on experiential purchases and items (that at the very least) are heavily personalized highlights how young consumers are moving into 2026 hoping to differentiate themselves from their peers rather than all clamoring for the latest ‘it’ item. However, there is some commonality in their asks that can help you when marketing to this generation.
Experiences Are Beating Traditional Gifts
Based on our recent survey, experience-based gifts are sitting at the top of Gen Z’s shopping wishlist. Concert tickets, plays, travels, and other shared experiences were constantly repeated as both the most memorable and most desired gifts of young consumers this holiday season.
A lot of this has to do with financial and physical constraints. Gen Zers don’t have as much space to store items as previous generations as rent increases, and they often don’t have the disposable income to hit everything they want to do. Which is why asking for an experience (or even a gift card to somewhere) is all the more common.
As one 24 Y/O from New Jersey told us, “I loved receiving concert tickets or Broadway play tickets. It’s something fun I can do with a friend and I don’t have to worry about the cost.”
If you’re a brand trying to market to this generation, focus on packaging products as an experience or even pair physical gifts with moments.
Tech Still Dominates, but With Meaning
If you remember our gift guide last year, you probably recall that tech was the top asked for category from Gen Z consumers. While young people are still embracing tech with 58% of our Gen Z respondents requesting items such as smartwatches, headphones, and tablets as most wanted gifts, it’s no longer about buying a tech item that shows off wealth or status. These purchases now store the hope to make life easier. One survey respondent said, “I want a Kindle Fire so I don’t have to keep driving to the library to check out books.”
Tech counts, and still matters, as long as it’s providing ease.
Where Gen Z Gets Gift Inspiration
We’re sorry to break it to you, but if you’re spending on ads and wondering why you’re not seeing results–that’s exactly the problem. For young consumers, only 11% see ads as a source of inspiration for what they want. Instead, the main inspiration for Gen Z shopping comes from personal discovery. For 47% that means coming up with gift ideas from browsing stores and online shops, for another 42% they credit the videos they see on social media as inspiration.
So, if you’re putting money anywhere and hoping to get a good ROI, put it in PR boxes and your social campaigns.
The Big Picture: How Gen Z Is Shopping This Season
Taken together, the data shows that gen z shopping during the holidays is:
Experience-driven
Tech-forward but more emotional
Influenced by social media and peers more than any ads
Focused on identity, hobbies, and personal values
Whether it’s a sewing machine that sparks a new passion or Trader Joe’s goods paired with Dodgers merch, the best gifts meet Gen Z where they are.
FAQ
What types of gifts does Gen Z prefer most?
Experiences like concerts or travel, then tech gadgets and after that gift cards or money are the favored items from young consumers.
How important is thoughtfulness in Gen Z shopping?
Extremely important, over 86% say a gift’s meaning matters more than luxury or cost.
Where does Gen Z find holiday shopping inspiration?
Primarily from browsing stores and online shops, followed closely by social media and recommendations from friends or family.
Do ads influence Gen Z shopping during the holidays?
Very little. Ads ranked near the bottom as a source of gift inspiration.
What should brands know about Gen Z holiday shopping?
Successful gifting strategies focus on personalization, emotional relevance, and discoverability…not mass messaging.