In and Out: Christmas Lighting Trends 2026 You Need to Know About

Find out which trends to follow and which ones to ditch in this handy 2026 Christmas lighting guide.

As the store shelves are slowly lined with pumpkins that will soon be replaced with Christmas trees and gingerbread houses, it’s time to start planning your spectacular Christmas lighting display. If you don’t know where to start, take a look at these Christmas lighting trends 2026 to get the creative juices flowing.

The key to relieving holiday stress while also decking your house out with lights to impress is planning ahead. Even though the air is still warm outside, now is the perfect time to begin crafting your plan.

Keep reading as we share up-and-coming Christmas lighting trends 2026.

In: Lights With a Vintage Spin

Vintage lighting schemes that conjure up memories of Christmases past are in vogue. They’re imperfect and playful, incorporating a range of fun colors. Think warm oranges, purples, greens, yellows, and blues.

If you opt for a nostalgic look, just remember that in 2026, vintage looks should also incorporate intentionality. This means that, rather than throwing up lights in every color of the rainbow, plan a colorful palette that serves as a nod to the past while reigning in the kitsch. 

In: Larger Holiday Lighting Bulbs

Large, old-fashioned Christmas light bulbs are another ode to the past that are gaining popularity this year. To get technical, these are called C9 bulbs. In addition to the bulb itself being larger, C9 holiday lights have a larger base and are brighter.

Good to Know: At Services By Bright, we use C9 bulbs for all of our Christmas light installations.

In: Warmer Christmas Lighting

Moody, warm lighting is the look many are striving for in Christmas 2026. Think sunlight rather than starlight. Stark, modern cool lights are getting the boot this season.

Out: Overdone Icicle Lights

Although vintage is in, it is possible to overdo it. Icicle lights are one style that needs to be used with care this holiday season.

Lining every window, roofline, and bush with icicle lights will look dated in the upcoming season. However, they can still be used with intentionality. For example, you could use them as subtle accents in key areas – lining just the windows or a few bushes.

Out: Permanent Lights That Don’t Blend Well

The difference between permanent lighting brands can be painfully obvious. Cheaper ones may get the job done – but stick out like a sore thumb during the day and produce an angled glow that doesn’t blend.

The key is to choose a company that offers discrete tracks, designed to blend in with your home during the day. When the lights are on, you want them to produce a soft, refined glow. Then, you’ll be all set to match every Christmas light fad for years to come with the simple push of a button.

Good to Know: Services By Bright offers high-quality permanent lights that fit the bill, called JellyFish permanent lighting.

Out: Choosing Your Christmas Lights Based On What Other People Are Doing

At the end of the day, decking your home out with Christmas lights is about turning it into a glowing delight for you and your family to come home to at the end of each cold, winter day during the holiday season.

If the current styles don’t suit your fancy, then we encourage you to go against the trends. What works for everyone else may not be what works for you – and that’s more than okay. The styles will always be changing, but that doesn’t mean you have to.

Good to Know: If you decide to work with Services By Bright for professional Christmas light installation, you can change up your style from year to year! No need to commit to one type of Christmas lighting.

Now That You Know About These Christmas Lighting Trends 2026, What Will You Do?

So, what’s the verdict? Will you hop on the bandwagon and go with the trends – or carve your own path and do whatever you want?

Regardless of what you decide to do, we hope your Christmas season is merry and bright.

If handing off Christmas light installation to the pros will make your holiday season a little bit brighter, we’d love to help you out. You can request a quote from Services By Bright to find out more.

Which of These Trends Do You Plan to Implement – or Skip?

Tell us in the comments!