Mother's Day gifting shifts to tech, personalization and experiences

U.S. Mother’s Day spending is expected to hit a record $38 billion in 2026, with average planned spend at $284.25 per person, but the best presents are the ones that save time, make life easier, or create a memory she will actually keep. They are not necessarily the priciest ones, just specific enough to dodge the generic bouquet trap.

What the 2026 numbers say about what people actually buy

Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, May 10, 2026, the second Sunday in May, and it is still not a federal holiday. The National Retail Federation’s long-running survey, which has been in the field since 2003, finds 84% of U.S. adults plan to celebrate and shows the holiday now stretches well beyond flowers and cards.

Flowers still lead at 75%, greeting cards follow at 74%, and special outings such as dinner or brunch sit at 63%. Gift cards come in at 55%, clothing and accessories at 51%, and electronics are set to top $4 billion in spending for the first time in the survey’s history. One-third of consumers also plan to give experiences such as concerts or sporting events. Consumers are “gifting from the heart,” in the National Retail Federation’s phrasing.

The modern mom gift is supposed to do something

The mom-and-baby category is growing fast because shoppers are paying more attention to eco-friendly sourcing, smart devices and AI-powered personalization. That does not mean every product with a sustainability label or a companion app deserves a higher price. It does mean the bar is higher now: a gift should either solve a recurring problem, feel unmistakably personal, or make a daily routine easier.

In a 2026 Optimove survey of 648 U.S. consumers, 49% said they regularly use AI tools for shopping ideas or gift recommendations. Discovery has moved from search bars to prompts, but it does not automatically make the shopping better. AI is useful when it helps you narrow to the right thing, not when it just produces ten expensive versions of the same idea.

The same survey found 64% of respondents are likely or very likely to buy from a new or unfamiliar online merchant, and 54% try new brands in at least half of shopping experiences. That flexibility is helpful for shoppers looking for better fit, better design or better service, but it also means the burden is on the product to earn trust quickly. If a smart feature does not save time, simplify a routine or make the gift more usable, it is probably just cost.

Tech that earns its keep

Electronics are having a moment because they can now be framed as comfort buys, not just gadgets. For Mother’s Day, the right tech gift is usually the one that removes a daily annoyance, whether that is keeping schedules organized, reducing mental load, or making her home setup easier to live with. The key question is simple: does this thing actually make her life smoother, or does it merely look impressive on a product page?

That is where eco claims and AI claims need a reality check. Sustainable materials matter when they change durability, packaging or sourcing in a meaningful way. AI personalization matters when it improves fit, recommendations or usability.

Personalization should feel specific, not performative

RetailMeNot’s 2026 survey puts the average planned Mother’s Day spend at $93 per person, which is a useful reminder that a thoughtful gift does not have to sit anywhere near the National Retail Federation’s higher average planned spend of $284.25. Its respondents leaned toward lower-cost, high-meaning gifts: flowers, food and treats, gift cards, personalized gifts, beauty and skincare, handmade or DIY gifts, and experiences.

A personalized gift is strongest when it feels like it was made for one person’s habits, not just customized at checkout. The best versions usually solve for a real preference, a real routine or a real memory, instead of just putting her name on the item and charging more.

If you are choosing between a flashy object and something more intimate, trust the one that feels more exact. A gift card is not lazy when it is paired with a place she already loves. A customized gift is not automatically thoughtful if it is built around a trend she would never choose for herself.

Experiences and time are still the smartest luxuries

The strongest trend in the Mother’s Day data is how often the holiday now points away from things and toward time. Special outings are already a top category in the National Retail Federation survey at 63%, and one-third of consumers plan to give experiences such as concerts or sporting events. RetailMeNot’s respondents went even more practical, saying the best gift may be time, rest or household help.

For the mom who already has plenty of candles, mugs and tote bags, a dinner reservation, a day out, or a gift that creates a genuine break can feel far more luxurious than another object.

The history explains why this holiday still feels personal

Mother’s Day has always carried a tension between sentiment and commerce. Anna Jarvis organized the first official Mother’s Day events in 1908 in Grafton, West Virginia, and at a Philadelphia department store, and in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed the proclamation making the second Sunday in May a national holiday. Jarvis later turned against the holiday’s commercialization and spent years fighting retailers and fundraising uses of the day.