Michaels 2026 Trend Report Declares the Year of Creative Living

Yarn accessory sales at Michaels grew 40% year-over-year, and that number is not an accident. The retailer's 2026 Creativity Trend Report, released March 10 out of Irving, Texas to coincide with National Craft Month, identifies eight major crafting movements it says are reshaping how people spend their time, and the data behind two of them should feel very familiar to anyone who carries a project bag.

The trend Michaels calls "Touching Grass Crafts" sits at the center of the report. Searches for analog hobbies including knitting, crochet, needlepoint, embroidery, sewing, cross stitch, journaling, and painting surged 136% over the last six months on the retailer's platform. The underlying behavior is something you've probably seen at your local park or on a train: people pulling out an embroidery hoop or a compact knitting kit instead of reaching for a phone. Michaels points to the rise of "analog bags" as evidence, a viral social media trend where crafters show off the contents of their project totes, yarn skeins, watercolor palettes, sketchbooks, and tiny kits included.

The second trend with numbers worth noting is what Michaels calls "Crafting Chemistry," which covers the shift toward project-centered social gatherings. Paint party kit searches climbed 329% year-over-year. Searches for "Craft Night" rose 103%. Searches for "Girls Night Crafts" increased 242% according to Michaels' press materials, though some outlets reported the figure as 244%, a discrepancy worth flagging. Guided craft kit sales increased 86% year-over-year. The throughline: making something together lowers the social pressure that a blank evening can create, and it keeps hands busy in a way that a restaurant or a bar does not.

The remaining six trends named in the report are Skill Stacking, Wabi-Sabi Spaces, Confetti Culture, KitschCraft & Charms, DIY Gifts, and Memory Keeping. Michaels' press materials provide names for all eight but detailed descriptions and metrics for only the first two.

"In 2026, creativity is no longer just self-expression, it's self-definition," said Heather Bennett, President and Chief Customer Officer at Michaels. "In a world that feels increasingly automated, creativity has become a natural cornerstone of the cultural return to hands-on, offline living. Our customers are moving past the passive scroll and seeking out the friction of a physical hobby. They are reminding us that the most valuable things we own aren't just bought, they're the ones we've had a hand in creating."

Michaels says it is backing the report with real shelf and floor changes. Fabric is now available in 90% of Michaels stores, up from a smaller footprint, and the company plans dedicated in-store Charm Bars and Patch Bars arriving later in 2026. A series of trend-inspired in-store events is scheduled to begin this spring, giving crafters a place to try the skills attached to these trends and connect with local makers. The full 2026 Creativity Trend Report is available at Michaels.com and Michaels.ca.