January Marketing Planner 2026: Dates and Events for Lifestyle Brands
Your monthly roadmap to the cultural moments and offbeat holidays happening this month.
Load up on ideas for the coming weeks …
The confetti has barely hit the floor, and already January is asking that eternal marketing question: “So…what’s next?”
For lifestyle brands and founder-led businesses, January is one of the richest months of the year for storytelling. It’s packed with fresh starts, cultural moments, quirky holidays, and early opportunities to pitch the media for the seasons ahead.
Here’s your practical guide to what deserves a spot on your calendar this month.
What to Post on Social in January
January themes naturally fall into a few major buckets:
Seasonal Movements
Dry January – Wellness resets, alcohol-free entertaining, calming home rituals
Veganuary – Plant-based living, cruelty-free beauty, sustainable apparel
Winter Skincare – Hydration, sensitive-skin solutions, cozy self-care nights
New Year, New You – Organization, goal setting, habit building
Awards Season – Fashion, beauty looks, entertaining moments
Major Cultural Moments
A few big events anchor the month and deserve real-time attention:
Golden Globes – January 11 – Awards season officially steps onto the red carpet. Great for fashion, beauty, entertaining, and pop-culture tie-ins.
Atlanta Gift Show – January 13–19 – A key industry event for decor, furniture, accessories, and home brands.
For decor, furniture, candle, and accessories brands, the Atlanta Gift Show is practically a weeklong content festival. It’s an ideal time to share behind-the-scenes images, new collections, and founder commentary.
Winter Lifestyle Content
Winter Skincare & Wellness – Think hydration, self-care rituals, cozy evenings, mental health, and mind-body balance.
National Puzzle Day (January 29) – Ideal for slow living and creative pastimes.
Bubble Bath Day (January 8) and Rubber Duckie Day (January 13) – Lighthearted self-care moments that decor, candle, and beauty brands can play with.
Celestial Moments
Even the universe gets a line in January:
Full Moon (Wolf Moon) – January 3
Jupiter in Opposition – the brightest planet of the year
New Moon
Great angles for mindfulness, reflection, and wellness brands.
Quirky Holidays = Easy Engagement
January also delivers wonderfully oddball days that help posts feel timely and human:
Bubble Bath Day – January 8
Rubber Duckie Day – January 13
Hat Day – January 15
National Dress Up Your Pet Day – January 14
National Pie Day – January 23
National Puzzle Day – January 29
Even serious brands can loosen their collars a bit and join in the fun. Pet brands, kid’s apparel labels, and beauty founders can all use these moments to connect with audiences in a playful way.
And don’t forget the basics that give posts extra texture:
Garnet Birthstone for January
Carnation, the birth month flower
The Bird of the Month: The Owl – wisdom, reflection, and winter woodland vibes
Early PR Pitch Opportunities for the Months Ahead
January isn’t only about what’s happening—it’s about what editors are planning.
This is prime time to pitch for:
Spring Fashion and Beauty Trends
Bridal Beauty and Wedding Style
Spring Home Decorating and Entertaining
Easter Food, Style, and Decorating Ideas
St. Patrick’s Day Party Angles
Magazines and major websites work far ahead. While your customers are still in fleece socks, editors are mentally in June—so travel essentials, summer entertaining, and Father’s Day angles are also fair game.
A Few Classic and Historical Moments to Inspire Content
If you like blending modern marketing with a dash of the past (and I absolutely do), January offers plenty:
Joan of Arc’s Birthday (January 6, 1412) – Courage, conviction, and leadership make timeless founder inspiration.
In 1431, Joan of Arc’s trial began—an intriguing historical footnote.
Ben Franklin’s Birthday (January 17, 1706)
Mozart Born! (January 27, 1756)
Prohibition started in the U.S. in 1920 – A fascinating angle for spirits and cocktail culture.
Tech history fans get their own mini-festival:
The legendary Macintosh “1984” Super Bowl ad first aired in 1984.
The first Mac computer was introduced the same year.
Music lovers can nod to:
1969 – Led Zeppelin released their first album
A few weeks later, The Beatles last played together publicly on January 30, 1969, during their famous surprise rooftop concert at the Apple Corps building in London, performing songs like "Get Back" and "Don't Let Me Down" before police shut it down due to noise. While they did some recording and appeared in promotional photos afterward, this spontaneous rooftop gig was their final live performance as a group.
And sober reminders that shaped our world:
The Challenger disaster anniversary
Audrey Hepburn passed away in 1993
The first American novel published in 1789
How to Plan Your January Marketing – By Lifestyle Industry
Different kinds of lifestyle brands experience January in very different ways. The trick is using the calendar as a choose-your-own-adventure instead of a to-do list that shames you before you’ve finished your first cup of coffee.
For Candle & Home Fragrance Founders
January is practically your native habitat.
Use these angles from the planner:
Build weekly posts around Dry January resets with comfort-core visuals – candles on nightstands, next to bathtubs, and (of course) on puzzle tables.
Highlight the Owl as Bird of the Month with winter woodland scenes and cozy storytelling.
Share new product sneak peeks during the Atlanta Gift Show week even if you’re not exhibiting.
Tie promotions to playful days like Bubble Bath Day, Hat Day, and National Puzzle Day to encourage pass-the-time purchases.
Your goal: position candles as emotional support animals…that don’t need to be walked.
For Beauty & Skincare Brands
Beauty brands get to play both sides of January.
Smart planner moves:
Lean into Veganuary with ingredient education and cruelty-free messaging.
Create “Winter Skin Survival Guides” focused on hydration and barrier repair.
Connect posts to Bubble Bath Day and Rubber Duckie Day for routine tips and founder rituals.
Use awards-season chatter to talk about achieving a natural red-carpet glow at home.
Your goal: be the helpful guide your customers need when the heat is on and the humidity is gone.
For Sustainable Apparel (Especially Kids’ Brands)
January is about continuity and previews.
From the calendar:
Share stories about ethical production and organic fabrics as part of Veganuary values.
Post spring print sneak peeks – tanks and shorts quietly whispering “warmer days ahead.”
Use fun engagement days like Dress Up Your Pet Day and Hat Day for adorable brand moments.
Plan ahead for early media pitches around Easter outfits and St. Patrick’s Day style ideas.
Your goal: remind parents that buying better-made clothing is one small step for closets, one giant leap for the planet.
For Food, Decor, Travel & Accessory Brands
Other planner tactics:
Use National Pie Day and other food holidays for recipe tie-ins.
New Year content can focus on organization and home refresh essentials.
Pitch ahead for spring entertaining and summer travel features while competitors are still napping.
Your goal: treat January like a runway show instead of a waiting room.
Bringing It All Together
Download my January Marketing Planner (below), highlight the moments that fit your brand best, and map out:
12 social posts
2 newsletters
1 simple promotion
6 early media pitches
Do that, and January stops feeling like a long cold month—and starts acting like the launch pad it was meant to be.
Use the Planner to Stay Ahead
Instead of scrambling to invent posts at the last minute, founders can download my January Marketing Planner and map out:
Social media posts tied to Dry January and Veganuary
Comfort-core winter promotions
Early media pitches for spring and bridal season
In-the-moment content during the Atlanta Gift Show
Purpose-driven messaging around MLK Day
The planner gives you a simple framework for choosing the moments that fit your brand best and turning them into micro-media assets.
Download it, print it, tape it above your desk, and let January do some of the heavy lifting for you:
>> Download the January 2026 Pitch & Post Calendar Here <<
Looking Ahead
Use January as your warm-up lap for the year. I’ll be publishing my February and March outlooks early so you can plan ahead—and if you’re a fellow indie founder, let’s make 2026 the year your marketing finally behaves itself. :-)
FAQ
What is Dry January?
Dry January is a popular wellness trend where people take a break from alcohol for the month. For lifestyle brands, it’s a natural hook for mocktail recipes, “reset” routines, mindful evenings in, and better-for-you habits.
What is Veganuary?
Veganuary is a month-long movement encouraging people to try vegan eating (and often vegan lifestyle swaps) during January. It’s a strong angle for plant-based recipes, cruelty-free beauty, eco-friendly products, and sustainability storytelling.
What should I post about in January if I’m a lifestyle brand?
Start with the “big buckets”: New Year resets, winter comfort, wellness, and early Valentine’s energy. Then layer in timely moments like awards season (Golden Globes) and quirky holidays (Bubble Bath Day, Dress Up Your Pet Day, National Puzzle Day) to keep content fun and current.
When should I pitch spring trends to the media?
January is the ideal time to pitch spring fashion, bridal beauty, wedding style, spring home, and Easter entertaining. Editors work ahead—so while consumers are still in winter mode, media outlets are often building spring and early-summer content calendars.
What is the Atlanta Gift Show and why does it matter?
The Atlanta Gift Show (Jan 13–19, 2026) is a major wholesale market for home, gift, and lifestyle categories. Even if you’re not exhibiting, it’s a timely reason to share new launches, trend commentary, and behind-the-scenes founder content.
How do I use the January Marketing Planner PDF?
Download it, scan the calendar for dates that match your brand, then pick 6–10 moments to build content around. Use it to plan social posts, newsletter themes, simple promotions, and early media pitches without scrambling week-to-week.
Which January dates usually perform best on social?
In general: New Year reset content early in the month, wellness/self-care posts throughout, awards-season tie-ins around the Golden Globes, and light/funny holidays (pet, bath, food) for easy engagement.
Will you be releasing February and March planners too?
That’s the plan—and it’s smart. January is great, but planning one month ahead is where marketing starts feeling calm instead of chaotic.
What should candle brands post about during January?
Candle brands can lean beautifully into January’s self-care energy. Dry January is ideal for promoting cozy nights in with tea and alcohol-free rituals. National Puzzle Day and Rubber Duckie Day are fun opportunities to pair candles with slow-living imagery. And the Atlanta Gift Show week is perfect for previewing spring scent collections and new vessels.
How can beauty brands use Veganuary for marketing?
Veganuary is tailor-made for cruelty-free and plant-based beauty founders. Skincare brands can share ingredient spotlights, vegan routine guides, and clean-beauty swaps. Winter is also prime time for posts about hydration, barrier repair, and sensitive-skin care—especially around Mind Body + Wellness Day. Awards season gives beauty brands a chance to talk red-carpet glow, too.
What January angles fit best for eco-friendly apparel brands?
Organic and sustainable apparel brands can connect naturally with purpose-driven January content. Veganuary supports storytelling around ethical production and environmental values. Dress Up Your Pet Day and Bubble Bath Day are playful fits for kids’ clothing brands in particular. And January is the moment to show upcoming spring prints, joggers, and sweatshirts while pitching editors on Easter and St. Patrick’s Day style ideas.
Tags: January 2026, marketing calendar, Dry January, Veganuary, Atlanta Gift Show, founder visibility, lifestyle marketing
