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2026 Branded Merchandise Forecast: Australia’s Leading Categories

By 18 February 2026May 11th, 2026Branded Apparel & Accessories

Last Updated: 11 May 2026

Key Points

  • We expect pens, tote bags, reusable bottles, and t-shirts to stay among the best-selling categories in Australia because people still use them every day.
  • We’re also seeing more demand for practical tech items like power banks, charging cables, and phone stands as hybrid work continues to grow.
  • In our experience, the best-performing merchandise is usually the stuff people naturally keep on desks, carry to events, or use during daily routines.

Every year, the industry publishes forecasts about what might trend next in custom merchandise. Instead of adding another prediction to the pile, we’ve taken a closer look at what is actually moving at scale.

We’ve based our forecast on our 2025 order data to determine which categories are likely to remain at the top and which new ones may emerge in 2026.

Colorful branded merchandise water bottles with metal clips, arranged on a white surface. Colorful water bottles with metal lids, part of the latest branded merchandise forecast.

Setting the Baseline: Top 3 Categories by Unit Volume

To accurately forecast 2026, we start with the three highest-volume product categories from last year.

Rank Category Quantity Supplied in 2025
1 Pens 90,560
2 Tote Bags 89,000
3 Chocolates 65,000

This data shows that Australian organisations focused on purchasing giveaways that are practical and easy to hand out.

Five metal mugs—perfect as branded merchandise—are arranged on a white surface. A wooden bottle, a Vodafone notebook, and pens suggest a branded merchandise forecast.

What Will Stay On Top This 2026

The categories we think will stay on our best-sellers list this year are these items:

  • Pens: Used daily in offices, events, and at home, they keep your brand visible wherever they go.
  • Tote Bags: Work as loot bags for event packs, as retail packaging, and as client giveaways, giving your brand repeated exposure in everyday use.
  • T-Shirts: Serve as crew uniforms at events and as giveaways, boosting your brand visibility while making your team look sharp and unified.
  • Reusable Water Bottles: Put your logo in constant view because people bring these bottles everywhere, with more brands increasingly favouring metal over plastic.

A branded merchandise forecast set: black folder, yellow notebook, pen set, and cup on a white desk. Open notepad, pens, notebooks, and forecast branded merchandise on a round white office table.

What New Categories Will Emerge

We also see new categories that could possibly emerge as part of our top 10 best sellers in 2026:

  • Power Banks: Professionals rely heavily on mobile devices during travel and events, so portable chargers make a practical, high-value giveaway.
  • Cables: Modern laptops often need extra connectivity, which makes branded cables and hubs a useful tech accessory to give away.
  • Phone Stands: Daily video calls and mobile multitasking keep phone stands in constant use, giving your brand exposure in both office and remote setups.
  • Hand Sanitisers: Ideal for events where attendees need antibacterial products to stay safe and sanitised, while keeping your logo close at hand.
  • Branded Socks: Suitable for staff uniforms or client gifts. You can keep them subtle with a small logo or go bold with colourful, branded designs.

What to Do with This Insight

With the list of categories we’ve included, you have the option to choose to lean into proven favourites or explore emerging categories. The key is not simply what is popular, but what makes sense for your audience and reflects your brand identity.

Man wearing a tan blazer over a striped shirt

About the Author

Charles Liu

Owner

Charles Liu is the Founder and a recognised authority in the promotional products and uniforms industry in Australia. With over 19 years of experience, he has guided Cubic Promote to work with over 15,000 Australian organisations. His specialty is helping Aussie companies select the right products that stay within their budget. He also specialises in sourcing and assisting brands and government agencies in selecting corporate gifts for VIPs and high-profile clients. A regular contributor to industry blogs, Charles shares his expert insights on using branded merchandise to achieve business goals. Charles’s deep understanding of industry trends and strong supplier relationships make him a trusted figure in the sector, continually influencing the development of both products and uniforms that deliver tangible, measurable results.

charles liu

charles liu

Charles Liu is the Founder and a recognised authority in the promotional products and uniforms industry in Australia. With over 20 years of experience, he has guided Cubic Promote to work with over 15,000 Australian organisations. His specialty is helping Aussie companies select the right products that stay within their budget. He also specialises in sourcing and assisting brands and government agencies in selecting corporate gifts for VIPs and high-profile clients. A regular contributor to industry blogs, Charles shares his expert insights on using branded merchandise to achieve business goals. Charles’s deep understanding of industry trends and strong supplier relationships make him a trusted figure in the sector, continually influencing the development of both products and uniforms that deliver tangible, measurable results.

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