Nearly half of Australians would spend the holidays alone in the absence of their usual company

Nearly half of Australians would spend the holidays alone in the absence of their usual company

New YouGov data suggests a quieter, more individualised approach to the year-end holidays, with nearly half of Australians (48%) saying they would spend the holidays alone if their usual companions. This points to a shift away from traditional social expectations, with older respondents more likely to express a preference for solitude.

Having said that, alternatives to being alone still appeal to many. A third of Australians (34%) say they would attend a public event, while one in five (19%) would join an online community. Fewer than one in ten (8%) would spend the holidays with an AI companion, though openness is higher among younger generations (15% among Gen Z and 13% among millennials), suggesting technology may increasingly help fill gaps in social connection.

Christmas dominates festive imagery among Australians. Around three-quarters (73%) say they celebrate Christmas alongside other year-end holidays, while 15% celebrate only Christmas. However, one in ten Australians (9%) do not celebrate any year-end holidays at all.

When it comes to gifting, 47% prefer to buy holiday gifts themselves, while many depend on their partners (33%) and friends or family (28%). AI remains a minor influence in gift buying (3%), though openness grows for practical tasks. 32% would use AI to manage holiday budgets, and 40% see potential value in AI-assisted gift lists, despite 37% finding such tools too impersonal.

Consumers show clear fatigue with generic gifting. Cheap tech gadgets and re-gifted items (28% and 27%, respectively) top the list of least-liked presents, followed by self-help books (26%), socks (24%) and scented candles (23%).

Traditional holiday rituals fare no better. Cleaning up after guests tops the list of rituals Australians would most like to cancel if given the choice (32%). At least a fifth say they dislike gift exchanges at the workplace (23%) and with extended family (22%). Fatigue with these traditions is more pronounced among older generations, while younger Australians are more likely to express dislike for rituals such as holiday cooking, socialising, and travelling.

Overall, the findings point to a more self-directed, low-pressure holiday mindset, where personal comfort and autonomy increasingly take precedence over traditional expectations.

Methodology

The insights in this article have been sourced via YouGov Surveys: Serviced – providing rapid answers from the right audience. The survey was conducted from December 11 and 16, 2025, with 1013 respondents in Australia.