Holiday

Inside Our Holiday 2026 Issue

Lavish amounts of color and joy make festivities merry and bright in our magnificent Holiday issue. Drawing upon current design trends and a deep sense of nostalgia, the editors have pulled together a bold blend of vibrant décor, dreamy destinations, artful tablescapes, and delicious fare.

A Joyful Gathering

A collection of nutcrackers and Bernardaud Grenadiers china bring a sweet sense of nostalgia to the Christmas table .

Christmas nutcracker décor shown in two photos. On the left, a gilded mirror draped in cedar garland and hung with a wreath and red ribbon sits above a wooden sideboard crowded with nutcrackers, red winterberry branches, blue-and-white vases, and a blue-and-white porcelain clock. On the right, a table setting on a blue-green floral tablecloth features gold-rimmed plates with a gold wreath design, nutcracker-patterned china, a white napkin, gold flatware, and nutcrackers behind.

Yuletide in Paris

Twinkling boulevards, swanky shop displays, and iconic hotel stays await in the City of Light.

Christmas in Paris shown in two photos. On the left, the pale green Ladurée storefront is decorated with a large illuminated bow above the entrance, garland and lights along the façade, and two small trees trimmed with pastel ornaments and gold bows in white planters marked with an “L.” On the right, a cluster of evergreen trees decorated with red and gold bows and ornaments stands in front of classic cream-colored Parisian buildings with slate mansard roofs.

A Storybook Stay

It’s Christmas year-round at a Georgia mountain retreat inspired by the beloved film The Holiday.

A two-story fieldstone cottage with a wood-shingle roof and a stone chimney at each end, set against a wooded hillside of bare winter trees.

Giving Thanks

Gilded heirlooms and autumn’s richest hues set the stage for an elegant Thanksgiving feast.

formal Thanksgiving table shown in two photos. On the left, a glossy roast turkey sits on a white platter with red grapes, artichokes, and kale, with a floral centerpiece, candles, and a carving set nearby. On the right, a place setting features a scalloped gold charger, black-and-white patterned china, a turkey-print napkin in an enamel turkey napkin ring, crystal glassware, and gold flatware.

Lasting Impressions

Where art is the family love language, an Alabama home gets a deeply personal update in time for its holiday tour debut.

Also inside:

Bright Tidings: Nostalgia and nature take center stage on Lydia Menzies’s Supper Club table.
Traditional Vintage: Leben Riebe’s trees sparkle with tinsel and vintage ornaments.
For the Keeping: Kathryn Hastings shares about her lifelong affection for letters and provides a peek at her new book, The Handwritten Life: The Art of Letter Writing & Wax Seals.
Ho, Ho, Holiday!: Find recipes for some of our favorite festive sips.

Find these stories and more in the Holiday 2026 issue of Southern Lady.