Countdown To New Adventures (January 2026 Wallpapers Edition)

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Cosima has been an editor at SmashingMag since 2013. Whenever she’s not writing articles for the weekly Smashing Newsletter, she’s probably working on a … More about Cosima ↬

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Whether 2026 has already begun as you’re reading this or you’re still waiting for the big countdown to start, how about some new wallpapers to get your desktop ready for the new year? We’ve got you covered.

A new year is the perfect opportunity to break free from routines, reset habits, and refine how you do things. And while you may have made plenty of New Year’s resolutions, sometimes it’s the small changes that work wonders — a tidy desktop and a new wallpaper, for example, that give you a little motivation boost when you need it.

In this post, you’ll find desktop wallpapers to accompany you through your first adventures of 2026, to make you smile, and to bring some happy pops of color to a cold and dark winter day. As every month since we started our monthly wallpapers series more than 14 years ago, all of them were created with love by artists and designers from across the globe and can be downloaded for free.

A huge thank-you to everyone who shared their designs with us this month — you are truly smashing! Have a happy and healthy new year, everyone!

  • You can click on every image to see a larger preview.
  • We respect and carefully consider the ideas and motivation behind each and every artist’s work. This is why we give all artists the full freedom to explore their creativity and express emotions and experience through their works. This is also why the themes of the wallpapers weren’t anyhow influenced by us but rather designed from scratch by the artists themselves.
  • Submit your wallpaper design! 🎨
    We are always looking for creative talent and would love to feature your desktop wallpaper in one of our upcoming posts. Join in ↬

Moonwalker

Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Spain.

Moonwalker

Home Office

Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Spain.

Home Office

Winter Magic At Home

“Snow drifted quietly as a child and their loyal dog paused beside the glowing Christmas tree, each ornament holding a small piece of winter wonder. In that still moment, the cold faded away, replaced by warmth, curiosity, and the simple joy of being together.” — Designed by PopArt Studio from Serbia.

Winter Magic At Home

Enjoy The Little Things

“Inspired by the little things in life! Stop for a moment and look around — find the little things that can bring true joy to you. This illustration is hand-drawn on a piece of paper, then scanned and adjusted with Photoshop (for the calendar UI). No AI tools have been used! Enjoy!” — Designed by Martin Nikolchev from Bulgaria.

Enjoy The Little Things

A Message Of Peace And Hope

“In the city where I live, the weather in January could be unpredictable. Sometimes it is freezing cold, and sometimes there is rain and no snow at all. I like it when there is an open sky and the sun is shining. The sky is cold and has a wonderful blue color, especially in the evenings. You look at it and think about what heart desires the most.” — Designed by Wolfie from Russia.

Hope

Snowflakes

Designed by Eike Otto from Berlin, Germany.

Snowflakes

Blue Monday

“Blue Monday may be a PR stunt, but your mental health isn’t. Do your best to protect it all year round.” — Designed by Ginger It Solutions from Serbia.

Blue Monday

Open The Doors Of The New Year

“January is the first month of the year and usually the coldest winter month in the Northern hemisphere. The name of the month of January comes from ‘ianua’, the Latin word for door, so this month denotes the door to the new year and a new beginning. Let’s open the doors of the new year together and hope it will be the best so far!” — Designed by PopArt Studio from Serbia.

Open the Doors of the New Year

Winter Leaves

Designed by Nathalie Ouederni from France.

Winter Leaves

Bird Bird Bird Bird

“Just four birds, ready for winter.” — Designed by Vlad Gerasimov from Georgia.

Bird Bird Bird Bird

Start Somewhere

“If we wait until we’re ready, we’ll be waiting for the rest of our lives. Start today — somewhere, anywhere.” — Designed by Shawna Armstrong from the United States.

Start Somewhere

Squirrel Appreciation Day

“Join us in honoring our furry little forest friends this Squirrel Appreciation Day! Whether they’re gathering nuts, building cozy homes, or brightening up winter days with their playful antics, squirrels remind us to treasure nature’s small wonders. Let’s show them some love today!” — Designed by PopArt Studio from Serbia.

Celebrate Squirrel Appreciation Day!

Cold… Penguins!

“The new year is here! We waited for it like penguins. We look at the snow and enjoy it! — Designed by Veronica Valenzuela from Spain.

Cold Penguins

Cheerful Chimes City

Designed by Design Studio from India.

Cheerful Chimes City

Boom!

Designed by Elise Vanoorbeek from Belgium.

Boom.

Peaceful Mountains

“When all the festivities are over, all we want is some peace and rest. That’s why I made this simple flat art wallpaper with peaceful colors.” — Designed by Jens Gilis from Belgium.

Peaceful Mountains

Yogabear

Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Spain.

Yogabear

Be Awesome Today

“A little daily motivation to keep your cool during the month of January.” — Designed by Amalia Van Bloom from the United States.

Be Awesome Today

A Fresh Start

Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Spain.

A Fresh Start

Winter Getaway

“What could be better than a change of scene for a week? Even if you are too busy, just think about it.” — Designed by Igor Izhik from Canada.

Winter Getaway

Happy New Year ’86

Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Spain.

Happy New Year ’86

Angel In Snow

Designed by Brainer from Ukraine.

Angel in Snow!

January Fish

“My fish tank at home inspired me to make a wallpaper with a fish.” — Designed by Arno De Decker from Belgium.

January Fish

Dare To Be You

“The new year brings new opportunities for each of us to become our true selves. I think that no matter what you are — like this little monster — you should dare to be the true you without caring what others may think. Happy New Year!” — Designed by Maria Keller from Mexico.

Dare To Be You

Oaken January

“In our country, Christmas is celebrated in January when oak branches and leaves are burnt to symbolize the beginning of the new year and new life. It’s the time when we gather with our families and celebrate the arrival of the new year in a warm and cuddly atmosphere.” — Designed by PopArt Studio from Serbia.

Oaken January

The Little Paradox

Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Spain.

The Little Paradox

New Year’s Resolution

Designed by Elise Vanoorbeek from Belgium.

New Year's Resolution

Don Quijote, Here We Go!

“This year we are going to travel through books, and you couldn’t start with a better one than Don Quijote de la Mancha!” — Designed by Veronica Valenzuela Jimenez from Spain.

Don Quijote, Here We Go!

Rubber Ducky Day

“Winter can be such a gloomy time of the year. The sun sets earlier, the wind feels colder, and our heating bills skyrocket. I hope to brighten up your month with my wallpaper for Rubber Ducky Day!” — Designed by Ilya Plyusnin from Belgium.

Rubber Ducky Day

A New Beginning

“I wanted to do a lettering-based wallpaper because I love lettering. I chose January because for a lot of people the new year is perceived as a new beginning and I wish to make them feel as positive about it as possible! The idea is to make them feel like the new year is (just) the start of something really great.” — Designed by Carolina Sequeira from Portugal.

A New Beginning

Japanese New Year

Designed by Evacomics from Singapore.

Japanese New Year

Happy Hot Tea Month

“You wake me up to a beautiful day; lift my spirit when I’m feeling blue. When I’m home you relieve me of the long day’s stress. You help me have a good time with my loved ones; give me company when I’m all alone. You’re none other than my favourite cup of hot tea.” — Designed by Acodez IT Solutions from India.

Happy Hot Tea Month!

Don’t Forget Your Vitamins

“Discover the seasonal fruits and vegetables. In January: apple and banana enjoying the snow!” — Designed by Vitaminas Design from Spain.

Don’t Forget Your Vitamins

Wolf Month

“Wolf-month (in Dutch ‘wolfsmaand’) is another name for January.” — Designed by Chiara Faes from Belgium.

Wolf-Month

A New Start

“The new year brings hope, festivity, lots and lots of resolutions, and many more goals that need to be achieved.” — Designed by Damn Perfect from India.

A New Start

Feeling inspired? We’ll publish the February wallpapers on January 31, so if you’d like to be a part of the collection, please don’t hesitate to submit your design. We are already looking forward to it!

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