The best time for new beginnings is now.

Forget dreading the same old New Year's resolutions you ditch by February! We all adore the clean slate feeling that 1st January brings, but who says the excitement of new beginnings has to stop after the ball drops?

A quick history check: people have been celebrating traditions for a fresh start since time began (hello, ancient Babylonians!). But honestly, the most memorable ones are the fun, slightly quirky ones you invent for yourself.

This year, start some joyful habits that you can enjoy throughout 2026! We’ve done the thinking, so all you have to do is scroll down to find fun traditions to make every month feel like a celebration.

Try-a-New-Thing Tuesdays

We all get stuck in comfort zones, but that's where the fun stops! Dedicate Tuesdays of each week to try something completely new, big or small, intentionally. Maybe you order a dish you can't pronounce or finally sign up for that tumbler painting class!  It's a simple tradition that forces you to break the routine and make room for spontaneity.

“Wrong Answers Only” Game Night

Spice up your regular game night, which used to be all about party games, with a ‘Wrong Answers Only’ round. The rule is simple: the answer must be wrong, but the funnier and more confidently delivered, the better!

It guarantees hilarious confusion and encourages creativity. This tradition is a fantastic way to laugh until your stomach hurts and fully embrace the habit of being yourself.

Monthly 5-Minute Dance Battle

Once a month, challenge your friends or family to a completely ridiculous dance battle. The rules of the battle are whatever you decide, no shame allowed! Kick off this tradition on the first Friday of January and see how quickly it becomes your favourite tradition.

To make it extra quirky, you can try replicating The Routine from Friends and make it a partner challenge! 

First-Sunday Brunch Club

Kick off this delicious tradition with your closest friends! Make the first Sunday of every month your dedicated brunch date. Brunch spots are fantastic, low-pressure places to meet new people and effortlessly expand your circle. 

You can rotate hosting duties and finally show off your prettiest cookware, or turn it into a monthly adventure by looking up new brunch spots in the city. Don't be afraid to bring along new acquaintances and organically add new faces to your fun little club!

Backyard/Living Room Camping Night

Embrace your inner child by planning a whimsical camping night right at home! Whether you pitch a tent in the backyard or build an epic, magical pillow castle in the living room, the goal is total disconnect. 

Switch off the screens, make s'mores (even if they're microwave versions!), and share silly stories under your handmade roof. It's a cheap, fun tradition that feels like a real getaway.

Cake-for-Breakfast Tradition

Who says cake is only for dessert? Start the tradition of having cake for breakfast on your birthday! Pre-book a gourmet cake selection from your local bakery or patisserie a few days in advance and serve it in a cake stand for the gram. It turns a simple birthday treat into an anticipated, indulgent ritual that guarantees a sweet start to your special day.

Annual “Delulu Goal” Card

Write down one (or more) completely audacious, wildly optimistic, and slightly unbelievable 'delulu' goal that you genuinely want to achieve in your notebook. The point isn't necessarily hitting the goal (though that's a huge win!), but having some fun while trying to achieve it.

Need some inspiration? You can start by writing down things like having a fantasy-themed photoshoot with your kid or pet, or successfully convincing a high-end designer to custom-make an outfit for you!

Ugly Sweater Summer Night

Forget those cold December parties! On a night during peak summer heat (like the last weekend of June), challenge your friends or family to wear the absolute ugliest holiday sweater they own. 

The last person to surrender and peel off the woolly monstrosity gets crowned the champion and wins a massive ice cream sundae! It’s hilariously uncomfortable and the perfect way to embrace summer fun!

Giant To-Do List Bonfire

This is the ultimate stress-busting tradition! Once or twice a year, gather all those endlessly deferred tasks, overwhelming goals and old mental clutter (written neatly on a giant sheet of paper, of course). Then, safely and ceremoniously, light it on fire (in a backyard pit or fireplace). 

Watching that overwhelming list literally turn to smoke is a cathartic way to practice new beginnings and find instant relief.

Bad Movie Club

End each month with this gloriously fun tradition. The rules are simple: once a month, everyone gathers to watch a truly terrible movie. The worse the plot and the cheesier the acting, the better. The goal isn’t to appreciate it, but to provide hilarious running commentary.

Make it extra special by serving themed snacks on huge platters that match the movie's absurdity (like neon blue punch for a '90s sci-fi flop). It's a joyful, low-stakes way to laugh with friends and guarantee great memories.

The Fondue Frenzy Night (Bonus Tradition)

Because every year deserves at least one night where everything gets dipped in cheese or chocolate!

Pick one evening every quarter and declare it Fondue Frenzy. Pull out a fondue set, invite your favourite people, and agree on one rule: nothing is off-limits. Bread, fruit, marshmallows, pretzels, strawberries, maybe even that random snack no one knows what to do with! If it fits on a skewer, it’s going in.

To make it extra fun, assign themes. A cheesy chaos night or a “trust the dip” challenge, where everyone brings one unexpected item to throw into the pot!

So there you have it, 10 (and a bonus) easy, exciting, and wonderfully wacky traditions to adopt in 2026. The beauty of these habits is that they don’t demand perfection or discipline. They just ask you to show up and enjoy yourself.

These little rituals keep the magic of a new beginning alive long after January fades. They turn ordinary months into something worth anticipating.

Pick a few. Put them on the calendar. Share them with friends. And make 2026 the year you choose joy, laughter, and being unapologetically yourself!