Design your own calendar

The new year 2026 is just around the corner - the perfect opportunity to design your own calendar! Not only will you have a practical overview of the coming months, but you can also unleash your creativity.

Customise your calendar according to your ideas and give it a personal touch that reflects your style. Whether you love photography, enjoy drawing or prefer handwritten notes, your self-designed calendar can combine all of these elements and become a unique work of art.

In addition to the creative aspect, making a calendar also offers you a relaxing moment for yourself. You can fully concentrate on choosing colours, motifs and layouts that inspire you. In the end, you will not only have a functional calendar for 2026, but also a personalised design piece that will accompany you throughout the year.

Take this opportunity to create a calendar that is not only practical but also a real eye-catcher - with our creative ideas, you're sure to succeed!

Calendar holders and paper types

There are various types of calendar holders available for use with your self-made calendars. Here are some standard options:

• Wall calendars are large-format calendars that can be hung on a wall or displayed on a bulletin board. They offer plenty of space for photos, illustrations and personal notes so that you can capture your year 2026 with wonderful moments. Desk calendars, on the other hand, are more compact and ideal for your desk, shelf or bedside table. They offer a clear monthly overview and space for daily notes so that you always have your plans for 2026 in view.
• An annual planner is usually larger than regular calendars and offers space for detailed planning of appointments and events for the entire year 2026. There are also pocket calendars that are particularly practical for travelling. Their handy size makes them the perfect companion for recording spontaneous appointments and memories.
• Photo calendars that allow you to add your pictures to the calendar are particularly popular. This way, you can take your favourite memories from previous years or memorable moments of earlier years with you and at the same time enrich 2026 with new experiences.

These are just some of the standard calendar formats. In the next section, we will examine the various holders and paper types in more detail.

Calendar holders and paper types

There are various types of calendar holders available for use with your self-designed calendars. Here are some standard options:

• Spiral binding: The classic spiral binding is a popular choice for calendars. Here, the pages are perforated and connected with a metal or plastic spiral. This type of binding allows for easy page turning while providing stability.
• Ring binding: With ring binding, the pages are perforated and connected with metal or plastic rings. This means you can easily add or remove pages, making your design more flexible.
• Wooden holder: A wooden holder is a natural and decorative option for holding your calendar pages together. The pages are perforated and attached with a wooden block or moulding. This gives the calendar a rustic or natural touch.
• Perforation: A simple method is to perforate the calendar pages and then hold them together with a cord, ribbon or clip screw. This allows you to personalise the calendar and change the pages as you wish.
• Staple binding: Staple binding is another option for holding the pages of your calendar together. The pages are perforated at the top edge and joined together with a metal clip. The holder is suitable for smaller formats and is easy to use.

The choice of calendar holder depends on your personal preferences, the desired style and the format of your calendar. Each option has its own advantages.

In addition to the formats and holders, you can also select from various types of paper suitable for different purposes.

• Photo paper is ideal if you want to use photos in your calendar. It offers a glossy or matt surface that brings out the colours and details of the images. The paper is particularly suitable for creating high-quality photo calendars that will accompany you throughout the year.
• There is also art paper, which has a smooth surface and high colour brilliance. It is ideal for printing illustrations, drawings or other artistic elements in your calendar.
• Design paper is another type of paper available in many different colours, patterns, and textures. You can use it to give your calendar a personalised and creative touch. You can use it for background designs, scrapbooking elements or collages and thus creatively design your calendar for 2026.
• If you want to take a sustainable approach, recycled paper is the right choice. It is made from recycled materials, is environmentally friendly and is suitable for various purposes, depending on the quality and thickness of the paper.
• Tracing paper is also semi-transparent and is great for creating overlays or shading in your calendar. It can be used to create special effects or to accentuate images and text.

Select your preferred type of paper based on your design preferences and the desired effect. It is also possible to combine different kinds of paper to give your calendar a varied and interesting look.

Giving calendars as gifts - which type is suitable for which occasion?

Calendars are versatile gifts that are suitable for a variety of occasions. They are an excellent way to bring joy, especially at the turn of the year.

For Christmas or just before New Year's Eve, you can design it with festive motifs, quotes and photos of the family or beautiful Christmas memories.

An advent calendar with little surprises for each day is also a great idea.

Alternatively, you can give it as a gift at New Year 2026. This has the advantage that you can provide good wishes and inspiration for the new year. Personalise it with motivational quotes, goals and plans to give the recipient a positive start to the 2026.

A personalised calendar is also a perfect birthday present. You can add photos of shared experiences, funny sayings, or personal notes to bring joy to the birthday boy or girl for an entire year.

Your partner will also be pleased on their anniversary if you give them a calendar with romantic pictures, messages of love and special memories. You can mark important dates such as the day you met, the day you got engaged or other significant milestones.

If a loved one is starting a new chapter in their life or moving to a new city, a calendar with memories of shared experiences can also be a heartfelt farewell gift. Include photos, loving messages and essential dates to create a lasting memory for 2026.

It is essential to consider the occasion and the recipient's preferences when selecting the right calendar. By personalising the calendar and matching it to the occasion, you show your appreciation and create a personal and meaningful gift that will accompany them through the 2026.

The photo calendar: how to surprise your loved ones in 2026

There are various ways to design your own calendars. In the following, we would like to explain how you can create one with photos and what hidden surprises you can enjoy.

On the one hand, you can choose a special photo for each month that either represents an event of the month or is simply a nice memory. It is particularly nice to capture trips together, family celebrations or other significant moments and at the same time look forward to the upcoming experiences in 2026. There is also the option of integrating collages with several photos on one calendar page. These can be themed - a collage with friends, pets or landscapes - or you can combine different experiences for each month.

Mark important dates such as birthdays, anniversaries or other special events in your calendar. Add small photos next to the dates to emphasise them. You can also use emojis, such as a cake for a birthday party or a heart for a romantic event in 2026.

Add inspirational quotes, funny sayings or motivational messages to the calendar. Either place them on special slips of paper or stick them directly into the calendar pages to put a smile on the recipient's face right at the start of the new year.

In addition to these ideas, it is also a great way to hide small vouchers or coupons for certain calendar months. These could be for a dinner out together, a massage or a trip to the cinema in the new year, for example.

Be creative and design the vouchers to match the interests of the person receiving the gift. Last but not least, you can personalise your calendar with homemade elements such as origami figures, bookmarks or small folded cards. You can hide these in the pages of the calendar or insert them as additional surprises - perfect for starting the year 2026 with joy.

Give the gift of great print products from Infowerk

Designing your own calendar allows you to express your creativity while creating a unique and personalised gift for 2026. By choosing the format, paper types and integrating photos and little surprises, you can create a calendar that reflects your personality. It is not only beautiful to look at, but also accompanies the recipient through the entire year 2026 and reminds them of special moments and experiences with you.

So, let your creativity flow and design your own calendar that will bring joy and inspiration!