51 Experience Gifts That Will Win You the Most Thoughtful Gift Award in 2026

Does your recipient like to write? Maybe they’d enjoy some hints on how to get started from popular humorist David Sedaris. Or do they like photography? How about a lesson on how to use light from legendary celebrity chronicler Annie Leibovitz herself? Songwriting or performance? They’ll definitely want to hear from Grammy award-winning performer Nas. This popular membership will give them access to all of the above and more with online instruction from more than 180 of the world’s most accomplished practitioners in the realms of media, the arts and beyond! They can stream their videos anytime on their smartphone, computer, Apple TV, Roku and FireTV.

For the friend or family member who hates cooking or just really doesn't have the time, a private chef-catered meal is sure to delight. And did you know you could book one through Airbnb? Yep, the booking platform makes it easy to see what chefs are offering in your giftee's city, with pricing varying by the number of guests or by group. Find a chef who can whip up a Michelin-starred-styled dinner, or construct a charcuterie board the size of their (hopefully massive) kitchen island. You'll find cooks doing family-style meals and individual plates, with cuisines ranging from European to Afro-Caribbean, Japanese, Creole and Indian.

If you want to gift someone an experience but aren't confident you'll pick the right one (not to mention, it can be tough to coordinate if you don't know their schedule), Tinggly makes it easy. Just pick up the Fun Together package, and your recipient can choose from 18,400+ experiences that suit their travel plans and preferences. From sailing excursions off the California coast to salsa dancing in Cancun and a private tour of temples in Bali, the options are endless.

This is a sentimental gift for the storyteller in your life. The subscription includes a year’s worth of thought-provoking questions such as, What was one of the best dates you’ve been on? What are your favorite books? and Who has been the biggest influence on your life?, which they’ll answer via email. Their answers will be posted to their account (they can edit old entries whenever they desire) and at the end of the year, they can have those entries printed into a hardcover book. If your storyteller isn’t inspired by that week’s prompt, they can edit it, write their own question or swap it out for one of their choosing from the StoryWorth library. The luxurious 6x9-inch hardcover book contains up to 480 pages, and there are options to order additional black and white or color books at the end of the subscription year.

Known as one of the OG on-demand beauty services, Glamsquad has a team of vetted pros who can help you get ready for any occasion from the comforts of your home or office. Whether you need a fresh blowout, an intricate updo or want to try a new makeup look for a special event, Glamsquad has you covered. All you have to do is select the service you want done, along with your desired date, time and location, and a stylist will be sent right to your door.

This series of chef-led cooking classes is accessible to the new cook but will be most appreciated by a person who understands the particular challenges of being a pro chef and the talent they possess. Each instructor provides 12 or more cooking classes that last around 25 minutes each, with dozens of techniques and tips being demonstrated and recipes shared. From James Beard award-winner Nancy Silverton’s pepper steak recipe to Israeli cuisine expert Erez Komarovsky’s explanations of everything from spice grinding to lamb kebab-making, these classes promise to be any foodie’s digital equivalent of a much-loved cookbook with pages spattered from repeated use.

If your bestie always has the latest goss on what’s going on with the Housewives and Ru Paul’s Drag Race, know which celeb is dating who and fills you in on all the TikTok drama, gifting them a video, DM, or live video call from Cameo will make their day—if not their entire year. Scroll through the site’s hundreds of actors, musicians, athletes, internet personalities and politicians (everyone from Snoop Dog to Mandy Moore is on the site) and pick one you know will get them excited. Once you make your selection, you write a script and send it in, but keep in mind it has to be 250 characters or less, so keep it short and sweet.

Think of this as an escape room in a box. Packed with brain-busters and riddles, its contents will have them working through a mystery, searching for clues and solving puzzles to advance through the game. The box comes with all the goods needed to fully immerse themselves in the experience, including props, hint-filled papers, envelopes and illustrations—there are even clues hidden on the box itself!

If your mom has been wanting to pick up Italian for years, Rosetta Stone is the one-stop shop to make her dreams become reality. With more than 25 languages to choose from, Rosetta Stone helps its students become fluent speakers through real-world scenarios, interactive lessons and audio clips from native speakers. Before you know it, she’ll be saying “Ciao” with the best of them.

Some of us wouldn't even think about hitting the gym while on vacation or traveling. Others need their daily workout no matter where they are in the world. Pvolve (yes, of Jennifer Aniston fame) creates a full-body workout routine with a handful of portable exercise equipment. Purchasing a set (the signature bundle includes the P.ball, P.band, gliders/floorgloves and ankle band) also grants access to the brand's catalogue of 1,900+ digital workouts spanning weight training, cardio and sculpting. (The member can then continue their plan at $25/month.)

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a loved one who wouldn’t be thrilled at the prospect of a pampering spa day. With a SpaFinder gift card they can book massages, facials, manis and pedis—even full spa weekends—at any available locations near their home. If a physical gift card isn’t in the—well—cards, you can choose to send a fun eGift card directly to their email with a design from the brand’s many selections, which vary by celebration and holiday. Plus, there’s an option to write a personal note for the giftee and you’ll have full control over when you want the gift delivered, too. Facials and couples massages are right around the corner.

Harry Styles just wrapped up a massive residency at Madison Square Garden, and procuring tickets was a minor bloodbath. If your favorite Harry Styles fan missed out, fear not. The One Direction alum continues the show with a string of spring dates across the U.S., and internationally through the summer. You can currently grab tickets on Ticketmaster and, given the demand for the New York residency, I wouldn't wait. And if your giftee isn't a fan, there are tons of other artists on the platform, including Olivia Rodrigo, the Jonas Brothers, Tim McGraw and Noah Kahan.

Perfect for the coffee addict in your life, Atlas Coffee Co. will mail fresh, gourmet coffee right to their doorstep every month. Pick between a three-, six- or 12-month subscription plan—each delivery comes complete with info on the bean's flavor profiles, postcards from their origin country and brewing recommendations so your recipient can start each morning with a perfectly made cup of joe.

Is your giftee in need of some peace of mind? Give them the gift of meditation with the Headspace app, which provides guided audio cues to assist users in meditation and research-backed behavioral tips. There are recordings to listen to for better sleep, reduced stress, positive habit formation and more. “This app did an amazing job at helping me be more mindful throughout the day,” says one reviewer who gave it a five-star rating in the Apple App Store. “In the Headspace library, there were tabs for certain scenarios like navigating injustice, reframe stress and relax, mindful money, anger/sadness/growth, mindful eating and guide to sleep. I enjoyed using this app because as a person who worries often, this tool allowed me to take time out of my day to clear my head and do something that betters my mental health.”

You're searching for a gift that isn't another giant hunk of plastic or stuffed animal to get crammed in the back of their closet. Oh, and bonus points if it actually engages a kid, getting them to think creatively and maybe, just maybe, learn something in the process. KiwiCo subscriptions check off all the boxes, sending age-appropriate activity boxes monthly. These STEM-based projects include things like making an arcade game or glowing stuffy—and they're all vetted by child development experts and tested by kids. "I started giving these to my nieces and nephew when they turned four, and it's been so cool to see what they create," says PureWow VP of Editorial Candace Davison. "My daughter built the Arcade claw a year ago, and she still uses it to this day to grab things that are out of reach."

There are dozens of fashion-based, personal shopper memberships out there, but Italic is one of our favorites. It has some of the best home, jewelry, beauty, clothing, accessories and footwear selections for both women and men made from the same manufacturer that produces premium brands like rag & bone, Kith, Maje, Sandro and more. Sign your little brother up for a membership, with which he can receive a stylist’s advice and curated boxes of apparel that have been hand-selected for his tastes. There’s Plus, being an Italic member offers other perks he’s def going to want to take advantage of, like $60 per year in store credit, early access to new drops and deals, free shipping, a gifting concierge and invites to member-only sales and events.

They say the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, so give them the gift of a home-cooked meal. This food service will send pre-selected meal plans directly to their door, each of which will come equipped with easy-to-follow instructions and all the fresh ingredients—80-percent of which are sourced directly from producers, per the brand—needed to help them level up their kitchen game. Whether you have a savory palate or are craving something sweet, there’s bound to be a recipe on Blue Apron that catches your eye and makes your stomach grumble, like a cheese crisp burger, flourless chocolate cake or quinoa and vegetable fried rice for the vegetarian.

Have someone on your list who's always looking five steps ahead? In this 75-minute class, astrologer Emily Klintworth will show your loved one a unique astrological forecast for the next 12 months. The class taps into the participant's astrological profile, so they'll need to come prepared with the date, place and exact time of birth in order to create their most accurate chart. Then, Emily will ask them to focus on an intention for this birthday and the year ahead. After she has all the information needed, she helps build a forecast for their goals as guided by the stars. In the end, your loved one will be left with a detailed astrological guide to help them navigate the coming year.

If you aren’t totally sure where to start when it comes to experience gifts, Virgin Gifts has you covered. With dozens of options across the country—I'm talking spa days, white water rafting, wine tastings and so, so much more—they're guaranteed to find something they'd be into with their gift card from yours truly to put towards their experience. And they can narrow their options down based on location.

Introduce your gal pal that never misses happy hour to this everything-but-the-booze box set. Each one comes with three cocktail recipes and all the necessities needed to make more than twelve drinks—like bitters, garnishes, syrups and the lot! She’ll even receive an email with online tutorials, a list of bar tools needed, alcohol suggestions and a playlist pairing to get the party started. All she’ll need to do is add her favorite alcohol and voilá—guzzle-worthy cocktails made within the comfort of her own home.

"I was recently gifted this service and truly cannot wait to try it,” says PureWow Executive Editor Alexia Dellner. Rinse is a wash and fold service that will pick up your laundry, clean it and fold it for you in less than 24 hours if requested. If it fits in the bag, they’ll clean it, and they’ll even care for your precious pieces with the upmost delicacy, making sure to pay close attention to your washing preferences. “With two kids who go through multiple outfits per day, my laundry situation is rapidly getting out of control. It feels incredibly indulgent to outsource this task but hey, it was a gift, so who am I to say no?” As Dellner suggests, it’ll make a much-appreciated present for a host (you did use those sheets and towels, after all) or a new parent (see her earlier point about kids going through all the clothing), or heck, why not gift it to yourself?

Obé Fitness sessions offer your best gym buddy access to more than 16,000 on-demand workouts and training programs that last anywhere from five minutes to an hour in length and are conducted by world-class instructors. That means wherever they are, whether it be their home, a hotel or even the office after-hours, they can get their sweat on. It makes an ideal gift for that person in your life who always seems to be on a time crunch. So, what do you think they’ll choose: a quick upper body sculpt or a 30-minute Pilates sesh?

If they hate having to wait for the first of the month to maybe get a reservation at that hot, brand-new restaurant everyone’s been raving about, then this Cozymeal gift will have them practically salivating. Cozymeal helps them find local chefs in over 400 participating cities, such as New York City, Miami and Los Angeles, that will come to their kitchen and whip up delectable creations made with some of the finest ingredients. Think: modern French cuisine, Michelin star dishes, rich Italian and so much more. It’s especially great if you’re looking to host an intimate dinner with some of your closest friends without the hassle of cooking and cleaning. Yeah, you heard that right, the chefs will take care of the cleaning, too. It has over 45,000 five-star reviews, so it’s safe to say it’s one of the best private dining experiences out there.

In this 90-minute virtual class, tarot mentor Holly Buczek instructs participants on the two tarot deck "arcana" (meaning secrets or mysteries) and explains tarot as a way to tune into each individual's feelings, motivation and intuition, rather than being a strict fortune-telling exercise. Before class, a new tarot deck with foil and bright illustrations is delivered to your giftee's doorstep so they can follow along.

A plant is always a welcome gift, with or without a holiday at hand. The Sill's Plant of the Month club offers a new piece of greenery monthly, which arrives in a ceramic planter. Recipients can choose between the classic subscription and a pet-friendly one, with the additional options to change the planter color, skip a month of gift it forward. Expect a mix of easy, unique and rare deliveries.

The Millennial experience of the Easy Bake Oven has evolved, with Raddish Kids offering a baking subscription box that seriously takes things up a notch—and inspires major bonding in the kitchen. Each month has a theme, and the box includes a featured kitchen tool needed for the recipe. There are two recipes included—a 12-step "quick bake" and 18-step "star bake"—ranging from pies, cakes and cookies to éclairs, tarts and breads. Ingredients are not included in the box, but young bakers will receive recipe cards, grocery lists, a collectible apron patch unique to that baking box, an interactive game, culinary skill instruction and a special decorative ingredient or tool.

Sure, a painting or sculpture class is fun, but candles pack a two-for-one punch. It's pretty and functional. It's not just going to sit on their mantle until the end of time. Through Class Pop, you can send them to a candle making class wherever they live, with locations across the country and the world. New Yorkers can head to this fun workshop in Williamsburg, where they'll learn how to hand-pour a custom, festive candle.

From California to New York (and everywhere else in-between), ResortPass will offer your giftee the opportunity to spend the day at dozens of chic hotels, utilizing any of the fun-filled amenities. Does your sister have a pool party for her kiddos coming up? Gift her ResortPass so that she can use the cabana at one of her local hotspots for the perfect party venue. Or is she starting to feel burnt out and is in need of some R&R? Well in that case, she can head over to the spa for an afternoon of pampering and relaxation.

You know that your niece has been wanting to take guitar lessons (or ukulele, bass or violin lessons) forever. No matter what instrument she feels the most compelled toward, you can help her get started by gifting her with a year of online music lessons through Fender Play. Once you do, she’ll have access to popular sheet music, advice for playing with the proper form, hands-on exercises and progress-tracking tools, so she can finally start rocking out.

Select from an array of artisan-led digital classes that can guide your crafty friend through courses that focus on knitting, pressed floral crafts, tapestry weaving, hand-dipped candles, handmade paper and so much more. Students will receive all the tools and materials needed to follow along and successfully create crafts they can proudly display throughout their house.

An Alo Wellness Club membership offers sweaty at-home workout access to live-streamed workout seshes—from barre and yoga to boxing and strength training—provided by different coaches that are experts in the field. PureWow Associate Commerce Editor Natalie LaBarbera was so intrigued to try it, she decided to gift it to herself. “I'm so impressed with the wide variety of workouts available,” she raves. “Plus, I love that the times vary from as low as five or 10 minutes up to over an hour, so I can easily make it work with whatever I have going on that day.”

And for those who fancy a bit more unwind, the Wellness Club features a substantial amount of focus on mindfulness and self-care, too. With over hundreds of classes to select from, your giftee can reap the benefits of a breathwork class, unwind with a meditation dedicated to the phases of your menstrual cycle or learn about the benefits of a Gua Sha and dry brushing after they’ve broken a sweat.

But the best news: While the previous membership was paid, the brand has now made it free. Consider funneling the money you would have spent on the membership into a gift card so your giftee can suit themselves up for their first workout.

You know your mom is a little picky when it comes to where she's staying for vacations. So why not sign her up to become a Tablet Hotel member so she can stay at a luxurious, boutique hotel for some much-needed time away from home? Tablet essentially pulls together only the highest of reviewed hotels and puts them in one spot. If a hotel gets poor reviews, it's removed. What you're left with is a list of thoroughly vetted vacation destinations. And through the membership, you can enjoy some VIP privileges, like daily breakfast, room upgrades, hotel transfers, hotel credit or late check-out, just to list a few. In short, it's the posh way to escape daily life.

If camping in Yosemite, exploring Joshua Tree or hiking through the Grand Canyon are all things that practically scream your nature-loving bestie’s name, gifting them an America the Beautiful park pass is a no-brainer. This annual pass covers entry costs to thousands of federal recreation sites across the country. That means your pal will be able to check off all their bucket list items—one at a time.

Has your giftee been dying to see Wicked on broadway? Or are they huge fans of Cirque du Soleil? If so, consider gifting them tickets to explore some of the finest entertainment in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and London. Your recipient will be wowed by your thoughtfulness (especially if they're headed on vacation to one of these spots). And, thanks to the site's discounts, you'll be able to spring for better seats without breaking the bank. 

If you're looking for ways to surprise the kids—and they already have enough toys—with tickets to an immersive and fun performance, check out Feld Entertainment's roster of live shows heading to your area and watch your kiddos’ face light up when they see the characters from Toy Story, Zootopia, Moana, Frozen, Encanto and more across the company's many shows.

There's a lot of nonsense out there in the wide world of audio, and a subscription to Audible helps the frequent listener break through the clutter by giving them access to the latest audiobooks. Your giftee can discover bestselling author Colleen Hoover, get the hot goss on Prince Harry straight from his own memoir, get all self-help with Jay Shetty's 8 Rules of Love and finally get their hands on the most-anticipated pop memoir of the decade—aka, The Woman in Me by Britney Spears—which can help the time pass in traffic.

Need a low-lift yet thrilling date idea for your partner? Gift them a couples massage (and reap the benefits together). Through Soothe, two licensed massage therapists will meet you where you want—whether that's in your home or a hotel room—anytime between 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. And as long as there’s enough space to set up two massage tables (about 10 x 12 feet), your couples massage can happen. Prices vary according to location, so all you need is the location, and the gift card will be emailed or printed ASAP. And there's no expiration date on it.

Nature lovers will appreciate how this mirrored box disappears into the surrounding rocks and trees, as well as how the floor-to-ceiling windows really make you feel like you're sleeping under the stars—only you've got a cushy double bed with plush sheets and pillows, a compostable stainless-steel toilet and a cedar hot tub to relax in. There's even Wi-Fi in the “off-the-grid” oasis, so it shouldn't be a problem staying the two-night minimum.

In a sexy gift that's more tasteful than the usual giant dildo (no shade—I love those too), I submit this sex-therapist-approved book of 50 erotic challenges. Think of it as a playbook for increased bedroom play, with each challenge hidden behind a scratch-off panel that has hints on what duration, time of day and sometimes cost is involved. Note: This isn't a book about complicated copulation positions, but instead a series of prompts to get you both beyond the usual and into a place of greater connection—or at least more variety!

When you're strapped for time or energy, there's nothing handier than having the option to order whatever food you're craving or a ride to wherever you need to go, which is what makes this a gift that anyone would appreciate. Sushi, thai food and that upcoming holiday event is just a ride away.

Gift a stay at a getaway cabin, a series of cozy wooden spaces that are fit for a design magazine, with this gift card. These cabins come with large windows to enjoy the woody view, a fire pit and the chance for blessed QT from the noise we live in. There's a lockbox that guests can choose to put their phones into in order to actually experience their surroundings without a screen. Best of all? You can email it directly to the recipient or to yourself so you can print it out and hand deliver it to them for an extra special surprise.

Original musical Maybe Happy Ending debuted on Broadway in 2024 to rave reviews, eventually going on to win the Tony for Best Musical in 2025. It tells the story of two "helper-bots," Claire and Oliver, living in a retirement center after being given up by their owners. As they journey from Seoul to Jeju Island in search of Oliver's former owner, they discover their own limitations and the boundlessness of genuine love.

"I saw this while it was in previews and was thoroughly impressed," says PureWow lifestyle editor Marissa Wu. "It was funny and heartfelt, while still exploring big questions about the limits of technology and our own human failings. It deserved the Tony."

Does someone you know love their beer, either as a casual drinker or a full-on aficionado of microbrews from around the world? Either person will appreciate taking the next step in their appreciation for a cold one, which is brewing their own. This kit, which received more than 3,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, comes with all the vessels they need, full instructions and the brand's own hopped malt extracts for fermentation. After mixing, it's done fermenting in ten to 14 days and ready to drink seven to 14 days after that. Take it from one reviewer: The “Mr. Beer is a fantastic kit for beginners and experienced brewers alike. With it's easy to follow instructions and high-quality ingredients, brewing your own beer has never been easier. The end result is a delicious, smooth tasting beer you'd be glad to share with family and friends alike.”

You and your brother could run your own Rotten Tomatoes with your analyses of the latest movies. Give him an excuse to head to the theater—and maybe bring you along—with a Fandango gift card, which works with Regal, AMC and most major movie theaters. Plus, it's available in $15 to $100 denominations.

This book is a bedtime story with a twist—each night, kids have to help protagonists Peter and Margo on their special adventure by scratching off a challenge then doing it. Since the challenges have to do with bedtime rituals, such as putting on a tiny night light, it helps kids enjoy getting ready for sleep rather than dread it.

Want your giftee to have a really uplifting experience? If they live in or are headed to the Los Angeles area, turn them on to host Ryan, co-founder of Free Animal Doctor, a non-profit animal welfare organization. He takes dogs available for adoption on a hike up Runyon Canyon and your giftee gets to help. He'll stop to take photos of you and the guys in front of the Hollywood sign and with other stunning city vistas, all the while exercising the dogs and letting locals know they are up for adoption. (My heart expands just thinking about it.)

ClassPass is an ideal option for fitness lovers looking to try out something new or experiment with different types of workouts. Members can enroll in a variety of classes, from hot yoga and pilates to boxing boot camps, without having to sign up for a month-to-month membership at any one gym. If your buddy is a beauty lover, ClassPass members also receive access to dozens of spas and salons in their city, so instead of trying out different gyms, they can hop around to test out different mani/pedi spots.

If your brother is constantly spending money on movie tickets, it might be time to gift him a MoviePass subscription. It’ll grant him credits (aka, his MoviePass currency) each month that can be redeemed as tickets so he can get to watching those Blockbusters he won’t want to miss. Depending on which plan you gift (Basic, Standard or Premium), your sibling can watch up to 48 movies a year. Oh, and did I mention that there are over 4,000 theaters that accept MoviePass credits? It’s important to note that a movie’s credits will vary based on demand, time of day and day of the week. The great news is that his credits rollover, so he won’t feel pressured to make it to the theater every weekend if he’s not up for it or there are no new movies out.

If you've always wanted to visit landmark places like the Louvre, Blue Lagoon and Yellowstone National Park, then Viator is the place to check out for all of your vacation planning. You can easily search for wherever you're headed and see a list of available tours and activities in that area, from bar crawls to sunset cruises (the site lists more than 300,000 experiences!). And not only that, you can also score major discounts on certain packages, depending on how many people are in your travel group.

If you love listening to audio books, then you'll especially enjoy Libro.fm, which features more than 500,000 audiobooks available in every genre on the platform. LaBarbera calls this her favorite audiobook service, writing in her review, "When it comes to using your credits, one of the best things about this platform is that they never expire, whether you have an active membership or not. Libro.fm's audiobooks are also DRM-free, which means you have full ownership over the digital audio files that you download, and can listen to them via any app or device that has the ability to play them." What's more, every audiobook purchase supports an independent book store of your choosing, making the investment even sweeter.

No one's going to keep putting off that weekend away if they have Airbnb bucks burning a hole in their wallet. It's digital delivery, so even if you're standing outside a birthday party about to walk in, you can still nail the perfect gift. And sure, the higher $500 gift card may be a big ask, but it's going to really motivate your recipient to prioritize some travel-centric experience—perhaps with you as their companion!