Pinterest’s 2026 Hobby Report Inspired Me To Get Offline And Get Crafty 

By Alison McGill

It’s interesting how, in our digital era, the concept of a hobby seems so old-world and comfortingly nostalgic. When was the last time someone asked if you had one? And when was the last time you had an actual answer to that question?

For me, unplugging looks a forest walk or a good television binge. But I’ll be honest: when I do find myself with spare hours on my hands, I inevitably end up at my desk to finish an assignment, a Substack, or back on my iPad or phone. I suspect most of you are the same, because our always-on feeds have become our default hobby—which, in fact, is not a hobby at all.

Like all great things of the past, hobbies are making a comeback because we’ve realized we need to get back to living in the physical world that surrounds us. The experts at Pinterest know people are looking to find their joy in offline pursuits and have launched an enlightening, data-driven trend report focused on this very subject.

Pinterest’s 2026 Hobbies Trend Report just dropped, and it’s brimming with creative and craft-centric ideas to take you back into actual life. According to Pinterest findings, users of the platform are increasingly seeking inspiration online for offline pursuits with real-time results, including tactile crafts, edited collections, analog practices, and slow, sensory kitchen moments. Gen Z is particularly invested in the romance of “hobbymaxxing,” with Pinterest data reporting that 51 percent say having a hobby greatly contributes to their happiness.

What’s trending in hobbies? Pinterest has identified nine very fun ones. Kitchen Witch is about creating potions, preserves, and infusions—how very Practical Magic. Cosmic Reset is about turning to the cosmos for calm and learning about astrology, crystal healing, and tarot card readings. Handmade Hacker is all about creating your own media, like mini mags, memory boxes, and dream journals; this is also where bedazzling fits into the equation. Curated Clutter focused on vintage collections and curated displays, while Weekend Equestrian is all about acting and dressing the part of a dressage rider.

Backyard Botanist is the hobby I feel most aligned with. This one is focused on embracing the natural elements—nature meditations, foraging, plant propagation, and nature film photography. Creating art pieces with dried and pressed flowers is also a huge part of this trend, and it’s something I feel my beginner-level DIY self could successfully conquer. I was delighted when Pinterest invited me to an exclusive workshop at Foliage, a gorgeous houseplant store five minutes from my house, where I could play with dried botanicals and foster my inner floral artist.

The Pinterest-perfect setup of precious petals was almost too beautiful to dig into. After a little how-to from store owner Cheryl on creating an impactful framed pressed-floral piece, I got down to it, picking my favourite dried blooms up with tiny tweezers, playing with colour, texture, layering, and composition to create a living layout. I found the practice surprisingly soothing and soon got into a rhythm, moving and adjusting the petals to create a collage I loved. The final step was applying tiny dots of craft glue to each one to hold them in place then place the collage into an 8×10 inch frame.

The best part was having a friend in the workshop with me. We yapped, we laughed, we cheered our non-crafty selves on, and we were absolutely delighted with our final pieces. Admittedly, as non-DIYers, were also a bit astonished at the beauty created. What we didn’t do for a solid 90 minutes? Check our IG, emails, or texts; we only picked up our phones to capture photos and videos to post later on social.

On any given day, I would put my patience level at about a 1.5 out of 10. What I learned during my recent foray into crafting was that I can actually turn down the frenetic energy of my day-to-day and take time to immerse myself in a real, slowed-down experience that asks me to be present and distraction-free. 

My floral artwork now sits on my desk as a reminder to always take the time to stop and smell the roses and enjoy actual life.