Indian Festive Spending Up, AI Search Dominates Discovery

Good news for brands: nearly half of us Indian shoppers are planning to spend more this festive season. That’s a significant shift towards more thoughtful, higher-value purchases, moving away from impulse buys.

What’s in Your Festive Cart?

The MiQ Festive Shopper Insights India 2026 survey shows 45% of consumers are gearing up to increase their holiday spending compared to last year.

• Jewellery leads as the category with the highest purchase intent.
• Home appliances follow closely behind.
• Personal gadgets are seeing a rebound, indicating a focus on meaningful acquisitions.

How AI is Reshaping Your Shopping Journey

A major change is how we’re finding brands, with AI-powered search now topping the charts for discovery.

• 43% of shoppers use AI search to discover brands.
• E-commerce platforms account for 30% of brand discovery.
• Social media platforms are used by 27% of shoppers.

This means brands need to be everywhere, as our buying journey increasingly jumps between AI search, social media, and commerce sites.

Beyond Discounts: Trust and Multi-Screen Habits

While a good deal is always nice, the survey points out that trust and brand loyalty are actually more important than discounts for festive purchases.

• Trust and brand loyalty influence 38% of shoppers.
• Deals and discounts impact 34% of purchases.
• Celebrity endorsements sway 29% of consumers.

Our digital lives are pretty busy too, with most of us constantly switching between apps and devices.

• 86% of shoppers switch between different digital activities within an hour.
• 61% use a second device while watching television, often browsing social or news apps.

Ultimately, this festive season signals a more considered approach to spending, driven by digital discovery and established brand relationships.