IKEA’s 2026 Cooking and Eating Trend Report Reveals How Dinner at Home Is Changing Worldwide
What are the most (and least) popular ways people around the world cook, eat, and enjoy food? IKEA sought to answer this question in 2026, and the trends they identified might surprise you. IKEA looked into where people enjoy eating most and what their favorite flavors are, and while the answers can vary from country to country, there were still plenty of common trends to identify.
These are the top 10 cooking and eating trends of 2026, according to IKEA. Find out how your cooking habits match up to the rest of the world.
1. Average Dinner Time
The average dinner time is 6:44 p.m., according to IKEA. Once everyone begins eating, IKEA says nearly two-thirds will finish dinner in under 30 minutes.
2. Not Everyone Minds Expired Food
One in three people is totally cool with eating food that’s past its expiration date. We’ve all been there, especially if you’re eyeing something that’s just a day too old. IKEA found that Germans are most likely to eat expired food to avoid waste: 55% of Germans say they're just fine with food past its expiration date.
3. Midnight Snacks
Midnight snacking has long been a sneaky food trend, but you might be surprised to hear that only 20% of the population is interested in late-night treats. We’re all for a good comfort meal, so if those leftovers are calling your name past bedtime, sneak off to the fridge with pride.
4. Eating at the Dinner Table
Where do you prefer to eat dinner? Most people (44%) will devour their meals at the kitchen table. 34% of people will eat at the dining room table instead, while some still prefer to eat on the living room sofa or at a living room table. The least popular option is to eat standing up or in bed—though 4% of people still do each.
5. Cooking Alone
IKEA is finally answering the age-old question of when there are too many cooks in the kitchen. For 40% of people, the answer is two; IKEA found that nearly half of home cooks prefer to cook alone.
Only 28% of people living with a partner are interested in having their partner act as sous-chef. 25% of people say they enjoy having their child cook with them.
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6. Sweet Treats
Nearly half of the population has a certified sweet tooth. IKEA found that 46% of people are all about sweet treats; in China, the number of sweet tooths goes up to 64%. IKEA noted that Norwegians have the highest preference for spice (47%), whereas Japan had the lowest tolerance for spice (13%).
7. Not Everyone Loves Their Current Kitchen
Are you satisfied with your kitchen? If the answer is no, you’re not alone. IKEA found that fewer than 33% of people are satisfied with their current kitchens; in particular, the top concerns are limited storage and the need for more counter space.
8. Device-Free Dinners? Maybe Not This Year
Digital detoxing is a big trend for 2026, and one rule you might want to stick to is a device-free dinner table. Despite the popularity of this idea, only 7% of people are willing to follow it. Besides using phones at the table, it seems other devices also have a hold over many households’ mealtimes: 40% of people want to watch TV while they eat dinner.
9. Cooking Is the New Love Language
IKEA found that 55% of people associate cooking with something positive; for 15% of people worldwide, cooking is a love language. In India, that number is highest, with 27% of people identifying cooking as their love language. 24% of the global population sees cooking as a creative art.
10. Trying New Cuisines
Global cuisines are a major food trend in 2026, but still only 29% of the population truly enjoys exploring different cuisines, according to IKEA. The same number of people are satisfied with the quality of the food they eat regularly. Picky eaters may also be contributing to these statistics; Japan has the most picky eaters globally, while China has the fewest.
