Fresh Wallpapers to Kick Off 2026

Whether you are already living in 2026 or still counting down to the big moment, a new set of desktop wallpapers is here to get your screen ready for the year ahead. The start of a new year often inspires grand resolutions, but small changes—like refreshing your desktop—can make a surprisingly big difference in your daily workflow.

This month’s collection, created by artists and designers from around the world, is available as a free download. Each piece is meant to accompany your first adventures of 2026, bringing a dose of color and creativity to the gloom of winter. Since the monthly wallpaper series began over 14 years ago, contributors have been given full creative freedom, and this collection is no different: none of the themes were dictated in advance, so each design reflects the individual artist’s inspiration and style.

Moonwalker by Ricardo Gimenes

Moonwalker

Spanish designer Ricardo Gimenes opens the collection with "Moonwalker," a whimsical take on the new year. You can view a preview image and download the wallpaper in a range of common screen resolutions, both with and without a January 2026 calendar overlay.

  • Click any image to view a larger preview.
  • Themes are chosen by the artists; Smashing Magazine does not influence the creative direction.
  • Want to contribute? Designers are always welcome to submit their own wallpaper for an upcoming post.

Every wallpaper comes in two variants—one featuring a calendar for the month and one without—so you can pick the version that best suits your desktop setup.

A Quiet Workspace

Spanish designer Ricardo Gimenes contributes a calm, focused scene for the home office. The wallpaper is available with and without a calendar overlay.

Home Office
  • Preview
  • With calendar: 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440, 3840x2160
  • Without calendar: 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440, 3840x2160

All resolutions are available from the links on the preview page, with the same set offered in both calendar and no-calendar variants.

An Evening By The Tree

Serbia's PopArt Studio offers a narrative scene: snow falls quietly as a child and a loyal dog pause by a glowing Christmas tree, each ornament holding a small piece of winter wonder. The artists describe the moment as one where the cold fades, replaced by warmth, curiosity, and the simple joy of being together.

Winter Magic At Home
  • Preview
  • With calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440
  • Without calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440

As with the home office design, each file comes in a wide range of common resolutions, giving mobile and desktop users a fitting choice for January's quiet, indoor days.

A Hand-Drawn Perspective

Martin Nikolchev from Bulgaria takes a deliberately analog approach with “Inspired by the little things in life! Stop for a moment and look around — find the little things that can bring true joy to you. This illustration is hand-drawn on a piece of paper, then scanned and adjusted with Photoshop (for the calendar UI). No AI tools have been used! Enjoy!”

Enjoy The Little Things

Download a preview or choose from the full range of backgrounds, with and without a calendar overlay:

  • With calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440
  • Without calendar: same resolutions available in the no-calendar set.

Cold Sky Reflections

January’s weather is the starting point for Wolfie from Russia, whose design captures the season’s atmosphere: “In the city where I live, the weather in January could be unpredictable. Sometimes it is freezing cold, and sometimes there is rain and no snow at all. I like it when there is an open sky and the sun is shining. The sky is cold and has a wonderful blue color, especially in the evenings. You look at it and think about what heart desires the most.”

Hope

The wallpaper ships in widescreen resolutions for desktop setups. Grab a preview, or download with a calendar in 1366x768, 1440x900, 1600x900, 1920x1080, or 2560x1440; the clean version is available in the same five sizes.

Snowflakes

Berlin-based designer Eike Otto contributes a wallpaper that leans into the quiet, geometric side of winter.

Snowflakes

Available in both calendar and calendar-free versions:

Blue Monday

From Serbia-based Ginger It Solutions comes a design with a message: "Blue Monday may be a PR stunt, but your mental health isn't. Do your best to protect it all year round."

Blue Monday

Both versions are available for download:

January’s Wallpaper Collection: Fresh Starts And Quiet Scenes

As the calendar flips to January, it’s time to refresh your desktop with a new set of wallpapers. This month’s collection offers a mix of motivational messages, seasonal imagery, and minimalist artwork, all available without a calendar for those who prefer a cleaner look. Each design comes in a variety of resolutions, from small laptop screens to high-resolution displays.

Here are a few highlights from the January lineup, with download links for each design.

Open The Doors Of The New Year

“January is the first month of the year and usually the coldest winter month in the Northern hemisphere. The name of the month of January comes from ‘ianua’, the Latin word for door, so this month denotes the door to the new year and a new beginning. Let’s open the doors of the new year together and hope it will be the best so far!” — Designed by PopArt Studio from Serbia.

Open the Doors of the New Year

The design is available in a range of sizes without the calendar, from 320x480 up to 2560x1440. A preview and all no-calendar resolutions are available for download.

Winter Leaves

A seasonal botanical design by Nathalie Ouederni from France.

Winter Leaves

Download the preview or choose from the without-calendar options, which include 320x480, 1024x768, 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1200, 1920x1200, and 2560x1440.

Bird Bird Bird Bird

“Just four birds, ready for winter.” — Designed by Vlad Gerasimov from Georgia.

Bird Bird Bird Bird

This playful image offers the most extensive list of resolutions. In addition to the preview, you can download the no-calendar version in sizes from 800x480 up to 5120x2880 for ultra-wide and high-DPI setups.

Start Somewhere

“If we wait until we’re ready, we’ll be waiting for the rest of our lives. Start today — somewhere, anywhere.” — Designed by Shawna Armstrong from the United States.

Start Somewhere

For those who want a motivational nudge without the calendar overlay, the preview and downloads are available starting at 1280x720 through 2560x1440.

Celebrating Nature’s Little Neighbors

For those who want to start the year with a lighthearted nod to the outdoors, the Squirrel Appreciation Day wallpaper from PopArt Studio in Serbia fits the bill. The design plays up the cheerful, industrious side of these winter visitors — gathering food, building nests, and adding life to cold days.

Celebrate Squirrel Appreciation Day!

You can preview the artwork and grab it without any calendar overlay. Download options start at 320x480 and run through 2560x1440, covering standard desktop and mobile aspect ratios.

A Playful Waddle Into January

Veronica Valenzuela from Spain approaches the season with humor in “Cold… Penguins!” The design frames the new year as a shared, slightly silly wait — standing in the snow like a row of penguins, enjoying the chill while the calendar flips.

Cold Penguins

A no-calendar version is available in sizes from 640x480 up to 2560x1440, so you can match the artwork to your screen without cropping surprises.

Ringing In the New Year Over the City

Design Studio from India offers “Cheerful Chimes City,” a festive urban illustration that captures the energy of the season with a bright, upbeat mood. The wallpaper fits well for those who find their inspiration in city lights rather than snowy landscapes.

Cheerful Chimes City

The calendar-free download set is available in .jpg format, ranging from 1440x900 to 2560x1440.

A Pop of Fireworks Energy

Belgian designer Elise Vanoorbeek keeps things bold with “Boom!” — a celebratory visual that leans into the spark and noise of the holidays. It is a good pick for someone who wants their screen to feel alive and energetic as the new year gets going.

Boom.

Without a calendar, the wallpaper is offered in an extensive list of .jpg files, starting at 1024x768 and going all the way to 2560x1440, including odd sizes like 1366x768 often found on laptops.

Quiet Slopes and Flat Colors

For the post-holiday crash, Jens Gilis from Belgium provides a visual exhale. His flat art piece, “Peaceful Mountains,” relies on calm hues and simple geometry — a quiet palette to offset a busy month. The artist notes it was designed specifically to offer a sense of peace once the festivities wind down.

Peaceful Mountains

The version without a calendar is available as a thorough set of .png files, from 640x480 to 2560x1440, covering the most common screen shapes for both desktop and smaller devices.

Yogabear

Ricardo Gimenes from Spain designed this wallpaper.

Yogabear

Fresh Perspectives

A motivational January design from Amalia Van Bloom in the United States.

Be Awesome Today

A New Chapter

By Ricardo Gimenes from Spain.

A Fresh Start

Escape to Winter

“A change of scene can do wonders, even if it’s only in your imagination” — by Igor Izhik from Canada.

Winter Getaway

Retro New Year

Ricardo Gimenes drew on the style of the '80s for this design.

Happy New Year ’86

Angel In Snow

Angel in Snow!

This frosty scene comes from Brainer, a designer based in Ukraine.

January Fish

January Fish

Arno De Decker from Belgium looks to his own home aquarium for inspiration: “My fish tank at home inspired me to make a wallpaper with a fish.”

Dare To Be You

Dare To Be You

Maria Keller from Mexico opens the year with a message to be oneself: “The new year brings new opportunities for each of us to become our true selves. I think that no matter what you are — like this little monster — you should dare to be the true you without caring what others may think. Happy New Year!”

Oaken January

Oaken January

PopArt Studio from Serbia draws on a local tradition: “In our country, Christmas is celebrated in January when oak branches and leaves are burnt to symbolize the beginning of the new year and new life. It’s the time when we gather with our families and celebrate the arrival of the new year in a warm and cuddly atmosphere.”

January in Review: Art for the New Year

With the start of a new year, designers often channel their creativity into theme-driven artwork. The selection of wallpapers this month ranges from lettering-based pieces to playful tributes to seasonal moments, with each one available in multiple sizes for both desktop and mobile setups.

The Little Paradox

Ricardo Gimenes from Spain contributed The Little Paradox, a piece that plays with visual contradictions. The design is offered in a preview version as well as a full-size edition without a calendar, spanning screen resolutions from 640x480 up to 3840x2160.

New Year's Resolution

Belgium's Elise Vanoorbeek designed New Year’s Resolution, a straightforward nod to the tradition of setting fresh goals in January. Its calendar-free variants range from 800x480 to 2560x1440, with a preview image available for quick viewing.

Literary Journeys and Playful Celebrations

Don Quijote, Here We Go!

For those planning to read more in the coming months, Veronica Valenzuela Jimenez from Spain created Don Quijote, Here We Go!. As the designer puts it, "This year we are going to travel through books, and you couldn't start with a better one than Don Quijote de la Mancha!" Available without a calendar from 640x480 onward, the artwork also comes in a preview format.

Rubber Ducky Day

Rubber Ducky Day by Ilya Plyusnin of Belgium aims to counter the gloom of winter. Noting that "the sun sets earlier, the wind feels colder, and our heating bills skyrocket," Plyusnin's cheerful design is meant to brighten the month. The wallpaper includes versions for mobile-friendly 320x480 up to 2560x1440 desktop resolutions.

Starting Fresh

A New Beginning

Carolina Sequeira from Portugal brings a typographic focus with A New Beginning. The piece stems from a love of lettering and is designed to capture the positive feeling that a new year represents. Sequeira hopes viewers "feel like the new year is (just) the start of something really great." Sizes include 320x480 and 1280x1024, among others up to 2560x1440.

Japanese New Year

Finally, Evacomics from Singapore offered a Japanese New Year design. This wallpaper is available in a range of orientations, from portrait 320x480 and 768x1024 to landscape options like 1920x1080, all without a calendar overlay.

A Toast to January: Wallpapers for a Fresh Start

January often carries a particular atmosphere with it—a mix of quiet, reflection, and the promise of new beginnings. This installment of community-submitted desktop wallpapers captures that mood across a range of creative interpretations, from seasonal nourishment to a nod to deep winter. Designers have contributed their unique visual takes on the month, with many offering their art in formats suited for a wide array of devices and screen resolutions.

Happy Hot Tea Month!

"Happy Hot Tea Month" by Acodez IT Solutions (India). As the accompanying text notes, this design celebrates the simple comfort found in a steaming cup of tea, framed as a source of energy, calm, and companionship. The image is offered in well over a dozen resolutions, spanning from 320x480 to 2560x1440.

Don’t Forget Your Vitamins

From the team at Vitaminas Design (Spain), "Don't Forget Your Vitamins" takes a more playful approach. The illustration for January spotlights the seasonal bounty of the month, depicting an apple and banana enjoying a snowy day. It is designed to serve as a gentle reminder to appreciate the fruits that are in season during winter.

As the new year begins, some designers focused on the transition itself, while others drew on the raw nature of the month itself. There are also those who channeled optimism for the changes ahead.

Wolf-Month

Belgian designer Chiara Faes presents "Wolf Month," a design rooted in traditional nomenclature. In Dutch, "wolfsmaand" is an old alternative name for January, and this piece gives a visual identity to that historic term for the month.

A New Start

Rounding out the collection is "A New Start" by Damn Perfect (India). This piece acknowledges the overwhelming charge of the season, noting that the new year is full of hope, festivity, and a flood of resolutions to pursue.

Looking Ahead to Next Month

All wallpapers are accessible in both format. Each design includes a version with a calendar and a set of links specifically for those who prefer their desktop unobstructed.

The call for submissions is now open for the next round. The February wallpapers will be published on January 31. Those interested in seeing their work featured in the upcoming collection can submit their design now.