Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Festive Online Retail Shifts Beyond Mobiles and Electronics
Online shopping in India is expected to grow strongly during the 2026 festive season.
People may spend about $15–16 billion online, compared with around $12.5 billion in 2025.
Smartphones and electronics will still be important, but they may make up a smaller share of spending.
This is partly because their prices have risen sharply.
Grocery shopping online is expected to grow the fastest.
Beauty products, furniture, fashion and other everyday goods are also expected to attract more shoppers.
More people are expected to shop online, reaching up to 185 million festive shoppers.
Quick-commerce and value-commerce services are also expected to become more important.
India’s festive online retail market is projected to grow about 25% in 2026, reaching $15–16 billion from around $12.5 billion in 2025.
Mobile and electronics shares are expected to fall to 29% and 17%, respectively, during the 2026 festive period.
Online grocery is forecast to grow 48–50%, while beauty and personal care could expand 35–40%.
Home and furniture, fashion, electronics and mobile categories are projected to grow 32–35%, 20–22%, 15–17% and 5–7%, respectively.
Festive online shoppers are expected to increase to 180–185 million, with quick commerce growing 110–120% and value commerce expanding 25–30%.
- Who
- Redseer Strategy Consultants analyzed India’s festive online retail market, including shoppers and major retail categories.
- What
- Festive online retail is projected to grow strongly in 2026, with grocery, beauty and personal care, home and furniture gaining share while mobiles and electronics lose some share.
- When
- During the 2026 festive period, ahead of Navratri and Diwali.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- Sharp price increases are expected to keep mobile and electronics volumes subdued, while broader everyday online consumption is expanding.
- Projected festive GMV
- $15–16 billion in 2026, up from around $12.5 billion in 2025
- Overall festive growth
- About 25% in 2026, described by Redseer as the strongest growth in roughly five years
- Mobile category share
- Expected to decline from 33% in 2025 to 29% in 2026
- Electronics category share
- Expected to decline from 18% in 2025 to 17% in 2026
- Fastest-growing category
- Online grocery, projected to grow 48–50%
- Festive online shoppers
- Expected to rise from 160 million to 180–185 million
- Quick-commerce growth
- Projected at 110–120% during the 2026 festive period