IKEA’s STRÅLA light shades sell out every year. At around $8 apiece, these oversized, paper stars have developed a cult following since their ’90s debut, thanks to their clean Scandi lines and hang-anywhere versatility. Pair one with a cord set, and it’s a pendant; add a lamp base, and it’s a table lamp. Change your mind next Christmas? Switch them around. Nearly three decades later, the 2026 collection has landed, and the annual scramble is on.

While the iconic star-within-a-star silhouette remains, this year’s drop introduces more intricate, origami-style folds, giving the familiar paper shades a little more surface area for whimsy. The snowflake-inspired Paper Petal Star carries all the delicate beauty of a winter wonderland storybook, while its counterparts arrive in punchier greens and reds, borrowing from IKEA’s ‘Happy Carnival’ mood for 2026. ‘I wanted to evoke laughter and make Christmas decor more relaxed. The shapes are geometric and simple yet playful, with eye-popping colors. I hope they will add joy and a stress-free perspective on Christmas,’ says IKEA designer Marta Krupińska.

For all the unexpectedly punchy colors, new star- and leaf-shaped lighting chains, and even a surprisingly surreal matchstick-shaped floor lamp, one thing hasn’t changed in decades of STRÅLA lighting: the sheer number of places you can put it. ' Head of Interiors, Hebe Hatton, considers the paper stars a holiday tradition.

‘I have had my first IKEA Stråla light for almost a decade. It sat in the window of my first apartment, adding holiday cheer to my tiny space that didn’t have much room for festive flourishes. I loved that it worked as both an indoor light I could enjoy from the couch and an outdoor Christmas decoration that glowed for the neighbors to see, too.’

She’s been adding to her collection with successive October drops ever since. Not because the old ones wither away (quite the opposite), but because each new riff on the famous style adds something special to her holiday scheme.

‘I have since added to the collection,’ Hebe continues. ‘When I moved house and had more windows, one went up in each. One year, I hung them above my dining table; another year, one adorned the mirror above my fireplace. Each year, they come out of the attic looking the same as when they went away because they fold down so neatly. So, despite being made of paper, they last so well.’

With some of Hebe's oldest still in circulation, the STRÅLA sell-outs have nothing to do with needing a replacement and – like buying an ornament-of-the-year or a novelty stoneware mug – everything to do with becoming an annual ritual. Ahead, the best of IKEA’s STRÅLA collection for 2026, from lacy paper shades to elaborate new lighting chains. Whether you’re securing your first or finding an excuse for your fifth, the time to shop is now.

Our STRÅLA Favorites to Shop Now

Indoor or outdoor? White or colored? Incandescent or LED? Before you string another strand, our guide to choosing the perfect Christmas lights has you covered.

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