Updated October 2026.
Christmas is the hobby's high season — half the painted armies in the country got their start under a tree. And 2026 is no ordinary year for new starts: tabletop gaming keeps drawing in new hobbyists, so there's a good chance someone on your list is painting their first models this year. Whether you're buying for a partner, parent, friend or doing the family's annual “what does he actually want” group chat, here's the 2026 list, organised the way Christmas shopping actually works: by budget, with deadlines.
Short on time? Our gift finder narrows it down in a few clicks, or browse everything in one place in our gifts for wargamers collection.
Stocking fillers (under £15)
- A tiered display stand — from £11.95, holds a full squad in visible rows, fits any game system (WarSplay® stands support 25mm–100mm bases — compatible with Warhammer 40,000® miniatures and other popular 28mm–40mm systems). The Classic Mini suits a squad of infantry and the Hero Mini shows off characters, both at £11.95. The stocking filler that ends up the favourite gift.
- Dust-care kit — camera puffer + soft brush (the why: cleaning guide).
- Hobby consumables — superglue, blades, basing tufts. Zero glamour, daily use.
- Brush soap — the £6 gift that saves £30 of brushes.
Mid-range winners (£15–£60)
- The display bundle — multiple tiered stands so an entire army comes out of its boxes on Boxing Day. Start with a Classic (£18.95) for infantry and a Hero (£18.95) for monsters and cavalry. Pairs beautifully with the recipient's existing shelf or cabinet; our army display planning guide is the companion read to slip in the card.
- WarSplay Pro — new this year: a modular display with a scenic backdrop designed in-house, so a finished unit looks like a diorama rather than a row of models. WarSplay Pro runs from £24.95 to £34.95 and is the one to pick if they already own a stand or two.
- LED display lighting — transforms a shelf into a showcase (guide).
- A magnetising kit — magnets + steel trays; the January project they'll thank you for at every game night after (magnet size guide).
- Paint rack / desk organiser — see organiser guide.
- A painting handle, daylight lamp or magnifier — comfort upgrades for the long winter painting season.
- A slim MTG deck box — if they play Magic: The Gathering® as well as wargames, our new SquadPod Slim (£21.95) holds a full 100-card Commander deck plus 10 tokens in a rugged case just 50 mm deep. More card-game ideas in MTG Christmas gift ideas under £25 and MTG stocking fillers.
Showstoppers (£60+)
- A glass display cabinet — the gift that says the hobby is furniture-worthy. Budget cabinets + tiered risers display 100+ models; the full maths is in our cabinet buyer's guide.
- A licensed display case for their centrepiece — for the named character or competition piece, a sealed themed case is a proper showpiece gift.
- The new-army starter box — only with the exact game and faction confirmed. Screenshot or it's a risk.
- Hobby store voucher — the safest big-ticket option, genuinely appreciated.
Ordering deadlines: the bit that bites
The pattern every Christmas: licensed and made-to-order display items can carry multi-week production queues (some run 6–8 weeks — check the retailer's published dispatch estimate before falling in love with one), which means ordering by late October to be safe. In-stock and made-in-house items are far more forgiving — WarSplay stands dispatch in 2 business days from our UK workshop, so they cover even the mid-December panic window. Whatever you buy, check the dispatch estimate on the listing that week; demand moves them.
For delivery before Christmas Day, check your carrier's last posting dates for 2026 and order a few days ahead of them.
What not to put under the tree
- Random model kits — wrong faction is this hobby's itchy jumper (full reasoning in the no-jargon guide).
- Beginner paint sets for experienced painters — duplicates of better versions they own.
- Anything needing their exact preferences — brushes and primers are personal; vouchers cover those.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best Christmas gift for a miniature painter under £20?
A tiered display stand. Universal fit, visibly used all year, and it solves the problem every painter has — finished models hidden in boxes.
When should I order hobby gifts for Christmas 2026?
Made-to-order display items: by late October. In-stock items from UK makers: comfortably into December — but check each listing's current dispatch estimate.
What do you buy the wargamer who has everything?
Display capacity — it's the one thing collections outgrow annually. Or, for the person with literally everything: a podium for their best model (podium guide) and the breakfast-in-bed of hobby gifts: a voucher plus a painted-army photoshoot using our phone photography guide.
WarSplay® is an independent UK brand of Blubbercove Ltd, not affiliated with, authorised by, or endorsed by Games Workshop Limited. All trade marks are the property of their respective owners and are used here only to describe compatibility; see the disclaimer in our site footer.
Magic: The Gathering® is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast LLC. SquadPod® is a registered trade mark. Blubbercove Ltd is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Wizards of the Coast or Hasbro.