Nostalgia Drives Canadian Holiday Gift Buying

A Best Buy Canada survey finds 40 per cent of Canadians are likely to buy a holiday gift out of nostalgia.

Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Home Entertainment

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of a vintage cassette-style tape and a retro radio form on a cream field, evoking nostalgic holiday shopping. — A Best Buy Canada survey found 40 per cent of Canadians are likely to buy a holiday gift out of nostalgia, with millennials leading at 53 per cent. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Are you planning to buy any retro tech or physical media this holiday season?

A Best Buy Canada survey conducted by Angus Reid found 40 per cent of Canadians are likely to buy a holiday gift out of nostalgia, with the trend strongest among millennials at 53 per cent. Separately, 37 per cent of Canadians have cancelled at least one streaming service in the past six months.

Why it matters

The findings point to a shift toward owning physical media and older technology as streaming subscriptions become more costly to maintain. For Canadian shoppers planning holiday purchases, nostalgia appears to be a significant factor in gift decisions.

The Angus Reid survey shows 37 per cent of Canadians cancelled at least one streaming service in the past six months, up from 32 per cent who did so four years ago. Only 23 per cent of Canadians bought music, movies or games in physical format in the last year, while 32 per cent of millennials and 30 per cent of Gen Z did.

The players

Best Buy Canada

The Canadian arm of the American electronics retailer Best Buy, which sells consumer technology, entertainment products and related services across Canada.

Angus Reid

A Canadian public opinion research firm known for national surveys on political, social and consumer issues.

The details

Best Buy Canada released the survey, conducted by Angus Reid, which also found 33 per cent of respondents are drawn to older technology because they value owning physical media. A separate Angus Reid survey released last month measured streaming cancellations, and the two findings are presented together to show shifting consumer habits ahead of the holiday season.

Four years ago: 32 per cent of Canadians cancelled at least one streaming service.
Last month: Angus Reid released its streaming service survey.
Past six months: 37 per cent of Canadians cancelled at least one streaming service.
Last year: 23 per cent of Canadians bought music, movies or games in a physical format.
November 12, 2026: Best Buy Canada's holiday shopping and retro tech findings were published.

Industry Dynamics

The Best Buy findings extend the Angus Reid streaming survey released last month, which recorded rising subscription cancellations among Canadians. Together, the two surveys suggest some consumers are returning to owned physical media as they reassess the cost of multiple streaming subscriptions.

Canadians who cancel streaming services may find physical copies of music, movies and games available for purchase as an alternative to monthly subscriptions. Holiday shoppers considering nostalgic gifts can compare the cost of physical media against ongoing streaming fees before buying.

The takeaway

Before buying a holiday gift, consider whether a physical copy of a favourite film, album or game would serve you better than another streaming subscription. Reviewing your current subscriptions can also free up budget for the gifts you choose.