There's a unique satisfaction in cracking open a fresh paper diary, ready to map out your hopes, appointments, and resolutions for the bright new year ahead. While digital calendars on smartphones remain popular, a growing movement in Australia is consciously shifting towards more tactile and intentional analogue systems. If you haven't yet chosen your planner for 2026, it's not too late to find the perfect one to set your year on the right track.
Top Picks for Your 2026 Paper Diary
Whether you prefer a daily or weekly layout, or need space for detailed planning and creative lists, there's a paper diary designed for your needs. Here are some of the best options to invest in for a productive and organised 2026.
1. The Detailed Planner: 2026 Desktop Linen Bound Planner
For those who love intricate planning, the 2026 Desktop Linen Bound Planner in Ivory Garden from Bespoke Letterpress is an ideal choice, now reduced to $50.36. This elegant diary begins each month with a two-page goal-setting section featuring a Day List, Major Goals, Sub Goals, a To-Do list, and lined notes pages.
Every weekly spread includes a mini-list, success checklists, and a daily planner with equal space for weekdays and weekends. Perfect for New Year's resolution enthusiasts and list-makers, this planner is designed for those who enjoy dedicating time to their organisational rituals.
2. The Simple Weekly View: 2026 Weekly Calendar Notebook
If you prefer a cleaner, at-a-glance format, the 2026 Weekly Calendar Notebook from Bespoke Letterpress is available for $31.96. This is a fresh, weekly take on their popular monthly notebook, featuring artwork by Dominika Keller and a gold foil cover.
With a stitched spine and lay-flat binding, it's perfect for anyone who wants to see their entire week clearly laid out as soon as they open the page.
3. The Creative Companion: Wellness Notebook Companion Set
Unleash your creativity with the Wellness Notebook Companion Set, priced at $34.97. This thoughtfully designed set includes four guided notebooks—one for each quarter of the year.
Inside, you'll find undated calendars, vision boards, and visual mind maps printed on beautiful heavyweight paper. Each notebook encourages you to pause, dream, and reflect with intention, serving as elegant companions to support your ideas throughout the year.
The Story Behind Bespoke Letterpress
The journey of Bespoke Letterpress is a remarkable Australian success story. It was famously founded in 2007 by mum-of-four Alischa Herrmann, after her pilot husband Hayden's move to Brisbane necessitated a new career path.
Seeking a hands-on role in design and creation, Alischa discovered the nearly lost art of letterpress printing—a process using raised, inked surfaces to press texture into paper. After purchasing an 800kg letterpress printer from a retiring bookbinder, she received informal apprenticeship from a veteran printer named Bob, who was passionate about preserving the craft.
Starting with beautiful wedding invitations sold at markets, positive feedback fueled the business's growth. Bespoke Letterpress opened its first store in Sydney's Strand Arcade in 2015. It now boasts multiple retail locations across Australia, including in Bowral and the Canberra Centre, with more stores planned to open later this year.
The brand maintains a strong online presence and sells globally, having showcased its Australian-designed stationery at prestigious trade shows in New York and London, cementing its international reputation.
For more information and to shop the complete collection from Bespoke Letterpress, visit their official website. Embrace the analogue revolution and make 2026 your most intentional and organised year yet.
