Instamart’s Summer Trends 2026 report shows that the evening window (6 to 9 PM) sees demand for ice cream more than double, with weekends turning the dial even higher
Highlighting a consistent nationwide pattern where post-dinner hours drive the highest demand, a report by Instamart has revealed that the country’s summer ritual is set, with ice cream orders peaking at 9 PM and Dahi topping the chart ahead of colas.
Instamart’s Summer Trends 2026 report pointed out that the evening window (6 to 9 PM) sees demand for ice cream more than double, with weekends turning the dial even higher. As temperatures rose in March and April, the demand across key summer categories surged, with top products growing up to 300 per cent week-on-week.
Mangoes, cold coffees, fizzy drinks and fruit popsicles all saw sharp jumps, indicating how closely consumption tracks the weather. Cooling appliances like fans and coolers grew upwards of 280 per cent, while summer accessories like sunglasses grew 650 per cent YoY, the highest growth of any category.
The Craze For Ice Creams And Dahi
Moving away from impulse buying, most Indians are planning their indulgence, with family-sized tubs leading the category, followed by cones, sticks/bars, cups, kulfi, among others. Chocolate accounts for nearly 1 in 4 ice cream orders, comfortably ahead of classics like vanilla and butterscotch and even seasonal favourite mango, the report added.
Bangalore is India’s Ice Cream Capital, followed by Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Delhi, Kolkata, Kochi and Gurgaon. Indicating that the demand is not entirely concentrated in metros, the report noted that places like Central Goa, Thrissur, Thiruvalla, Nagercoil and Manipal are clocking higher orders per user.
The report pointed out that Dahi dominates summer baskets, emerging as the most-ordered product overall, nearly matching cold drinks and ice creams. Six of the top ten most-ordered items are curd-based, signalling a clear preference for some desi cooling, Instamart said. Watermelon, muskmelon and other fresh produce are climbing fast, pointing to a summer that’s increasingly fresh, simple, and rooted in everyday habits.
While dahi is a constant across India, regional preferences shape the rest of the basket. The report added that Ahmedabad and Rajkot show strong mix of buttermilk, ice cream and soft drinks, while Bengaluru and Mumbai love fruit-forward carts with watermelon and muskmelon. On the other hand, Lassi stood out as a key summer staple in Chandigarh. Buttermilk-led consumption tops the chart in Delhi and Lucknow, as per the report.
Mangoes And Drinks
With Alphonso season only just kicking in, the first stretch of summer sees Sindhu mango as India’s most-ordered variety so far this season, the report added. Banganapalli and raw mangoes are riding high as well. Festive bursts around Ugadi and Gudi Padwa kick things off, before mangoes settle into daily life through the long school holidays, Instamart added.
While metros still drive volumes, the fastest growth is coming from cities like Kozhikode, Madurai, Trichy, Vizag and Nellore. Bengaluru leads the mango mania, outpacing Hyderabad and Chennai combined, while smaller cities like Thanjavur, Pondicherry and Mangaluru are going all in on mangoes. Delhi and Gurgaon round off the top ten mango-loving cities.
On the other hand, jeera masala sodas, cold coffees and café-style coolers are moving from niche to nightly staples. Zero-sugar and functional drinks are also seeing increasing demand. Jeera masala soda shot up 900 per cent in March, while cold coffee surged nearly 700 per cent on Instamart. Summer beverages like coconut water, buttermilk, lassi and milkshakes grew significantly as well. Like ice cream, drinks peak in the evening around 6 to 9 PM.
Sharing additional information, the report added that Bengaluru’s top summer spender crossed Rs 11,000 on a steady rotation of cold coffee, buttermilk, mangoes, ice cream and dahi. Similarly, Hyderabad’s biggest summer cart leaned fully into indulgence, with ice cream, mangoes, cool drinks and buttermilk driving spends past Rs 11,000.
