Luxury travel in 2026 is evolving beyond premium seats and iconic hotels, and leaning into purpose, personalization, and emotional payoff. The newly released Virtuoso Luxe Trend Report draws on insights from over 2,400 travel advisors across 58 countries, spotlighting how affluent travelers want to explore. The message is clear, the new status symbol is not excess, it is depth, calm, and meaning.
Key Points
-
The biggest shift is toward personalized luxury travel that feels intentional, restorative, and genuinely memorable, not just impressive.
-
Demand is rising for multigenerational travel, adventure travel, cultural immersion, expedition cruising, and gastronomy travel as primary trip drivers.
-
Top requested destinations for 2026 include Italy, Japan, Greece, France, Croatia, with Canada also ranking highly for nature plus city culture.
-
Travelers are prioritizing crowd free itineraries, wellness centered escapes, elevated all inclusive experiences, and inspiration from film, TV, and social media.
The future of luxury travel is less about checking off places and more about experiencing each destination with intention. In 2026, the most coveted journeys will be the ones that feel personal, unrushed, and story worthy.
