If 2025 was the year travelers reclaimed glamour, 2026 is about rediscovering grace. According to Virtuoso’s 2026 Luxe Report, the world’s most discerning globetrotters are no longer chasing status symbols — they’re seeking soul.
Based on insights from over 2,400 travel advisors across 50 countries, the report paints a vivid picture of the modern jet-setter: willing to spend more, but only when it means something. These travelers want experiences that are restorative, cultural, and quietly spectacular — the kind that linger long after the luggage is unpacked.
As Virtuoso puts it, luxury travel in 2026 is spacious, soulful, and spectacular.
1. The New Status Symbol? Space and Serenity
For those who can go anywhere, the luxury is in not having to share it.
The report names “Crowd Control” as a defining trend for 2026. Discerning travelers are choosing destinations that offer calm, clean air, and room to breathe — from Greenland’s untouched fjords to Antarctica’s glassy ice fields. Even classics like Italy and France are now being explored in the shoulder season, when the light softens and the lines disappear.
Bhutan’s “high-value, low-volume” model, which limits daily visitors to preserve authenticity, is emerging as a template for sustainable luxury. In 2026, having the place to yourself is the ultimate privilege.
2. Main Character Energy Meets Cultural Depth
In the age of cinematic wanderlust, inspiration starts on-screen. From The White Lotus’ Sicilian seduction to House of the Dragon’s rugged Cornish cliffs, travelers are booking trips that let them step into the story — but what begins as fantasy often deepens into cultural connection.
Virtuoso’s advisors report a rise in travelers seeking food tours, art districts, and local markets, moving beyond photo ops to engage with the soul of a place. This year, “cultural immersion” jumped four spots to land among the top five global travel trends, proving that wanderlust now comes with a side of wisdom.
3. From FOMO to Slow-Mo
Yesterday’s fear of missing out has evolved into a new kind of indulgence: slowing down.
From Kenya’s Great Migration to the Galápagos’ otherworldly ecosystems, travelers are checking off their bucket lists — but doing so more mindfully. Boomers and Gen X lead this shift, swapping marathon itineraries for lingering stays. Safari camps are getting smaller and more intimate; river cruisers are extending port days to wander at leisure; and in South America, long lunches now rival long hikes.
The takeaway? FOMO gets you on the plane. Slow-mo defines the experience.
4. The Rise of “Unlimited Luxe”
“All-inclusive” has been reborn. Once synonymous with mass-market resorts, the concept has evolved into something entirely different — “Unlimited Luxe.”
For the ultra-affluent traveler, it’s about seamlessness: private transfers, Michelin-caliber dining, and wellness experts on call. Resort buyouts and private yacht charters are in high demand, often tied to milestone birthdays, anniversaries, or multi-generational reunions.
Privacy now ranks among the top three ultraluxe experiences, proving that in a noisy world, silence itself is a status symbol.
5. The Healthy Wealthy: Wellness as the New Luxury
Luxury no longer lives in marble bathtubs — it lives in stillness.
From Ayurvedic retreats in India to yoga-and-surf escapes in Costa Rica and silent sanctuaries in the Canadian Rockies, the pursuit of well-being is defining 2026. According to Virtuoso, health and wellness are now the second-most requested experiences for solo travelers, as guests seek structure, clarity, and reconnection.
The trend has gone multi-generational too — parents and grandparents are inviting younger family members to disconnect from their screens and rediscover the world together. Longevity, mindfulness, and mental health are now markers of wealth.
Where the Luxe Set Is Headed
According to the report, Italy remains the world’s favorite destination, followed by Japan, Greece, France, and Croatia.
But the real excitement lies in the “destinations on the rise”: Iceland, Antarctica, and Norway are topping 2026’s bucket lists, while Morocco and Egypt see renewed interest thanks to cultural depth and private Nile experiences.
Elsewhere, Vietnam, Canada, and Malta are being hailed as the new cool — stylish, less crowded, and beautifully under-the-radar alternatives to Europe’s most photographed locales.
GRAZIA’s Take: The Age of Slow Luxury
If “quiet luxury” reshaped fashion, slow luxury is reshaping travel.
The future of indulgence isn’t just about five-star checklists — it’s about five-sense experiences. Travelers are seeking the same values that define modern style: authenticity, craftsmanship, and soul.
In 2026, the world’s most refined travelers aren’t escaping reality — they’re curating it.
