Virtuoso has revealed its nine must-have experiences for luxury travellers in 2026, from Arctic exploration to the Nile.
Following a sustained 76% increase in the number of people seeking out advisors through the Virtuoso website in 2025, the company determined these trends from the Luxe Report, based off a survey of over 2400 travel advisors across 58 countries.
Luxury travellers are soul searching for tradition and trend in 2026, with Japan as a prime location and South Korea emerging as a popular alternative. Arctic exploration will be popular in the Geographic and Magnetic North Poles, and the Vatican Museum at first light will be a must-see, while Italy and France are topping the 2026 list for solo-travel destinations.
Adventure Travel jumped to number three in the 2026 top five trends, with Morocco’s Memory Road being an ideal option for thrill-seekers. Mexico’s Yucatán offers an option for those chasing this year’s diving trend in the area’s limestone caverns. The Luxe Report saw farm-to-table ranked in the top five aspects of sustainable tourism for the first time, with Portugal’s vineyards and Tasmania’s lavender fields providing harvesting and wellness experiences.
The Nile traversed via private yacht is another must-have experience, says Virtuoso. It reports luxury travellers are also leaving behind staged social media moments, instead seeking genuine interactions with local communities, be that a maiko in Japan or contributing to a community-driven project in Columbia.
Finally, whale watching is a favourite, be it in Monterey Bay, on Norway’s fjords or on the coastline of South Africa. See the full 2026 Luxe Report HERE.
