Trend Forecasting for 2026: the shifts we’re seeing
Trend forecasting is not about predicting what will be popular next year. It is about paying attention. Listening to clients. Watching how people move through spaces. Noticing what feels exciting, what feels tired, and where energy is quietly building before it becomes obvious.
As we look toward 2026, the most meaningful shifts are not coming from color reports or social media moments. They are coming from how people want to gather, how they want to host, and how they want their guests to feel.
Here is what feels real right now.
Photo taken from David Stark Design
Photo taken from David Stark Design
More Is Coming Back. And It Feels Intentional.
For a long time, restraint dominated the conversation. Clean lines. Quiet palettes. Edited rooms. And while there will always be space for simplicity, we are seeing a very clear return to fullness.
Not chaos. Not excess for the sake of excess. But richness.
Layered florals. Pattern mixing. Textural linens. Tables that feel generous rather than sparse. Rooms that feel finished, not held back.
Clients are less interested in playing it safe. They want spaces that feel expressive and dimensional. They want environments that invite people to settle in, look around, and stay awhile.
There is an emotional component to this shift too. People are ready to celebrate again in a way that feels abundant and unapologetic.
Bold Color Isn’t Leaving Just Because Someone Declared a Neutral
Despite whatever the official color of the year may be, bold color is not disappearing. If anything, clients feel more confident than ever using it.
We are seeing deep reds, saturated blues, rich greens, warm ochres, and unexpected pairings. Not a single “moment” color, but layered palettes that feel personal and lived-in.
Color is being used to set mood rather than follow instruction. It anchors a space emotionally. It signals confidence. And in 2026, color choices feel less performative and more instinctual.
People want their events to feel like them, not like a checklist.
Video taken from David Stark Design
Entertainment Is Becoming Part of the Experience, Not a Segment
One of the most noticeable shifts is how entertainment is being approached.
It is no longer just a band or a performance scheduled into the evening. We are seeing more interest in experiential elements that weave through the event itself.
Actors appearing unexpectedly during cocktail hour. Dancers moving through a space rather than taking a stage. Artists creating live pieces guests can interact with or take home.
When done well, these moments do not interrupt the flow. They enhance it. They create surprises without demanding attention. Guests may not even realize when the transition happens, they just feel that something special is unfolding around them.
That feeling is what people remember.
Experience Is Starting to Matter More Than the Moment
There has been a subtle but noticeable shift away from designing events solely for how they will appear online.
For a long time, there was pressure to create a single, hyper-curated moment. The backdrop. The install. The photo that could circulate. And while those moments still have a place, they are no longer driving the entire design conversation.
Clients are asking different questions now. How does this feel to be inside of? How does the night unfold? Will guests feel comfortable, engaged, and present rather than watching it all through their phones?
There is less interest in chasing something that might go viral and more interest in creating something that feels meaningful in real time. Events are being designed for memory rather than performance.
Ironically, when the focus shifts away from “Instagram-worthy,” the result often feels more beautiful, more authentic, and more lasting. The moments people remember most are rarely the ones staged for the camera. They are the ones that feel effortless, surprising, and human.
Designing for experience rather than optics is not a rejection of beauty. It is a refinement of it.
Photo taken from David Stark Design
Design That Actually Works Matters More Than Ever
There is a growing awareness that beautiful design means very little if the experience feels clunky.
How guests move. Where they pause. When energy shifts. How long people linger before they are ready for what comes next. These details are shaping design decisions more than ever.
Ease is becoming one of the clearest indicators of sophistication.
The best events are the ones where guests feel completely taken care of without being told what to do. When the flow feels natural, the emotion follows.
Familiarity Paired With Surprise
Some of the strongest designs we are seeing right now blend nostalgia with something unexpected.
People respond to what feels familiar. It creates comfort. But they also crave novelty, moments that catch them off guard just enough to stay memorable.
This might look like classic elements reimagined through scale, material, or placement. Or traditional formats presented in a way that feels fresh rather than prescribed.
That balance is what keeps an event from feeling trendy. It gives it longevity.
Planning for 2026 With Clarity
The goal is not to follow every shift. It is to understand what resonates and make intentional choices from there.
For couples planning ahead, the most important thing is not predicting what will be “in,” but designing an experience that reflects how you host, how you gather, and how you want people to feel in the room.
Trends are simply language for what people are already craving.
And right now, people are craving richness, connection, and experiences that feel considered from beginning to end.
Photo taken from Giorgina Clavarino
If you’d like to talk with us about planning your next event, click here.
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