Teatro L’Occitane, Photography: Ale Bigliazzi
Planning: Liz Linkleter Events, Photography: Norman and Blake
The venue is no longer just where the wedding happens. In 2026, it’s the statement. Expect more couples favoring spaces with texture, soul, and attitude. Think architecture that feels bold, locations that double as an experience, and settings that look unreal before you even add flowers. From quietly iconic to beautifully unhinged, these are the wedding venue trends about to take over your Pinterest boards, your group chats, and probably your save-the-dates.
El Nido De Quetzalcóatl, Photography: Love Bears
Better Events, Photography: Naman Verma
Dramatic Landscapes
In 2026, weddings are being swept into the wild. More couples are trading ballrooms for backdrops that could humble a postcard—volcanic cliffs draped in mist, snow-blanketed peaks catching golden hour, vineyards casting long shadows over candlelit tables, or an endless table stretched along a coastal bluff with only the sea as witness. Nature isn’t just a setting anymore, it's a co-host. The immersive, ultra-scenic venues tap into a collective desire for something real and raw.
Planning: Purple Penguin, Photography: Jad Flayhan Weddings
Photography: Thor Van Damme
Planning: Meag Breanne Events, Photography: Kadi Tobin
Planning: Design Anarchy, Photography: Bottega 53
Planning: Califano, Photography: Jose Villa
Planning: Kraak, Photography: Daniela Zondagh
Museums & Art Galleries
Art galleries are stepping into the wedding venue spotlight like they were always meant to be there. In 2026, we’re seeing more couples turn to cultural institutions not only for ambiance, but for atmosphere with intention. There's something wildly romantic about saying “I do” in the company of thought-provoking sculptures, installations, and centuries-old frescoes.
NGV Melbourne, Photography: Parker's Pictures
AGO, Photography: Ha Nguyen
Bourse de Commerce, Content: Laila Gohar
Brutalist Architecture
Brutalism gives couples a clean slate with attitude. Raw concrete, monolithic lines, and unapologetic geometry set the stage for celebrations that feel bold, editorial, and genuinely out-of-the-box. Not only will your venue make your guests let out a collective wow, it doubles as the coolest photo setting with every shadow, texture, and architectural curve becoming part of the visual story.
Sparkoh, Photography: Ha Nguyen
Can Axartell, Photography: Estudio Manzanero
Herdade Do Freixo, Florist: Bosque Concept, Photography: Nous Nous
La Galiana Golf Resort, Photography: Symphony of Light
Teatro L’Occitane, Photography: Ale Bigliazzi
Bureau Betak
Supper Clubs
Couples in 2026 are choosing stylish restaurant settings and private dining rooms over traditional venues, turning their wedding into a sensory experience that hits on every level. Moody lighting, chef-driven menus, sculptural plating, and spaces that already feel designed. It’s intimate yet elevated, social yet still special.
Lapérouse
Sessions Arts Club, Planning: Charlotte Elise Events, Photography: Alex Wysocki
House of Louie, Planning: Alice Wilkes Design, Photography: Rebecca Searle
Dune & Sandscapes
The dune aesthetic is making it into 2026. Deserts are being reimagined as design playgrounds: cinematic, spiritual, and wildly sculptural. Couples are leaning into the drama of sand dunes, rocks, and mirrored installations that blur the line between nature and surrealism. The palette? Earth tones and sun-faded neutrals. The energy? Futuristic romance meets ancient ritual.
Decor: Spivak Studio, Photography: Egor Zabarovsky & Natali Inchakova
Photography: Maria Frolova
Decor: Maria German, Photography: Andrew Bayda
Jean & Jacques Blazac
Marius Troy
Planning: Platina Wedding, Photography: Ekaterina Trush
Rock-Carved Spaces
Cavernous, cut-from-the-earth spaces are the biggest venue flex of 2026. Stone quarries, ancient caves, and sculpted rock halls bring a kind of drama you simply cannot fake. The scale is insane, the textures are unreal, and the energy feels almost sacred. Add a line of candlelit tables, soft draping, or a few wild florals and suddenly it’s raw meets romantic in the most jaw-dropping way.
Carrières des Lumières, Photography: Nicole Plett
Photography: Nous Nous
Carrières des Lumières, Photography: Nicole Plett
Main-Character Settings
Movie-worthy venues are the new obsession. In 2026, couples are choosing spaces that are more of a film set than just a location. Dramatic archways, glossy pool decks, sculptural villas, and courtyards that look ready for a slow-motion walk-through scene create a sense of narrative from the moment guests arrive. These spaces come with a built-in storyline—each corner and architectural detail playing its part in the unfolding plot.
Sol del Oriente, Content: Tara Whiteman
Jnane Tamsna, Photography: Vlasta Weddings
Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel, Planning: Jennifer Zabinski Events, Photography: Danilo and Sharon
Runway-Inspired
Weddings are going full catwalk this year, and we are obsessed. Runway-style venues create a sense of drama and anticipation, guiding all eyes toward the couple as if they’re closing a Paris Fashion Week show. Clean lines, strong symmetry, and intentional staging give the entire day a high-fashion energy.
Feerique Event, Photography: Fedor Borodin
Gigi & Roses, Photography: Fotis Sid Tasios
Bureau Betak
Bureau Betak
Bureau Betak
Derai Studio
Pharaoh-Level Grandeur
Egypt is becoming one of the most unexpected venue influences of the year, and it’s all about the places themselves. Couples are choosing locations that echo the scale and mystery of ancient temples, pyramids, and stone courtyards, where every wall and shadow is already meaningful. It’s a bold shift toward grounding the celebration in something bigger—landscapes that hold history, energy, and a sense of awe you simply can’t replicate.
Photography: Bottega 53
Adrère Amellal, Content: Hana Nached
Photography: Naman Verma
