Aspire confirms details of 2026 events schedule

Aspire has released its official 2026 events schedule, including confirmed dates and locations for Leaders of Luxury, the Aspire Awards, The Retreat and Aspire Escapes.

The brand’s flagship Leaders of Luxury conference will take place on June 22 at The Peninsula London, marking a new venue for the event for the first time in four years.

The conference – held in partnership with headline sponsor Explora Journeys – will once again bring together 250 handpicked senior industry leaders for a day of insight and analysis on the luxury travel sector, with panel sessions, Q&As and keynote presentations planned.

Invitations for Leaders of Luxury will be sent out later this month.

The brand’s annual Aspire Awards will also return in 2026, taking place on December 14 at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester.

The event will be held in partnership with headline sponsor Virgin Atlantic and will bring together 450 people from the luxury travel sector.

Entries for agent and supplier categories will open in March, with more details to follow in due course.

Aspire will host a total of seven Aspire Escapes in 2026 at luxury locations including Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa; The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel; Stock Exchange Hotel; and Saltmoore.

Launched in 2021, the event series has become one of the brand’s most sought-after experiences, bringing together 20 handpicked luxury agents and 20 premium suppliers in a relaxed, countryside setting in the UK.

Delegates enjoy maximum time to network and establish working relationships through one-to-one business meetings, a networking lunch, a group activity and a three-course private dinner.

In response to continued demand for enhanced choice, the brand will operate four overnight Escapes and two day Escapes this year, allowing delegates to choose which event type works best for their schedule.

New for 2026, Aspire will also host its first Great Escape in September at luxury Suffolk venue Wilderness Reserve.

The event will be based on Aspire’s much-loved and highly successful Aspire Escapes model, but will be longer and larger in size, with 30 luxury agents and 30 suppliers coming together for two full days of networking and relationship building.

The event will include one-to-one business meetings, a longer group activity, a gala dinner and a content session with an expert speaker.

Aspire will also run two Retreats in 2026, taking a select group of luxury agents and suppliers to Antigua in June and Andalusia, Spain, in October.

Launched in 2018, The Retreat takes 25 hand-selected agents and 15 luxury suppliers to a premium destination for four days of networking and relationship building, with past locations including Greece, Cape Town, Dubai, Japan, Mexico, Montenegro and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Due to the success and popularity of the event, Aspire now hosts two Retreats a year – one long-haul and one short-haul.

This year’s long-haul Retreat will take place on June 25-30 in Antigua in partnership with headline sponsors Visit Antigua and Barbuda and Blue Waters Resort & Spa.

The short-haul edition of the event will take place on October 15-18 in Andalusia, Spain, in partnership with headline sponsors Oku Andalusia and EasyJet Holidays Luxury Collection.

Invitations for The Retreat and Aspire Escapes will be sent out this month. Both events are free for agents to attend.

Aspire’s acting editor Erica Rich said: “We’re delighted to confirm the dates and locations for our key events of 2026. Aspire’s events portfolio has grown hugely over the years in line with industry demand and we are proud of the diverse and comprehensive offering available to luxury travel sellers.

"This year sees us launch a new event, The Great Escape, which builds on the exceptional success of our Aspire Escapes series; a shiny new Leaders of Luxury venue,The Peninsula London; and two new Retreat locations - all of which is hugely exciting.

“Aspire sits at the heart of the luxury travel community and we’re here to support and work alongside our agent and supplier partners to ensure the luxury travel sector continues to grow."

If you’re interested in attending an event as an agent, please email erica.rich@travelweekly.co.uk.

If you’re interested in attending an event as a supplier, or sponsorship opportunities, please email toni.austin@travelweekly.co.uk