This Week in the World of Luxury

2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for luxury, where high performance, artistry, and innovation converge across cars, beauty, tech, and design. From Mercedes-Benz’s strategic shift towards top-end vehicles to Kay Beauty and Falguni Shane Peacock’s couture-infused collaboration, here’s everything that made headlines this week.

Mercedes-Benz India Bets On Margin-Led Growth Over Volume

Mercedes-Benz India closed 2025 with retail sales of 19,007 units, marking a 2.85 percent year-on-year dip, even as the brand retained its leadership in the luxury car segment and recorded its highest-ever annual revenue. The narrowing sales gap with BMW was driven by Mercedes’ deliberate shift away from entry-level models, which fell 20 percent and now make up just 13 percent of sales, towards more profitable Core and Top-End vehicles, led by the E-Class, GLE, and high-performance AMG models. Top-end cars priced above Rs 1.25 crore grew 11 percent and now contribute a quarter of total sales, while AMG volumes surged 34 percent and the EQS SUV emerged as India’s best-selling luxury EV. With diesel demand rising post GST revisions and a 12-model launch plan lined up for 2026, including the CLA EV and locally assembled Maybach GLS, Mercedes is doubling down on margin-led growth rather than volume-driven price wars.

Kay Beauty Collaborates With Falguni Shane Peacock for ‘Kay Kouture’

What began as a 30-minute phone call between long-time friends has evolved into Kay Kouture, a striking beauty collaboration between Kay Beauty by Katrina and Falguni Shane Peacock that seamlessly marries makeup with couture. The collection introduces 12 luxurious matte lipsticks and two statement face palettes inspired by 1920s Gatsby glamour, translating the designers’ rich, detail-driven aesthetic into beauty. As Katrina Kaif explains, the balance lays in letting FSP’s couture sensibility shape the packaging and finishes while keeping the formulas high-performing, gentle, and nourishing, a vision echoed by Falguni Shane Peacock, who describe the collaboration as a true “beauty-meets-couture” expression rooted in friendship and elevated fashion.

L’Occitane en Provence Celebrates 50 Years of Purpose-Driven Beauty

L’Occitane en Provence marks its 50th anniversary by reaffirming the values that have defined the Maison since its founding in 1976: natural ingredients, Provençal craftsmanship, and a deeply rooted commitment to sustainability. What began as Olivier Baussan’s small-scale distillation of rosemary in Haute-Provence has grown, under the stewardship of Reinold Geiger, into a global beauty brand known for transforming ingredients like shea butter, immortelle, and almond into high-performance, sensorial formulas responsibly sourced long before such practices became industry standards. With more than 3,000 boutiques worldwide, fair-trade partnerships supporting thousands of women producers, and a renewed focus on blending heritage with modern innovation, the milestone signals not just longevity but a future-facing vision of purpose-driven, globally resonant beauty.

Estée Lauder names Daisy Edgar-Jones Global Brand Ambassador

Estée Lauder has appointed British actress Daisy Edgar-Jones as its newest global brand ambassador, with the breakout star set to represent the brand’s skincare, makeup and fragrance portfolios, and her first campaign launching across print, digital and in-store platforms in February 2026. Praising her aspirational yet approachable appeal, global brand president Justin Boxford said Edgar-Jones embodies the confident, youthful spirit and style of Estée Lauder, joining an established roster of ambassadors including Ana de Armas, Karlie Kloss and Yang Mi. The announcement comes alongside the launch of the brand’s new Revitalizing Supreme+ Sculpting Serum, powered by a dual-peptide blend for firmer-looking skin.

CES 2026 Signals a New Era of Experiential Luxury Tech

At CES 2026, luxury technology stepped decisively into a new era where innovation is no longer about novelty alone, but about elevating everyday living through intelligence, design, and experience. From AI-powered kitchens and self-charging biometric smart locks to immersive sound furniture, next-generation foldable phones, and glasses-free 3D gaming monitors, this year’s showcase revealed how technology is seamlessly embedding itself into homes, lifestyles, and leisure. The standout innovations underscored a clear shift: luxury tech is now intuitive, adaptive, and deeply personal, transforming domestic spaces, entertainment, and productivity into refined, aspirational ecosystems that feel as indulgent as they are functional.

India Watch Weekend 2026 Returns For Its Second Edition in Mumbai

India Watch Weekend 2026 returns for its second edition on January 17–18 at the Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, reaffirming its position as India’s foremost platform for fine watchmaking and a key marker in the country’s evolving luxury and collector culture. Building on the success of its 2025 debut, the event brings together an exceptional roster of heritage maisons, independent watchmakers, global horological authorities, and serious collectors, with brands such as Jaeger-LeCoultre, A. Lange & Söhne, Panerai, Grand Seiko, Roger Dubuis, Ming, Moritz Grossmann, DOXA, and more, alongside founder-led presentations and over 24 hours of immersive programming.

India Art Fair Returns In 2026 For Its 17th Edition

The India Art Fair returns in 2026, marking its 17th edition as one of South Asia’s most influential platforms for contemporary art, design and cultural exchange. Scheduled from 5–8 February at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds in New Delhi, the fair is set to feature a record 123 exhibitors, including 87 galleries, 24 major art institutions and an expanded design section showcasing 12 design studios and galleries, the largest lineup in its history. The 2026 edition underscores India Art Fair’s growing global stature, bringing together leading international names such as David Zwirner, Galleria Continua and neugerriemschneider alongside prominent Indian spaces like Gallery Espace, Latitude 28 and Exhibit 320.

For those who live and breathe elevated living, this is the year to witness, engage, and immerse in moments that are as aspirational as they are meticulously curated.

You may also read: The Events Kicking Off 2026 in Delhi NCR & Mumbai