The global wedding and honeymoon world has officially arrived in Macao.
From 22 to 24 April 2026, DWP Congress 2026 opens its doors at Sands Resorts Macao, welcoming over 350 of the industry’s most influential planners, designers, hospitality leaders and creative partners from more than 70 countries.
This is not simply a congress. It is a statement about where luxury destination weddings are heading next.
A Global Stage, Set in Macao
There is intention behind every detail of this year’s edition.
Framed as the “New Silk Road to Weddings,” the congress introduces a narrative built on connection, movement and discovery. Inspired by Macao’s iconic bridges, the programme reflects a wider industry shift, one that prioritises collaboration, cultural exchange and global perspective.
At the centre of it all sits the Londoner Grand, a venue designed for scale yet refined enough to host experiences that feel personal, curated and elevated.
Stephanie Tanpure, Vice President of Sales at Sands China Ltd., describes the destination as uniquely positioned, a place where the world can gather and experience the future of luxury celebrations within one seamless environment.
Day One, Where Experience Leads
The opening day immediately sets the tone.
We welcome delegates not with a standard reception, but with a fully immersive experience. At TeamLab SuperNature Macao, art, technology and nature merge into a living, interactive environment, a powerful reflection of how weddings themselves are evolving.
This is followed by an evening that shifts the mood entirely. Beneath the Eiffel Tower at The Parisian Macao, guests step into a Parisian-inspired cocktail reception, where elegance meets spectacle against the city’s skyline.
It is deliberate. It mirrors what couples now expect.
Not moments, but sequences. Not events, but experiences.
The Shift Defining Modern Weddings
Across every conversation at the congress, one theme is unmistakable.
Weddings are no longer single day celebrations.
They are immersive journeys.
Tanpure highlights the growing demand for multi-day celebrations, cultural fusion, and deeply personalised experiences in which every detail reflects the couple’s story. This is not a passing trend; it is a structural shift in how luxury weddings are designed and delivered.
From welcome events to farewell brunches, every touchpoint matters.
Every moment is intentional.
Beyond Celebration, A Platform for Real Business
While the setting is visually spectacular, the core of DWP Congress 2026 remains rooted in substance.
This is where:
- Global partnerships are formed
- New markets are explored
- Industry strategies are shaped
Curated networking, structured business meetings and high-level discussions form the backbone of the next three days. It is here that planners, venues and destinations align on what the next phase of the industry will look like.
Sidh N.C., Managing Director of QnA International, reinforces this vision, positioning Macao as a destination that represents the future, where heritage, scale and creativity come together to inspire the next generation of destination weddings.
Redefining Luxury, Seamless, Personal, Experiential
Perhaps the most important conversation unfolding in Macao is the redefinition of luxury itself.
It is no longer about scale alone.
Today, luxury is:
- Personalisation
- Convenience
- Emotion
- Seamless execution
At Sands Resorts Macao, the integrated resort model allows every element, accommodation, venue, dining, and entertainment to exist within one cohesive ecosystem. The result is a wedding experience that feels effortless, yet deeply immersive.
This is exactly where the market is moving.
Discovering Macao, The FAM Experience
Beyond the congress itself, delegates are being introduced to Macao through a carefully curated FAM trip, organised with support from the Macao Government Tourism Office.
This is where the destination comes to life.
From the romantic lanes of Travessa da Paixão to the historic streets of Rua dos Mercadores and Rua das Estalagens, guests experience the cultural depth that defines Macao. Traditional Chinese wedding attire, Kwan kwa, offers a glimpse into heritage, while locations such as Our Lady of Carmel Church and the Taipa Houses reveal a softer, more intimate side of the destination.
It is this contrast, modern luxury paired with deep cultural identity, that makes Macao so compelling.
A Global Collective of Creative Power
This year’s congress brings together an extraordinary mix of global partners across events, design, photography and entertainment, alongside leading media platforms including 5 Star Wedding Directory.
The diversity of voices is what gives Congress its power.
Different cultures, different perspectives, one shared goal: to elevate the standard of destination weddings worldwide.
Our Perspective at 5 Star Wedding Directory
Being part of this moment is important.
Not because of the scale, but because of what it represents.
The industry is evolving quickly. Couples are more informed, more design aware and more experience driven than ever before. At the same time, venues and vendors are being challenged to deliver something far beyond aesthetics.
Events like DWP Congress 2026 accelerate that evolution.
They bring the right people into one space, align ideas, and set the tone for what comes next.
The Direction Is Clear
As the congress opens in Macao, one message stands out.
Luxury weddings are no longer defined by how grand they appear.
They are defined by how seamlessly they unfold, how personally they resonate, and how deeply they are felt.
And in a destination like Macao, where culture, creativity and world-class hospitality intersect so effortlessly, the future of destination weddings feels not just exciting, but inevitable.
A Global Collective, Shaping the Conversation
Behind the scenes, DWP Congress 2026 brings together an exceptional mix of local and international creative partners, each contributing to the depth and diversity of the experience.
From leading production houses and planners to luxury designers and experiential specialists, names such as KVANT Events, Le Reve Premier International, P. Taufiq Photography, Royal Star Creative, LM Wedding, W Avenue Wedding Planning Co Ltd, Megha Beria Designs, Journey and Emotion at JE Handcrafts, Revel Events HK, SOVOS Therapy and Perfumery, and Cardinia Entertainment reflect the global scale of collaboration driving the congress.
Alongside them, a select group of international media partners, including 5 Star Wedding Directory, Arabia Weddings, Bridestory, Wed Vibes, Wedded Wonderland, and Zankyou Portugal, reinforce the congress’s position as one of the most trusted platforms in the industry.
Together, this collective will take part in high-level discussions, immersive site visits, and curated experiences over the three days, ensuring that Macao not only hosts the world’s leading voices in destination weddings but also actively shapes the conversations that will define its future.
5 Star Wedding Directory is proud to support DWP Congress Macao 2026 as a media partner.
Partner Credits
DWP Congress 2026 is shaped by a carefully curated network of global partners, each contributing to the congress’s creative and operational excellence.
- Host Hotel Partner: @sands_lifestyle
- Supporting Partner: @visitmacao
- Pavilion Sponsor: @visit_morocco_
- Laser and Light Show Partner: @kvant_events_middle_east
- Conference Event Partner: @lereve_jingxi
- Photography and Videography Partner: @ptaufiqphotography
- Entertainment Partner: @royalstarcreative
- Gala Dinner Decor Partner: @garden.lm
- Gala Dinner Engagement Partner: @w.avenuemo
- Stationery and Digital Invitation Partner: @meghaberiadesigns
- Gift Partner: @jehandcrafts
- Evening Reception Event Partner: @reveleventshk
- Fragrance Partners: @sovostherapy, @sovosperfumery
- Engagement Partner: @cardisviolin
Media Partners: @5starweddings, @arabiaweddings, @weddedwonderland, @wed_vibes, @zankyou_portugal, @thebridestory
