12 Stunning Shower Trends That Are Set To Completely Take Over In 2026

The shower is the most important aspect of any bathroom. Whether you prefer a quick wash in the morning or a long, soaking bath in the evening, this area must be perfectly adjusted to your needs. Not everyone can afford a remodel, but there are certain elements you can add to your shower space that will easily modernize and customize it, bringing a sense of luxury to your daily routine. 

The overall preference for spa-inspired bathrooms that will make you feel like you're on a retreat is carrying over from 2025 to 2026, along with an interest in sustainable materials and shower systems, and a tendency toward natural materials, color schemes, and textures that can channel the outdoors. Less unanimous is the lasting debate between walk-in showers and freestanding bathtubs. Those that can are rejecting the choice and integrating both in their bathrooms, one for practicality, the other for aesthetics and self-care.

Customization and its connection to more maximalist, experimental spaces has been trending in interior design for a few years now, and it's not going anywhere in 2026. In the shower, this philosophy is manifesting itself through characterful tiles that can make your space feel unique to you. This tile trend that's set to take over showers and bathrooms encourages you to play with colors and patterns, as well as tiles that show visible signs of craftsmanship, such as vintage pieces, zellige mosaic, or whimsical hand-painted Delft-inspired styles.

Accessibility is an important bathroom shower upgrade that is on trend for 2026. Homeowners are becoming more and more invested in creating spaces that don't just satisfy immediate needs, but that can adapt to lifestyle changes with the passage of time. This can include anything from integrated benches and grab bars to wider doors and curbless showers. Fortunately, making your shower more accessible doesn't have to mean sacrificing aesthetics. Features like benches and curbless showers are also considered incredibly modern and design-forward, providing customization and eliminating clunky barriers for a seamless whole.

With a broader turn toward biophilic design that prioritizes natural materials that convey the coarseness and tactility of the outdoors, shower trends, too, are embracing textural elements. Finishes like microcement, fluted limestone, and rough plaster achieve this effect, giving the area an intentionally weathered, earthy appearance that eliminates the forced symmetry and neatness of classic tile walls. Microcement, especially, is a phenomenal option for bathrooms thanks to its waterproof qualities.

Another popular choice to bring both character and a natural warmth to showers in 2026 is bold marble. Statement stone is trending everywhere in interior design, and the shower is one of the prime locations to implement it. Marble has always been a popular choice for bathrooms as arguably the most luxurious stone in interior design, but trends are moving away from subtle designs and opting for slabs with striking, contrasting veins, that can bring a sense of drama and depth to the bathroom, such as Arabascato and Breccia Capraia.

One trend that goes hand-in-hand with the bold marble and the microcement styles is the preference for large format tiles. Too many grout lines are becoming a thing of the past as people search for ease of maintenance, from a pragmatic point of view, and a sense of flow, from a design one, that only uninterrupted surfaces can provide. The seamless look of large format tiles is not only inherently modern, but also serene, providing that same spa-like environment that will continue to dominate bathroom trends in 2026. 

Although walk-in showers are the definitive choice for bathrooms in 2026, there is a simultaneous curiosity for the luxury that freestanding bathtubs and faucets can provide. These elements make a space look and feel incredibly high-end and bespoke, even if they're not the most practical for day-to-day needs. Alternatively, more traditional models in metals like cast iron and copper, with ornate clawfeet and ostentatious brass hardware, can shower your bathroom with vintage charm and warmth.

A more niche trend in the world of shower design refers to shower curtains. As bathroom partitions go, curtains have a bad rap for being easily soiled and unhygienic. But, when well maintained, they present a fantastic opportunity to bring decorative flair to the bathroom while countering the coldness of stone and tile. In 2026, designers are opting for floor-to-ceiling curtains for a classic, polished look. "A longer shower curtain infuses elegance into a bathroom while adding height, as it draws the eyes up," interior designer Gabriela Eisenhart explained in an interview with Homes & Gardens.

Sustainability isn't just a trend, it's a major concern in modern design and architecture. Making homes that last long and efficiently utilize available resources is fundamental, and bathrooms are no exception. The shower is one of the most used, and thus most frequently replaced, features of the home, but its lifespan can be extended with hard-wearing materials. One of the most popular options for shower hardware that is also incredibly stylish is stainless steel. This metal resists corrosion, is effortlessly sanitized, and is typically made from recycled materials, making it easy to recycle in turn.

Along with durable materials, another cutting-edge way that showers are becoming more sustainable is through smart technology that can track and control water and energy consumption. These systems help homeowners make more informed decisions about their spending habits with little to no effort. But smart shower tech doesn't stop there. There are automatic glass partitions that can frost up upon request, heated floors for extra comfort, and waterproof sound systems. Each user can customize tech settings to their liking, making their shower a truly individual, spa-worthy experience.

When the topic is wellness, lighting absolutely cannot be left out of the equation. Interior design has always acknowledged the impact of light and color in how you experience and inhabit a space, but bathroom design is taking it a step further by integrating chronotherapy technology in the shower. Chronotherapy is the use of color and light to treat the body and mind, which fits right in with the desire to turn bathrooms into sanctuaries. That's why customizable, waterproof LED lights that change intensity, warmth, and color are the moody trend that's replacing bright bathroom lighting in 2026.

For the more indulgent and luxurious, sunken baths are on trend as a lavish alternative to regular tubs and showers. According to Zoe Jones, senior creative producer at Roper Rhodes, these architectural features are more of a status symbol than anything (per Sanctuary Bathrooms) but are still emerging as a niche interest in high-end design-forward homes. Reminiscent of Roman bathhouses and the Japanese onsen bathing tradition, but also allowing designers to hide a primarily functional object inside a hole in the ground, sunken baths are simultaneously classic and modern. 

Just because you can't install an extravagant sunken bath or majestic freestanding tub in your bathroom right now doesn't mean you can't join in on the personalized sanctuary shower trend. The concept of bathscaping essentially means furnishing your wet area, whatever it may look like, with products and accessories that enhance your bathing experience. Think soft towels, candles in your favorite scent, deeply hydrating shower gels, and face masks. Other elements on this list, such as mood lighting and natural or characterful materials all around, are equally crucial for creating a relaxing, exquisitely bespoke atmosphere.