Marriott Bonvoy Grants Status Soft Landing for 2026

Marriott Bonvoy is continuing its soft landing policy to anyone who doesn’t re-achieve the same or higher level of Marriott Bonvoy elite status in 2025. This means that at most, you’ll drop down one tier from the status you enjoyed in 2025 for the entirety of 2026 and through February 2027.

If you’re unable to maintain the same status you have this year, this policy will help you retain status with Marriott for the following year that you wouldn’t otherwise enjoy.

Marriott Bonvoy Grants Status Soft Landing for 2026

The qualification period for Marriott Bonvoy elite status follows the calendar year. Members must earn a minimum number of elite qualifying nights to reach various status thresholds (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador), as well as hit a spending threshold for Ambassador status only.

If you earn or renew status in 2025, you’ll enjoy that status through to February 2027.

However, if you’re unable to renew you status in 2025, Marriott Bonvoy has announced that members will be granted status one tier below their current status, which will be valid until February 2027. The new status will be reflected in the account as of March 2026, which is when their previous status will have expired.

You’ll receive an email in the new year confirming your one-level drop, but there’s nothing else you need to do to benefit from this soft landing.

In practice, if you didn’t manage to re-achieve your 2024 status for 2025, the soft landing will be distributed as follows:

• 2025 Ambassador members will enjoy Titanium status in 2026.
• 2025 Titanium members will enjoy Platinum status in 2026.
• 2025 Platinum members will enjoy Gold status in 2026.
• 2025 Gold members will enjoy Silver status in 2026.

Marriott’s soft landing policy is meant to keep members continually engaged with the hotel chain despite having missed the qualification requirement for 2025.

The soft landing is most beneficial to outgoing Ambassador and Titanium members, who’ll continue to enjoy the program’s most meaningful benefits as Titanium or Platinum members in 2025, including free breakfast, suite upgrades, and 4pm late check-out, amongst others.

How Soft Landings Can Help You Lock In Lifetime Platinum

Marriott counts both the year you earn a tier and any calendar years you continue to hold that tier toward Lifetime totals.

That means a soft-landed year, where you still hold Platinum on the subsequent year, can often count toward the 10 required Lifetime Platinum years, even if you didn’t requalify the hard way.

The terms don’t spell out that you must hold the tier for the entire year, so treat this as a likely win rather than a guarantee and confirm your displayed status in the app each March.

This is especially helpful if you’re close to the finish line. For example, I’m at 466 nights and six years of Platinum. I reached Titanium this year, which should bring me to seven eligible years in 2026.

If the soft-landing policy continues, I’d drop one level to Platinum in 2027 and likely get credit for an eighth year.

In 2028, I’ll push to re-earn Platinum, taking me to nine years, and in 2029 I’d retain Platinum for a tenth year—locking in Lifetime Platinum.

Thanks to credit card nights and regular travel, the Elite Qualifying Nights side isn’t the bottleneck; it’s about timing the years smartly.

Other Ways to Earn Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status

If you find yourself with a lower status than what you’ve enjoyed in the past few years, the good news is that earning Marriott Bonvoy elite status is easier than ever.

At the bare minimum, you can get Silver status simply by having a Canadian-issued Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card or a Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card. Either of these cards offer 15 elite qualifying nights, thereby granting you Silver status at 10 elite qualifying nights, but this status doesn’t really come with any meaningful benefits.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card

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First-Year Value: $360

• Earn 55,000 Bonvoy points upon spending $3,000 in the first three months
• Also, receive an annual Free Night Award worth 35,000 Bonvoy points starting in your second year with the card
• Also, receive 15 elite-qualifying nights every year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status
• Bonus Bonvoy points for referring family and friends
• Annual fee: $120

The American Express Platinum Card or the American Express Business Platinum Card both give you Gold status. There aren’t really many particularly useful benefits at this level, although having some status is always better than nothing.

American Express Platinum Card

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First-Year Value: $1,581

• Earn 80,000 MR points upon spending $10,000 in the first three months
• Plus, earn 30,000 MR points upon making a purchase in months 15–17 as a cardholder
• Earn 2x MR points on all dining and travel purchases
• Receive an annual $200 travel credit
• Receive an annual $200 dining credit
• Transfer MR points to Aeroplan, The British Airways Club, Flying Blue, and other frequent flyer programs for premium flights
• Unlimited airport lounge access for you and one guest at Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, Centurion, and other lounges
• Credits and rebates for daily expenses throughout the year with Amex Offers
• Bonus MR points for referring family and friends
• Annual fee: $799

If you have access to US credit cards, you can earn Platinum status simply by having the American Express US Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card. This is where things start to get meaningful, as you can enjoy free breakfast, 4pm late check-out, and upgrades to suites as part of your benefits.

Considering that the organic route to Platinum status requires 50 elite qualifying nights in a calendar year, the $650 (USD) annual fee is a small price to pay for the status, especially if you can leverage it well on hotel stays throughout the year.

If you want to take the leap to Titanium, consider pairing your US-issued American Express US Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card with a US-issued American Express US Marriott Bonvoy Business Card. The former will give you 25 elite qualifying nights, and the latter will stack 15 elite qualifying nights in your account, resulting in a head start of 40 nights.

From there, you’ll only need to earn 35 elite qualifying nights throughout the year to earn Titanium status, which can be finessed with any double night promotions that pop up, or some strategic stays booked at cheaper hotels.

Conclusion

Marriott Bonvoy will grant a soft landing in 2026 to members who don’t renew their 2025 Marriott Bonvoy elite status. At most, members will move down one tier from the status they previously enjoyed, which will last through to the end of February 2027.

This gesture is meant to keep members engaged with the program, despite not having reached the typical qualification criteria.

If you find yourself without at least Platinum status for 2026, be sure to look at the American Express US Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card. It’s a much easier pathway to Platinum status, and can also be a good springboard to Titanium status when paired with the American Express US Marriott Bonvoy Business Card.