The Latest Travel Trends For 2026
- Michelle's Monologues
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
Travel is a hot topic right now with the latest FIFA World Cup 2026 announcements but did you know the latest travel trends for 2026 have been released by some of the top travel and research companies? Each year Tripadvisor, Skyscanner, and British Airways alongside YouGov Plc survey release the latest travel trends. Like previous years, travel to classic destinations include Italy and Japan, will still be popular, with best newcomers being Guernsey, Channel Islands, San Sebastian, Spain, and Tivat, Montenegro.
The Latest Travel Trends For 2026
Travel in 2026 is predicted to focus on intentional, slow, and immersive experiences, moving beyond mere escape to deep connection with cultures, nature, and self, with strong trends in wellness, rail travel (The Rail Revival), culinary journeys (bakery classes!), "coolcations," and personalised luxury (micro-retreats, boutique cruises, private aviation), all enhanced by AI for tailored trips, while "work-from-anywhere" blurs lines between productivity and pleasure. Expect more over-tourism avoidance via off-season trips (coolcations) and less-trodden paths like Albania or Uzbekistan, alongside classic destination revivals in Italy and Japan.
Skyscanner
Skyscanner's 2026 travel trends point to a more personalised, purpose-driven trips, with travelers seeking authentic local culture via "shelf discovery" (supermarkets/markets) and "glowmads" (beauty/skincare tourism). Key trends include "Altitude Shift" (mountain escapes), "Bookbound" (literary travel), "Catching Flights & Feelings" (romance/friendship), and "Family Miles" (multi-gen trips), all while using AI for smarter planning and embracing unique stays. Demand is rising, especially among Gen Z/Millennials, with budgets increasing for flights and stays as they prioritise experiences over just sightseeing.
Literary Travel - Edinburgh International Book Festival
Expedia
Expedia's 2026 travel trends, highlighted in their "Unpack '26" report, focus on screen-inspired trips (Set-Jetting), multi-stay "Hotel Hops," nature-focused "Farm Charm" getaways, book-themed "Readaways," sports-driven "Fan Voyages," and stays in unique "Salvaged Stays" like old prisons, emphasising authenticity, cultural connection, and slower, more meaningful travel experiences driven by younger generations.
Unique and authentic stays are available in Lighthouses, Yurts, Tipi Tent, Windmills, and Houseboats. Discover more in The Best Places To Visit In The UK and Ireland.
British Airways Holidays & YouGov Plc survey
"Wellness culture is clearly continuing to impact the way we holiday, with three of our trends leaning into this overarching movement. Uninhibited Holidays sees UK travellers eager to shake off longstanding stereotypes and embrace body-positive experiences. Simultaneously, we predict a growing interest in cognitive health holidays, with Neurosurfing encouraging hotels to curate brain-wave-altering experiences designed to deliver profound relaxation. Then there are Chronocations, holidays that reject traditional time constraints, enabling travellers to switch off, ignore the clock and take their holiday seriously.
Moving beyond wellness, our report delves into trends that will all look to influence how we travel this coming year. These include Stream Parks, theme parks embracing new forms of cultural IP with attractions that go beyond rollercoasters, using advanced technologies to fully immerse travellers, The Valueverse, points redemption evolving from upgrades to enhanced experiences, and Vintage Junkets, travellers seeking serendipity and surprise through retro goods and experiences."
Where are you inspired to travel to in 2026? I would love to know. Let me know down in the comments. I have a few travel surprises coming up throughout 2026. So excited to share these with you soon!
Happy Travels,
Michelle x
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