5 Biggest Travel Trends for 2026


Jessica Puckett

The 12 months 2026 is about to vary how we journey in a big approach. According to a latest report from journey reserving website Skyscanner, vacationers’ priorities for what they need to get out of a trip are shifting, and so are their reserving habits.

From reserving a whole journey simply for the lodge and raiding the comfort retailer for snacks to escaping to the mountains and touring to satisfy new individuals, right here’s a better have a look at 5 traits from Skyscanner’s report.

Trend #1: Shelf Discovery

Skyscanner predicts that in 2026, extra vacationers will look to supermarkets, merchandising machines, and comfort shops when exploring a vacation spot’s meals tradition. From Tokyo’s elaborate merchandising machines to pre-packaged snacks at native grocery retailer chains, vacationers are trying past eating places to get a way of a spot’s culinary custom.

According to Skyscanner’s information, 55% of US vacationers all the time or usually go to native supermarkets overseas. Travelers who responded to the survey stated they go to supermarkets and comfort shops of their locations to find new snacks and drinks, discover world manufacturers they’ll’t get at house, and get native takes on acquainted meals objects. Travelers additionally stated scoring snacks and meals objects from the market helps them really feel extra like a neighborhood.

Trend #2: Altitude Shift

Travelers’ affinity for mountain-based getaways received’t be dimming in 2026: a whopping 80% of vacationers are contemplating or planning a mountain trip for summer time and fall 2026, Skyscanner says. The website additionally says lodge bookings utilizing its “room with a mountain view” filter have jumped 103% 12 months over 12 months. Travelers surveyed stated they’re drawn to mountain escapes for the peace and quiet (62%), clear air and cooler climate (60%), in addition to stunning and distant lodging (57%). Mountain trails all over the world have seen main jumps in exercise from summer time vacationers in 2025, in accordance with out of doors exploration platform AllTrails, together with the Rob Roy Glacier Track in New Zealand, Palm Jungle Loop Track in Australia, and the Laguna Cinco Hermanos.

Trend #3: Bookbound

Literature-centric journey can also be set to be a serious pattern in 2026, Skyscanner’s report says. Hotel bookings utilizing the location’s “library” filter are up 70% globally 12 months over 12 months, and 55% of vacationers have booked, or would think about, a visit impressed by literature. 

“Reading and travel are intrinsically linked – books inspire real-world journeys, which in turn create the space for people to lose themselves in books,” stated Rebecca Sinclair, chief model officer at Penguin Books U.Ok.

In phrases of prime literary journey experiences to pursue, vacationers stated that they’re most fascinated about visiting a destination mentioned in a book (33%), staying in a book-themed lodging (21%), and occurring a writing or studying retreat (14%).

Trend #4: Catching Flights and Feelings 

A rising variety of vacationers in 2026 will prioritize making significant relationships on their subsequent journey. From courting on the highway, to assembly new buddies and exploring a vacation spot with a neighborhood, the theme for many journeys subsequent 12 months might be all about connection, in accordance with Skyscanner. According to the report, 53% of vacationers have gone, or thought-about going, abroad particularly to satisfy new individuals, corresponding to for courting or new friendships. 

Travelers stated that when trying for connections in a vacation spot, they prioritize assembly individuals from completely different backgrounds and cultures (28%), making significant friendships (18%), and exploring their vacation spot with a neighborhood (14%). Overall, almost half of vacationers (42%) stated they’re extra open to assembly new individuals once they journey in comparison with their day by day routine.

Trend #5: Destination Check-In

More than ever, resorts have gotten a cause to journey subsequent 12 months, not only a place to relaxation your head: 56% of vacationers have picked a vacation spot based mostly purely on lodging, in accordance with Skyscanner’s report. The website says that lodge bookings utilizing its “unique stay” filter have elevated 60% 12 months over 12 months. The pattern is much more well-liked amongst Millennial vacationers, 70% of whom say they’ve booked a trip simply for the lodge. 

Travelers who select a vacation spot based on the hotel stated that they did so as a result of the lodge units the tone for the complete trip, they might loosen up in a single place with out transferring round, and it lets them get a whole escape from on a regular basis life.


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