It’s official! The travel trends of 2026 are here to shake up your itinerary and make sure it’s unmistakably you. From robotic butlers to supermarket safaris, it seems holiday norms are being smashed, reimagined and re-styled.
The biggest shift is trips are no longer “escape from life”, but rather, an expression of who we are. Booking.com’s predictions and Skyscanner’s 2026 trends both nail it – people are chasing niche passions, unorthodox rituals and highly individual itineraries.
Trends too good to ignore
1. Glowmads
Forget souvenirs, bring back sheet masks and K-beauty skincare routines. In 2026, travellers want destinations that “glow”. From Seoul’s cosmetics meccas to Parisian apothecaries, beauty rituals are becoming bona fide trip anchors.
2. Shelf discovery
Restaurants are so last decade. Now we’re exploring local food culture by wandering grocery aisles. From slurping weird snacks to sniffing out exotic spices — food tourism is going off-menu.
3. Altitude shift
Mountains are no longer just for snow and slopes. In 2026, they’re havens of hush, serenity and fresh air. The “room with a mountain view” filter usage? Up 103% year-on-year.
4. Travel via the pages
Reading + wandering = new travel math. Trips rooted in literature where you’re tracing fictional walks, seeking iconic libraries or staying in bookish havens, are surging.
5. Catching flights & feelings
One in three travellers is now open to meeting matches, mates or maybes on the road. Solo travel is getting social, romantic, even experimental.
6. Family miles
Family vacays are evolving and grandparents, toddlers, siblings are all in. It’s less about who, more about “why“. Shared experiences, reconnection, legacy-making, the reasons are endless.
7. Destination check-in
These aren’t just places to sleep. The hotel *is* the trip. Design-forward, tech-rich, quirky stays are becoming the compass for where people travel. Booking.com’s “humanoid homes” featuring robot assistants and app-based living fit right in.
8. Modern milestone missions & rewired road trips
Celebrate the small wins with a midnight flight after finishing that big report. Jet off to meet new pals on a road-trip matched via AI. Trips are becoming mini adventures triggered by life’s micro-moments.
9. Romantasy & PastPorts
Fancy stepping into a fantasy world or re-creating your grandma’s old holiday photo with an epic backdrop? Romantasy, nostalgia trips and tech-enabled photo echoes are trending strong.
10. Shelfie souvenirs & glow-cations
Goodbye tatty magnets. Hello design-led kitchenware, craft spices, skincare rituals. The modern souvenir is something you’ll use, and Instagram. And yes, glow-centric wellness breaks are absolutely a thing.
So why is all of this happening? Well, the travel trends of 2026 are driven by a combination of factors. Identity-first travel is taking center stage, where people prioritize trips that align with their passions and interests. Savvy spending is also key, as travelers balance their desires with budget constraints, seeking value and purpose in their journeys.
Technology, particularly AI and smart filters, is empowering travelers to curate personalized experiences tailored to their tastes. Also, the oversupply of generic tourist destinations is pushing travellers toward unique, offbeat, and under-visited places that offer authentic experiences.
So there you have it, 2026 will be the year travel finally catches up to you. It’ll be much less about destinations as boxes to tick, and a lot more about stories, identities and rituals you’ll carry home.
Also read: Travel buzzwords decoded: Your essential glossary
