British Airways Holidays unveils the travel trends set to shape 2026

​British Airways Holidays, one of the UK’s leading and most trusted tour operators, has unveiled its 2026 Travel Trends Report, in collaboration with world leading travel trend forecasting agency, Globetrender. Key Travel Trends for 2026:

Chronocations (Time-Free Trips)
- Travellers syncing holidays with their biological rhythms instead of rigid schedules.
- 19% of UK travellers already ignore the clock entirely on holiday.
- Activities like morning raves and starlit excursions reshape how people experience time.

Uninhibited Holidays (Self-Acceptance Escapes)
- Focus on body-positivity and authentic self-expression.
- Sauna culture, onsens, hammams, and a rejection of “AI-perfect bodies.”
- Around 1 in 8 UK adults feel more confident in what they wear abroad than at home.

Stream Parks (Tech-Fuelled Thrills)
- Streaming giants and gaming platforms creating immersive theme-park destinations.
- Examples: Netflix House (US), iQIYI mixed-reality worlds (China), Minecraft attractions (UK & US).
- 38% of UK travellers eager to step inside their favourite shows or games.

The Valueverse (Smart Luxury via Loyalty)
- Loyalty schemes evolving beyond upgrades to experiences.
- Everyday spending turns into points for personal luxuries.
- 82% of BA Holidays customers see loyalty programmes as a great way to be rewarded.

Neurosurfing (Cognitive Health Holidays)
- Focus on mental balance and brainwave states.
- Activities like breathwork, meditation, and ecstatic dance.
- 26% of UK adults say sleep deprivation affects their mental balance more than social media.

Vintage Junkets (Nostalgic Travel)
- Retro experiences and pre-loved treasures gaining popularity.
- 47% of travellers agree vintage experiences offer a more authentic connection to destinations.
- An ode to serendipity and surprise.

Rising Destinations for 2026
- Bermuda (+38%)
- St Kitts (+31%)
- Turks and Caicos (+22%)
- Grenada (+20%)
- Crete (+18%)
- Costa Rica (+15%)
- Nashville (+13%)
- Antigua (+8%)

Top searched destinations for 2026 include New York, Orlando, Dubai, Maldives, Barbados, Las Vegas, Cancun, St Lucia, Dominican Republic, and Antigua.

Big Picture
The report highlights how wellness culture continues to dominate travel choices, but now with deeper layers: time liberation, body acceptance, immersive tech, loyalty-driven luxury, cognitive health, and nostalgia. Holidays are becoming spaces of transformation—where travellers experiment with identity, restore balance, and seek joy beyond routine.