2026 travel predictions revealed

Travel is constantly evolving, and 2026 will be no exception. Airbnb forecasts that travelers will seek to make the most of their time away, rooted in authentic and immersive experiences:

Gen Z drives short, international escapes:
- 1–2 day city getaways are booming, fueled by viral TikTok trends.
- Popular destinations: Buenos Aires, Busan, João Pessoa, Ko Samui, Maceió, Marrakesh, Mexico City, Nakano (Japan), San Juan, Stockholm.

“Touching grass” movement:
- Searches for stays near national parks up 35% in the U.S..
- Top spots: Acadia, Shenandoah, Great Smoky Mountains, Yosemite, plus global picks like Crete, Goa, Sardinia, Jakarta.
- Outdoor experiences now outpace all other categories.

Event tourism surges:
- 65% of top-searched dates/cities align with global events: Winter Olympics, FIFA World Cup, Carnival, Coachella.
- Travelers are turning tickets into “mainstage journeys.”

Solo travel renaissance:
- Destinations with triple-digit growth: Idyllwild (CA), La Altagracia (Dominican Republic), Tromsø (Norway).
- Solo travelers prioritize self-discovery in scenic, slower-paced escapes.

Culinary travel heats up:
- Hands-on bakery classes (Paris, Tokyo, Lisbon) and wine tourism (Finger Lakes, Bangalore, Melbourne, Traverse City, Var).
- Food experiences among the most-booked globally.

Influencer wishlists:
- Top picks include Hội An (Vietnam), Iceland, Brazil, Colombia, Tanzania.
- Themes: breathtaking landscapes, vibrant local culture, and immersive outdoor adventures.

Big Picture
Travel in 2026 is about authenticity, immersion, and intensity:
- Quick but culture-rich escapes.
- Nature and wellness journeys.
- Global events as travel anchors.
- Food and wine as cultural gateways.
- Solo exploration as self-discovery.