Booking.com’s 2026 Travel Predictions report, titled 'The Era of YOU', unveils ten bold trends

Booking.com’s 2026 Travel Predictions report, titled “The Era of YOU”, unveils ten bold trends that reflect how travelers are embracing hyper-personalized, passion-driven journeys. Based on insights from over 29,000 travelers across 33 countries, here are the standout themes shaping travel in 2026:

1. Romantasy Retreats
Travelers are stepping into fantasy worlds inspired by books, games, and films — think enchanted castles, masquerade balls, and role-play vacations. Over 70% are interested in destinations inspired by fantasy genres.

2. Humanoid Homes
Vacation rentals are going high-tech with cleaning bots, robotic chefs, and sustainability systems. 77% of travelers are open to booking robot-enhanced stays.

3. Turbulence Tests
Vacations are becoming compatibility tests — from remote retreats to role-reversal trips — to assess relationships, friendships, or even work dynamics.

4. Shelf-ie Souvenirs
Travelers are curating their kitchens with design-led pantry items and cookware from around the world. 68% would buy such items as souvenirs.

5. Roadtrip Rewired
Carpooling, self-driving vehicles, and AI-curated scenic routes are redefining road trips as social, spontaneous, and tech-enabled adventures.

6. Destined-ations
Astrology and spiritual guidance are influencing travel decisions. Nearly half of travelers would change plans based on horoscopes or Mercury retrograde.

7. Glow-cations
Skincare-focused wellness trips are booming, with AI-driven treatments, hydration stations, and circadian lighting suites leading the way.

8. Hushed Hobbies
Quiet, nature-based activities like birdwatching, foraging, and insect spotting are gaining popularity as travelers seek calm and connection.

9. PastPorts
Nostalgia-fueled trips use AI to recreate old memories, trace ancestral roots, or revisit meaningful places from the past.

10. Modern Milestone Missions
Travelers are celebrating personal wins — from promotions to breakups — with trips that mark their own unique milestones, not just traditional ones.

These trends reflect a shift toward individuality, emotional resonance, and tech-enabled personalization in travel.