The Big Travel Trend Reports Shaping 2026
As always at this time of year, the travel industry releases a flood of forecasts, outlooks, and trend reports each offering a different lens on how people will explore the world in the year ahead. From global booking platforms and airlines to luxury travel brands, media outlets, and industry analysts, everyone has a point of view on what’s next.
We wanted to bring some order to the noise. So this blog post is our curated collection of the most influential travel trend reports for 2026, organized in one place so you can easily compare perspectives, spot common themes, and go deeper on the insights shaping the future of travel.
If we’ve missed a report you think belongs here, let us know. We’ll continue updating this list as new research and forecasts are released because the best view of travel trends comes from seeing the whole landscape, not just one headline. Although Dan did his best with this post on Why 2026 will be the Year of Transformational Travel.
CONSUMER PLATFORMS & TRAVEL MARKETPLACES
How Are Some Of Biggest Brands and Traveler Behaviors Evolving
〉〉 Travelzoo
Best Bets Destinations for Americans & Canadians in 2026
https://www.travelzoo.com/ca/custom/ca-best-bets-2026/
〉 〉 Travelzoo
Best Bets Destinations for America in 2026
https://www.travelzoo.com/custom/us-best-bets-2026/
〉〉 Expedia Group
Unpack ’26: Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo Reveal How Travelers Will Explore the World in 2026
https://www.expedia.com/newsroom/unpack-26-expedia-hotelscom-vrbo
〉〉 Booking.com
Travel on Your Terms: 2026 Travel Predictions
https://www.booking.com/articles/2026-travel-predictions.html
〉〉 Priceline
Priceline Unveils 2026 “Where to Next?” Report
http://press.priceline.com/2026traveltrends/
〉〉 Airbnb
2026 Travel Predictions Revealed
https://news.airbnb.com/2026-travel-predictions-revealed/
TRAVEL MEDIA & CULTURAL SIGNALS
How Mainstream and Travel Media Are Interpreting Emerging Behaviors
〉〉 Condé Nast Traveler
The Biggest Travel Trends of 2026
https://www.cntraveler.com/story/the-biggest-travel-trends-of-2026
〉〉 National Geographic
How Travel Will Look in 2026—Here’s What You Need to Know
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/how-travel-will-look-in-2026-biggest-travel-trends
〉〉 Euronews Travel
Top 2026 Travel Trends: Glowcations, Literary Tourism and Year-Round Alpine Escapes
https://www.euronews.com/travel/2026/01/01/top-2026-travel-trends-glowcations-literary-tourism-and-year-round-alpine-escapes
〉〉 Travel Tomorrow
Quiet Time, Solo Trips, and Reading Dominate Travel Trends for 2026
https://traveltomorrow.com/quiet-time-solo-trips-and-reading-dominate-travel-trends-for-2026/
INDUSTRY, TECHNOLOGY & TRADE FORECASTS
Signals From Inside The Travel Business
〉〉 PhocusWire
Travel Industry Leaders’ 2026 Predictions
https://www.phocuswire.com/travel-industry-leader-predictions-2026
〉〉 Skift Mega Trends for 2026
https://skift.com/megatrends/
〉〉 Amadeus
Amadeus Travel Trends 2026 (PDF)
https://amadeus.com/documents/resources/research-report/travel-trends-2026/amadeus-travel-trends-2026-report.pdf
〉〉 Skyscanner
The Seven Trends Shaping Travel in 2026
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/skyscanner-reveals-the-seven-trends-shaping-travel-in-2026-302599742.html
〉〉 TravelPulse / Kayak
Travel Trends Forecast Predicts Emerging Hotspots, Lower Airfares for 2026
https://www.travelpulse.com/news/airlines-airports/kayak-releases-2026-travel-trends-forecast
〉〉 TravelPulse
2026 Travel Forecast: High Demand for Personalization, Measurable Sustainability
https://www.travelpulse.com/news/features/2026-travel-forecast-high-demand-for-personalization-measurable-sustainability
LUXURY, WELLNESS & HIGH-END TRAVEL
Where Premium Travelers and Operators Are Placing Their Bets
〉〉 Virtuoso
The 2026 Virtuoso Luxe Report: The Future of Luxury Travel
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-2026-virtuoso-luxe-report-unveils-the-future-of-luxury-travel-spacious-soulful-and-spectacular-302618753.html
〉〉 Classic Vacations
2026 Luxury Travel Trends Report
https://www.classicvacations.com/c/2025/12/16/2026-luxury-travel-trends-report-roundup
〉〉 Elite Traveler
The Biggest Wellness Travel Trends Set to Shape 2026
https://elitetraveler.com/travel/wellness-travel/wellness-travel-trends
DESTINATIONS, HOTELS & EXPERIENCES
Where Travelers Are Going and What’s Opening
〉〉 Forbes Travel Guide
20 Top Destinations for 2026
https://stories.forbestravelguide.com/forbes-travel-guides-20-top-destinations-for-2026
〉〉 Forbes Travel Guide
10 Most Anticipated Luxury Cruise Ships of 2026
https://stories.forbestravelguide.com/10-most-anticipated-luxury-cruise-ships-of-2026
〉〉 Forbes Travel Guide
23 Most Anticipated Hotel Openings of 2026
https://stories.forbestravelguide.com/forbes-travel-guides-most-anticipated-hotels-of-2026
〉〉 Lonely Planet
Best in Travel Destinations for 2026
https://travmedia.com/showPRPreview/100114515
〉〉 Forbes
How “Glomads” Are Shaping Travel, According to a 2026 Trends Report
https://www.forbes.com/sites/noelburgess/2025/12/30/how-glomads-are-shaping-travel-according-a-travel-trends-2026-report/
Worth Watching
Based on prior years, we expect additional 2026 insights from groups like WTTC, UNWTO, Google Travel, Visa, and major airline alliances as the year unfolds. We’ll add them here as they’re released.
Did we miss something?
If there’s a travel trend report, forecast, or piece of research you think belongs here, let us know (hello@traveltrendspodcast.com) and we’ll add it. ၊၊||၊-✈