5 major trends set to shape travel in 2026
Traveling is no longer just about the destination or even the journey. It’s about the experience you walk away with.
Since the end of Covid, experience-led travel has continued to evolve, moving away from checking off landmarks and towards meaningful trips that help travelers connect with the people and places they visit.
CNBC analyzed 25 year-end travel reports and identified the five biggest trends that will take shape Next year.
1. Anti-tourist
To better experience local culture, avoid contributing to overtourism, and potentially save a few dollars, travelers are increasingly avoiding peak seasons and heavily visited destinations.
Forty-five percent of advisors at travel agency Virtuoso say their clients have changed their plans because of climate change. According to the company’s 2026 “Luxury Report,” 76% of these advisors report increased interest in off-season or off-peak travel, while 75% say customers prefer destinations with moderate weather conditions.
report, The report, published in October, also revealed the top ways travelers are looking to travel sustainably, easing pressure on local communities and preserving authentic experiences.
This shift is fueling the rise of so-called “secondary cities,” which are located outside major tourist hubs and offer more immersive experiences.
Online travel platform agoda found that searches for accommodation in Asia’s secondary destinations are growing 15% faster than in traditional tourism hubs.
The 2026 Travel Outlook Report also showed that governments have caught up with this situation. For example, Indonesia has implemented the “Tourism 5.0” strategy aimed at developing tourism five “super priority” secondary Destinations that will change tourism Beyond Bali.
Japan is also turning to regional campaigns Take visitors away from Tokyo and other major urban centres.
2. ‘Decision detox’ holidays
Traditionally, all-inclusive travel was about efficiency, with travelers planning their itineraries to maximize their vacation time.
But today Travelers are mentally tired The latest Lemongrass Marketing travel report shows more and more outsourcing of pre-travel planning to agencies and even hotels offering all-inclusive packages.
Essentially, “travelers want someone they trust to make good choices for them so they can get closure properly,” Tara Schwenk, Lemongrass Marketing’s senior director of digital strategy, said in an email response to CNBC’s questions.
“As cognitive overload becomes a defining feature of modern life, erratic travel is no longer a niche wellness add-on but a mainstream expectation, especially among time-poor, high-stress travelers,” Schwenk added.
There is a trend reshaped Luxury travel company HunterMoss says it’s high-end travel where endless options are replaced with exclusive selections.
This allows ultra-luxury travelers “to be free from thinking about additional costs or logistical planning during their trip,” said Julie Hunter, director and chief operating officer of HunterMoss.
3. Wellness goes beyond spas
Another expanding trend is wellness travel, which has evolved from spa packages to science-backed longevity programs to programs focused on mental health. trips.
Offerings include Ayurveda programs in India, yoga and surfing excursions in Costa Rica, and silent retreats in Canada.
Many travelers look to healthy living Travel as a long-term health investment according to Virtuoso report.
The appeal of these trips crosses class boundaries, from budget-friendly nature excursions to the “healthy wealth” trend. The report said the area is popular with solo travelers and couples, as well as older and younger travelers.
Two-thirds of U.S. travelers under 35 say they prefer active excursions such as hiking, rafting and biking, and more than 50 percent believe it’s essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle routine while traveling. a separate report from tour operator Contiki.
4. Nostalgic travel
Young travelers are looking for holidays that will take them down memory lane.
Nearly 8 in 10 Americans are under 35 According to Contiki’s report, they say they have either taken or want to recreate their childhood trips.
At the same time, new retirees, a group that includes the oldest members of Generation X, are embracing their newfound freedom through “golden gap year” trips, according to consulting firm The Future Laboratory.
According to the “Future Forecast 2026” report, they go on long journeys both by land and by cruise ship, when they have no bosses to report to and no children with them; these trips are more adventurous than retirement trips of the past.
The report said around 25% of retirees have traveled or will consider traveling during the year, based on research from UK retirement village operator Inspired Villages.
5. Artificial intelligence in hotel services
As more and more travelers turn to AI to book travel, hotels are also using AI to better understand their guests.
According to a report by Oracle Hospitality, hotels are expected to undergo a significant transformation in the coming year, from responding to guests’ requests to anticipating their wishes by using predictive intelligence to personalize stays before guests arrive.
Some hotels are allowing guests to customize every detail of their rooms, like adding a reformer pilates machine and blackout curtains or choosing the room closest to the breakfast bar, according to a separate report by the travel technology company. Amadeus.
The Amadeus report added: “As AI accelerates, personalization will no longer be a nice-to-have but the default operating system of choice.”
