2026 will be the year we travel more personally, more playfully and with a little more meaning. Here are the ten strongest trends that experts say will shape travel next year.
The travel year 2026 is approaching, and the world's largest travel players point to a clear change in how we want to discover the world: We want to experience more - but in our own way. It's about finding meaning, rhythm and small magical moments, whether it happens in a grocery store in Portugal or on a mountaintop in Greece.
– 2026 will be the year when we travel with our hearts first, and personal experiences guide our vacation plans. We no longer travel just to get away, but to feel, learn, taste and live a little differently for a while, says Martina Krantz, press officer at Apollo.
Here are the 10 biggest travel trends for 2026
Hotel hopping:
We want to experience more in the same place! By staying in multiple hotels in one destination, we get to explore different areas and atmospheres. Apollo sees a clear increase in demand for combination trips compared to 2024.
The comeback of the package tour:
Efficient, smooth and easy – pre-packaged trips are becoming increasingly popular. After years of strikes, natural disasters and unrest, more and more people are seeing the value in letting the experts plan. Young adults are believed to be the next big target group.
Food on the menu:
The food will be an experience in itself! Supermarket safaris and small local kitchens are high on the wish list and are expected to play an even more important role in the trip than before.
Vacation on your own terms:
We follow our passions and spend our vacation days doing what we love – sports, training, art or culture. According to Apollo's figures, women are the most sporty: 80% of the participants on training trips are women.
Solo & social:
With a record number of single households, ”single travel” is predicted to be one of the biggest trends going forward. The use of the ”solo” hotel filter has increased by 83% globally, according to PR Wire. At the same time, the desire for companionship while traveling is greater than ever.
Family happiness returns:
The extended family is getting together again! Grandparents, siblings and friends are traveling together in larger groups, often to villas and vacation homes.
Quiet hobby trips:
We seek silence and fresh air. Hikes, bike rides and nature experiences give us peace and are the perfect counterbalance to hectic everyday life. At Apollo, we have long seen an increased demand for trips to the Greek mainland, where regions like Epirus and destinations like Zagoria offer unbeatable nature experiences.
The hotel as a destination:
It's no longer just about where we travel – it's about where we stay. Hotels with unique concepts, from design hotels to sports hotels, are becoming the destination itself.
Pre- and post-season in a new light:
We are rediscovering classic destinations without queues, heat waves or tourist rush. The pre- and post-season will be the new high season – because how magical is that? Crete in September?
“Glowmads”:
Beauty and wellness are no longer something you do before your vacation – they are the purpose of it. From Korean skincare to olive oil massages in Italy and nature-based spa experiences in Madeira: “Glowcation” is the new vacation!
– 2026 will be a year where curiosity and playfulness are at the center. We want to discover – but also land a little. Travel slower, but experience more deeply. It's not about how many countries we visit, but how much we get out of each moment, concludes Krantz.
Sources: Expedia Group (Unpack '26), Skyscanner (Future of Travel 2026), Booking.com (Travel Predictions 2026), Marriott Bonvoy Research, Forbes Travel Guide.
