This Year's Hottest Travel Trends

Wellness breaks are getting a glow-up in 2026. Think less “Spartan retreat” and more “deep exhale for the soul.” Travellers are booking stays that blend mindful moments with real-world rejuvenation, sunrise sound baths, nutrition-led menus, forest bathing, spa circuits, digital detoxes and sleep-optimised suites. The big shift? Wellness isn’t an add-on anymore; it’s the reason for the trip. Expect resorts to focus on mental clarity, emotional reset, and proper rest, the kind that follows you home.

2026 is the year travellers collectively hit the brakes. Slow travel is surging as people swap whirlwind itineraries for laid-back exploring. It’s about staying longer, wandering without rushing, and sinking into the rhythm of a place, whether that’s a sleepy Greek harbour town or a countryside village where the bakery still sells out by 11 am. The trend is simple: fewer checklists, more genuine connections. It’s sustainable, it’s stress-free, and honestly? It’s better.

Forget the classic parents-plus-kids formula, 2026 is the year of whole-family travel. Grandparents, siblings, partners, toddlers, teens… everyone’s invited. With families more spread out than ever, travel has become the new group chat, bringing everyone together under one sun-soaked roof. Expect villa stays, cruise holidays and resorts with something for every age, splash parks for the littles, wine tastings for the grown-ups, and plenty of shared adventures that become “remember when…” stories for years. 

Adventure is getting quirkier, cooler and way more creative. Instead of ticking off the usual sightseeing spots, 2026 travellers are hunting for the extraordinary: sleeping in eco-pods on the edge of a canyon, kayaking through glow-in-the-dark waters, tasting menus in volcanic caves, artisan workshops led by locals, conservation-led wildlife encounters and once-in-a-lifetime cultural rituals.
It’s all about turning “I went there” into “you’ll never believe what I did there.”

Goodbye heatwaves, hello coolcationing. With temperatures soaring in traditional summer hotspots, more travellers are swapping the scorch for refreshing, breezy escapes. Think Iceland in August, the Scottish Highlands in peak sunshine, alpine lakes, Nordic cities and wild, misty coastlines where the warmest thing is your oversized jumper. Coolcationing isn’t just practical, it’s chic. Expect crisp air, cinematic landscapes and crowd-free exploring that feels effortlessly elevated.