New Delhi: Are you already planning your first trip for 2026? Well, this year is all about rewriting the way you travel and experience a place. The era of exploring tourist hubs, jam-packed itineraries, and coming back home exhausted from a trip is just fading away. With people choosing to experience more and relax, rather than just going out on a four-day vacation to visit Google-inspired tourist spots and exhaust themselves, only to return to daily life full of work and stress.
As per Kayak’s ‘What the future report 2026’, people are exhausted way more than when they left, and this trend is to be kept aside for the year 2026. They are travelling to recharge, reset and reclaim thier time not ot feel the burden ontheir shoulders.
10 Travel Trends for 2026
Here are 10 travel trends that will rule in 2026 and rewrite the way people travel or experience things more than ever.
1. Not so popular destinations
The next ‘It’ destination on your bucket list will not be something that is on social media already. GenZ and millennials are increasingly turning to boring old places and looking to travel to places which feel real and are a well-kept secret. The data says 71 per cent of GenZ and 75 per cent of Millennials want to visit destinations they have never seen before, with #iddengems search on TikTok has risen to 50 per cent in recent years.
2. Book now, pay later
Travellers are choosing flexible payment options to travel. Around 30 per cent of Gen Z and 29 per cent of Millennials say that they plan travel on instalment plans or credit options.
Also travllers are sharpening thier deal-hunting skills. The use of flight price alert have surged by 50 per cent in over a year, and car hire alerts have quadrupled. The cost of magining is one of the biggest concerns for 73 per cent of the young travellers.
3. Awe-tineraries
Trips that are more than just pictures or a scenic walk, people in 2026 are travelling for experiences and adventures like dramatic landscapes, nocturnal tourism, bioluminescent beaches or aero-space phenomena. Thirty-four per cent of travellers say awe-inspiring experiences top the list for travel, while 55 per cent say natural wonders will guide their travel plans.
4. AI as a travel partner
Travellers are now relying heavily on AI for quicker, smarter and more personalised trip planning. About one-third trust its recommendations because they draw from vast data, and many find it more reliable than friends’ advice. Nearly 60 per cent would even switch destinations if AI suggested a better choice, while half would change plans for a good deal.
From spotting discounts to simplifying visa rules and offering real-time guidance, AI has shifted from being useful to becoming essential for modern travel.
5. Luxury trips
Luxury travel is shifting toward wellness, especially for younger travellers who value feeling good over showing status. With most seeking a mental reset and willing to spend more, luxury now means quality sleep, spa time, good design and great food.
High-end dining is rising, experiential dining is booming, and #wellnesstravel’s 150 per cent surge shows that comfort and meaningful experiences now define true indulgence.
6. Small town fun
Small towns are becoming the new favourites, with 84 per cent of young travellers preferring rural areas or smaller cities over major hubs. While affordability and fewer crowds matter, the real pull is authenticity, local life, cosy cafés and real community vibes.
And though many still discover these hidden gems online, the aim has shifted from chasing viral spots to finding places that feel like home.
7. Event travel
The events like sports games, concerts, cultural festivals or shows are becoming too mainstream and one of the reasons people are choosing to travel to a location for vacation. Music tops the list for this, followed by sports and cultural celebrations.
8. Headspace holidays
Travel is shifting from doing more to slowing down. Most travellers now prioritise relaxation and mental clarity, with many saying a slower pace improves their mindset and broadens their perspective.
Instead of packed itineraries, they’re opting for fewer, richer experiences — long meals, fewer stops and more unplanned moments. The 330 per cent rise of #slowtravel on TikTok shows that mindful, unhurried travel has gone mainstream.