Top Travel Trends for 2026: What Travelers Will Want Next
Not everyone should be trusted with a crystal ball
The writers of Back to the Future weren’t too far off with video calls, but they missed the mark on flying cars and fax machines. And while The Jetsons promised us leisurely two-hour work weeks by the 2060s, I’m not holding my breath—though we still have 34 years to figure that out.
Amadeus can’t predict the future of work, self-hydrating foods, or telecommunications, but when it comes to travel trends, we have a pretty solid track record.
This year, we’ve partnered with travel forecasting agency Globetrender, and paired its insight with our own proprietary data, to identify six key trends that will shape traveler behavior in 2026. If you’re a travel company looking to stand out in a competitive market, the Travel Trends 2026 report is for you.
1. The Pawprint Economy
Did you know that 56% of people globally now own a pet? Almost half (47%) are first-time owners, and many aren’t willing to leave their pets behind. In a Shape Insight surveyof 2,896 travelers in the UK and the USA commissioned for this report, 27% of pet owners who took their pet on their main holiday in 2025 were doing so for the first time.
And they’re willing to spend. In 2026, SkyePets is rolling out long-haul transpacific in-cabin pet flights, with tickets starting at $12,900 one-way. Luxury hotels are taking note: pets are now part of AKA Hotels’ loyalty program with the launch of its Canine Club.
Governments and transport operators are also adapting. China Railway Express is piloting pet-friendly journeys on the high-traffic Beijing–Shanghai route, and in Italy, new ENAC rules mean medium and large-sized dogs can now travel in the passenger cabin.
It’s shaping up to be the year our furry companions finally get to travel with dignity and care. Learn more about The Pawprint Economy.
2. Travel Mixology
We’ve all seen the same destinations pop up on social media again and again, and travelers are looking for creative ways to escape the crowds. Enter travel mixology, a new, hybrid approach to trip planning.
Travelers might start with a dash of advice from their favorite LLM, then hop to Reddit or YouTube for lived experiences and unexpected local haunts. They may take this advice to Google Flight Deals, for example, which uses Amadeus’ inventory to surface the most affordable destinations from an open-ended user prompt. Dance classes in a warm place? Here are flights to Cuba and Argentina. Mountain adventures in winter? Try Utah or the Swiss Alps. And for those who prefer tried-and-true destinations, Trip Matching from Expedia lets Instagram users decode reels instantly into full itineraries with booking links.
With more tools than ever, every traveler can now mix their own custom recipe for a unique journey. Learn more about Travel Mixology.
3. Point‑to‑Point Precision
Over the coming months, airlines are scheduled to take delivery of 500 new Airbus Extra Long-Range narrow-body jets, and the world is about to feel smaller. Carriers have already announced their first long haul narrow body jet routes: London–Jeddah with Wizz Air, Montreal–Mallorca with Air Canada, and India–Athens with IndiGo.
And the best part? Fuel efficiency. Each seat will save 25–30% in fuel consumption thanks to next-generation engines and aerodynamic design. Airports are also getting more efficient. Following Indonesia’s lead, more are adopting biometric gateways to speed up security checks and reduce wait times.
With airlines and airports sharpening their operations, 2026 may be the year marathon trips start to feel more like sprints. Learn more about Point-to-Point Precision.
4. Pop Culting
If you don’t have teenagers in your life, you may not have heard of KPop Demon Hunters, but 300 million people have. It’s now Netflix’s most-watched film of all time, and future flight bookings to Seoul have surged more than 30% from the US and Japan since its release. The Seoul Tourism Organization is making the most of the moment with offerings that mirror scenes from the film: transitional knot bracelets, character-inspired meals, K-Pop dance classes, and even a proposed sing-along bus tour.
This trend isn’t new, but it’s accelerating. Netflix’s Bridgerton contributed an estimated GBP5 million to Bath’s economy, and after HBO’s The Last of Us became Europe’s most-watched show, bookings to Alberta from EU27 countries increased by 47%. Universal Studios Britain is even breaking ground on a new theme park to capitalize on its IP.
In 2026, big cultural moments are tomorrow’s travel plans. Learn more about Pop Culting.
5. Pick ‘n’ Stays
Did you know that 17% of business travelers would pay more to have business services at their hotel room? Or that 12% of Gen Z would pay 25% more to have an Xbox or Premium TV channels in their room? A recent Amadeus survey found that 63% of travelers would pay more than the standard daily rate for room upgrades or special extras.
Think bigger desks and Pilates machines for business travelers. Jacuzzi tubs with a view for couples. Or superior soundproofing for light sleepers. Thanks to modern Central Reservation Systems (CRS), hotels can now offer highly tailored room attributes across all channels.
Personalization in hospitality isn’t just a perk, it’s a powerful differentiator that helps hotels boost revenue and make guests feel genuinely seen. Learn more about Pick 'n' Stays.
6. Innovation Tourism – Looking Further Ahead
Robots carrying luggage, palm-scan ticketing, holographic tunnels, and drone-delivered wine in the park. What sounds like science fiction is already here. Shenzhen—long known as China’s innovation hub—is now attracting far more than business travelers. Amadeus Travel Intelligence shows flight searches for the first half of 2026 are up 48% year-on-year, as visitors seek destinations where technology and creativity collide.
So what does innovation tourism look like? From China to Texas, next-gen life spas are redefining wellness with biometric health scans and immersive sensory rooms. In the U.S., 2,000 more autonomous vehicles are expected on the roads by 2026, with London close behind as Waymo and Wayve gear up to launch the city’s first driverless taxis. And AI powered smart glasses are also becoming more stylish and in-demand. With live translations and immersive travel tips, they may soon transform the way we experience destinations.
Travelers motivated by curiosity and eager to sample the future before it arrives will fuel the rise of Innovation Tourism in 2026. Learn more about Innovation Tourism.
This is just a snapshot of the travel trends that will shape our industry in 2026. Read our full report to dive deep and see how hotels, airlines, tourist boards and other innovative travel players are harnessing these culture-shaping shifts to stand out in a competitive market. As 2026 approaches, one thing is clear: travelers are evolving fast, and the industry must evolve even faster.
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