Eight travel trends to know in 2026, from set-jetting to hushpitality.
Every January, I start planning trips for the new year. I go all out: Pinterest mood boards, magazine collages, aesthetic travel-themed desktop backgrounds. I let myself daydream, flip through coffee table books, and visualize what a new year of travel will look like.
As a travel editor, I often view the future of travel through trends. My December inbox is half-filled with trend reports and spreadsheets, so predictions for the hottest destinations, ‘it’ list-worthy locations, and voguish trip ideas tend to live rent-free in my mind.
Here are eight travel trends we think Passport To Eden readers will love. You might see a few of these trends populating your social media feeds this year!
The Next Chapter Of Travel
The biggest travel trend multiple write-ups – Expedia’s and Skyscanner’s and Hilton’s to name three – are highlighting in 2026? Book tourism. Unlike literary tourism, book tourism isn’t (necessarily) about retracing the footsteps of writers you love; it’s about making time to read whatever you want in a space that allows you to truly escape.
According to ‘Unpack 26, Expedia Group’s annual travel trend report, “91% of travelers are interested in taking a trip centered around reading, relaxation, and quality time with loved ones.” So, picture this: a cabin getaway paired with a thick stack of paperbacks (or a just-as-cozy book-themed hotel stay), uninterrupted in-flight reading sprees, and little detours to beautiful libraries and indie bookshops.
Adventures In Wanderland
Books are inspiring where travelers go in 2026. This year, travelers want to visit places full of whimsy and wonder that feel like their favorite stories.
Booking.com’s Travel Predictions report shares that 71% of global travelers are “interested in visiting a destination inspired by a romantasy.” Even Pinterest’s 2026 trend report spotlights Mystic Outlands, a travel trend lush with images of “enchanting forests” and “distant ruins swallowed by mist.”
Cottagecore Charm
Escapism feels like the word of the year, and that extends to embracing cottagecore, an aesthetic that romanticizes simple living (baking bread, walking through fields of wildflowers, and picking berries fresh from a farm).
According to ‘Unpack 26, “84% of travelers are interested in staying on or near a farm.” Hens clucking, foals running, cows grazing. While farm stays are trending, our favorite ways to engage in cottagecore remain the same: wandering along footpaths in small towns, stopping by local farmers’ markets (or farm stands) to pick up seasonal ingredients (and picnic snacks), and dining at farm-to-table restaurants.
Read Next: 12 Cottagecore Towns To Visit & Places To See
Quiet Moments & Solitude
It’s these quiet moments that offer a chance to slow down, rest, and lean away from a list of to-dos. In 2026, travelers are looking for screen-free moments to themselves and seeking a calm kind of silence that Hilton’s 2026 Trend Report dubs “Hushpitality.” The main motivation for leisure travel, this year, is still to relax and recharge, and solitude is a gateway to both.
Hilton’s trend research revealed that 48% of travelers bookended family trips with solo travel days. So, this year, ask yourself: What does intentionally taking time for myself look like? How can I incorporate solitude into each getaway?
Set-Jetting
Movies have long influenced how and where we travel. Turquoise-watered Thai paradise Ko Phi Phi Le surged with backpackers after the release of The Beach in 2000. A decade later, Bali packed in Eat Pray Love devotees. The Lord Of The Rings series shifted the landscape of New Zealand’s tourism.
In 2023, Expedia respotted set-jetting (traveling to filming locations) as an emerging travel behavior. Set-jetting trended again in 2024, again in 2025, and again in 2026. This year, People We Meet On Vacation will lead fans to New Orleans and Barcelona. Wuthering Heights will spark an interest in Yorkshire Dales National Park. And Nobody Wants This will inspire travelers visiting Los Angeles to dine in Los Feliz.
Weekend Getaways
Another trend we’re on board with? Weekend getaways.
Weekend getaways are always a good idea. Think: quick ways to recharge with long walks, sunset views, and good food. No OOO email necessary, just a vacation playlist and a place in mind. Priceline’s Where To Next report is coining these under two-day trips “me-kends” because travel in 2026 looks like caring for yourself and refueling your emotional tank in little bursts throughout the year.
Read Next: Top 26 US States To Visit In 2026
Roads Taken
Pair your weekend away with a road trip. Here’s why. Road trips are chances to be spontaneous, to detour, to slow down and enjoy the scenic route (with a friend in tow).
Booking.com’s Travel Predictions report reveals that road trips are no longer just about the journey, they are about the people we connect with as we travel and the relationships we strengthen (and stress-test) on the road.
Read Next: 101 Road Trip Questions For Couples
Trips Down Memory Lane
If throwbacks aren’t already populating your social media feeds, they will in 2026. Think: songs with an old-soul feel and vintage fashion finds. Trips down memory lane will lead travelers back to places they loved visiting as kids. According to Priceline’s Where To Next report, 82% of Gen Z and Millennials “can’t wait to revisit childhood vacation destinations.” And Booking.com identified Pastports (recreating old family photos in the original locations) as one of its yearly travel trends.
Nostalgia is back. Welcome to a year where little moments, cozy hobbies, and comforting experiences are defining travel.
What travel trend are you most looking forward to in 2026? Let me know in the comments below. As always, I love hearing from you!
