Top Travel Trends for 2026 According To Experts
- Arushi Sakhuja
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
When we look back at travel in 2025, a few clear patterns emerge. Sleep tourism became a quiet obsession. Slow travel gained real momentum. People wanted to unplug, switch off notifications, and invest in experiences that stayed with them long after the suitcase was unpacked.
As we step into a new year, the top travel trends for 2026 signal an even deeper shift. Luxury travel is no longer about excess or ticking destinations off a list. It’s about meaning, space, and how travel makes you feel. Think grocery-store hopping in foreign cities, solo getaways and wellness-led escapes. Cruises may feel overdone, but luxury trains like the Orient Express are back in focus. Slow journeys, curated experiences, and immersive stays are defining the next chapter.
Even as the global economy continues to shift, one segment remains steady. The wealthy still have spending power, and they’re choosing to spend it on experiences rather than things.
As Arihant Jain, COO of Sangam Farms, explains, luxury today has changed its language.“It’s no longer about excess,” he shares. “It’s about space, privacy, and personalisation.” He points to a post-pandemic mindset shift. "Travellers are investing in experiences that feel enriching rather than transactional and are willing to spend more on stays that offer calm, authenticity, and immersive experiences."
Travel Trends Expected to Shape 2026
Across generations, the common thread shaping top travel trends 2026 is a desire for real experiences over curated perfection. There is a noticeable rise in interest around farming, dairy, and sustainability,
and renewable energy systems, and the modern luxury traveller is informed, mindful, and deeply engaged with how a place functions. This move towards slower, more intentional travel is echoed across luxury hospitality.“I see 2026 as the year travel shifts decisively from consumption to connection,” says Panjama Leamsuwan, Chief Experience Officer, Trisara. “Privacy, space, and a strong sense of place now matter far more than ticking destinations off a list.” For Akanksha Lamba, Co-Founder and Senior Vice President, the impact of this shift is long-lasting.“2026 will be defined by transformative travel—journeys that change how one sees a destination and leave a lasting impression, rather than a fleeting memory.”
Travel behaviour is also splitting into two clear patterns. On one end, longer and more intentional trips are gaining ground, especially among luxury travellers who prefer fewer destinations but extended stays. Bleisure remains strong, blending work and leisure into both quick trips and longer combined stays. For Nida Wongphanlert, Managing Director at 137 Pillars Hotels & Resorts, the shift is clear.“Travel is becoming deeper, not more,” she says. “The era of FOMO-driven revenge travel is fading. Travellers are choosing fewer destinations, staying longer, and prioritising meaning over checklists.” She also highlights the rise of interest-led travel. From concerts and sporting events to major cultural moments, journeys are increasingly planned around passions. At the luxury end, this means private boxes at Formula 1 races, courtside tennis experiences, backstage concert access, and curated fan voyages that offer behind-the-scenes entry points.
On the other hand, micro-breaks are booming. Short weekend trips, staycations, and last-minute escapes are rising fast because they’re flexible and easy to plan. This has led to the rise of microcations—short, meaningful getaways that fit easily into busy lives. “Travellers are choosing frequent two- to three-night breaks close to home rather than long annual holidays,” says Arihant Jain. “Alongside this, there’s a clear shift towards experiential stays over sightseeing-heavy itineraries. Nature-led retreats within a few hours of major cities are becoming especially relevant.
Sustainability, too, is shaping decisions. Quiet, nature-based escapes—small wilderness lodges, star-bathing retreats, high-end farm stays, and remote islands with conservation tie-ins—are gaining momentum, supported by AI-assisted planning tools that simplify the process.
Wellness, Sleep and Quiet Tourism Take Centre Stage
Wellness is no longer confined to spa menus or scheduled treatments. One of the most defining top travel trends 2026 is how wellness is being woven into the very rhythm of a stay. Wellness in 2026 is less about rigid programs and more about restorative settings—places that allow travellers to slow down, recalibrate, and return home genuinely refreshed. Sleep, silence, and stillness are becoming essential rather than niche. Guests are increasingly drawn to environments where rest happens naturally—through privacy, calm surroundings, fresh air, and emotional ease. “Considering the poor AQI levels in major cities, sleep tourism is gaining serious momentum,” says Arihant Jain. “Guests are actively seeking places where silence, natural light, and clean air support real rest. Quiet tourism is also growing, especially among urban travellers craving digital detoxes and unstructured time.”
Travel Across Generations
While overall travel trends offer a useful lens, it’s the generational differences that reveal how nuanced travel in 2026 will be. According to Nida Wongphanlert, multi-generational travel is on the rise, with children playing a far bigger role in decision-making.“Gen Alpha and Gen Z kids now influence everything—from destinations to hotels and restaurants,” she notes, driving demand for family-friendly luxury, villas, connecting rooms, and flexible spaces.
Baby Boomers, meanwhile, prefer longer stays during quieter periods.“They prioritise villas with easy access, personalised service, and calm surroundings,” says Panjama Leamsuwan. “Wellness for them is about daily rhythm rather than structured programs.” Their priorities include safety, medical access, comfort, cultural immersion, river cruises, luxury train journeys, off-season Europe, and extended stays in a single destination.
Millennials and older Gen Z, on the other hand, are the most travel-intensive cohort. They travel frequently, are highly digital, and lead demand for authentic, local, and sustainable travel. Boutique lifestyle hotels, unique food experiences, workcations, and AI-assisted planning are second nature to them.
Gen X travellers often sit at the centre, balancing family needs with personal preferences. “They value flexibility—family time combined with privacy,” says Panjama. Arihant Jain adds that Gen X travellers want “comfort with purpose,” favouring well-serviced properties while becoming increasingly open to wellness and learning-led experiences.
Gen Alpha is already influencing decisions in a big way. Nature-led, screen-free experiences appeal to parents, while children gravitate toward immersive “wow” moments—from waterparks to sports events and destinations discovered on YouTube or TikTok.
Global Growth and the Rise of the Indian Traveller
There is a broad consensus that India and the Middle East will be among the fastest-growing travel markets in 2026. “Travellers are prioritising privacy, personalisation, and emotional return over extravagance,” says Panjama Leamsuwan. “Indian travellers, especially multi-generational families, are emerging as one of the strongest international segments.” Nida Wongphanlert echoes this sentiment, citing India and the GCC as key growth drivers, supported by rising affluence, strong outbound momentum, and sustained demand for luxury travel across Europe and Asia. Southeast Asia and the Middle East are also seeing increased interest in private, nature-based luxury stays, stated Arihant Jain.
As Indian travellers become increasingly affluent and well-travelled, we are seeing a clear shift toward exploring newer and more experiential destinations. Arihant is of the opinion that while classic destinations like Europe and the Middle East remain favourites, there’s growing interest in experiential destinations—safaris, countryside retreats, wellness resorts, and nature-forward stays." Africa, in particular, has emerged as a major draw for wildlife-led travel, says Akanksha Lamba. This interest is partly driven by the limited availability of world-class wildlife lodges in India, a gap brands are now actively addressing.
Overall, Indian luxury travellers are spending more time in destinations, choosing depth and authenticity over rushed itineraries—an unmistakable sign of a more mature outbound market. "Spending patterns reflect this confidence, with short-haul trips averaging USD 1,500–3,000 per person and high-end celebratory travel reaching USD 4,000–6,000 or more," shared Nida Wongphanlert.
As Panjama Leamsuwan notes, length of stay is increasing, and spend is rising as travellers opt for residential-style living, family stays, and immersive in-resort experiences.