5 major trends set to shape travel in 2026
Traveling is no longer just about the destination – or even the journey. It’s about the experience you walk away with.
Since the end of Covid, experience‑led travel has continued to evolve, shifting away from checking off landmarks and more towards meaningful trips that help travelers connect with the people and places they visit.
CNBC analyzed 25 year-end travel reports and identified the five biggest trends that are set to shape the year ahead.
1. The anti-tourist
To better experience local culture, avoid contributing to overtourism, and potentially save a few dollars, travelers are increasingly avoiding peak seasons and heavily visited destinations.
Forty-five percent of advisors from travel agency Virtuoso say their clients are adjusting plans due to climate change. Of those advisors, 76% report increased interest in shoulder-season or off-peak travel, while 75% say clients prefer destinations with moderate weather, according to the company’s 2026 “Luxe Report”.
The report, published in October, also showed the top ways travelers seek to travel sustainably, easing the pressure on local communities and preserving authentic experiences.
That shift is fueling the rise of so‑called “secondary cities,” which sit outside major tourist hubs and offer more immersive experiences.
Online travel platform Agoda found that accommodation searches in Asia’s secondary destinations are growing 15% faster than in traditional tourism hubs.
Its 2026 Travel Outlook Report also showed that governments are catching on. For example, Indonesia rolled out its “Tourism 5.0” strategy, which aims to develop five “super priority” secondary destinations designed to shift tourism beyond Bali.
Japan, too, is leaning into regional campaigns to steer visitors away from Tokyo and other major city centers.
2. ‘Decision detox’ holidays
Traditionally, all-inclusive travel was about efficiency, with travelers planning their itineraries to maximize their holiday time.
But today, travelers are mentally exhausted before going on a trip, and increasingly outsourcing planning to agencies or even hotels that offer all-inclusive packages, the latest Lemongrass Marketing travel report shows.
Essentially, “travelers want someone they trust to make good choices for them, so they can properly switch off,” said Tara Schwenk, senior director of digital strategy at Lemongrass Marketing, in an email response to CNBC’s queries.
“As cognitive overload becomes a defining feature of modern life, decision-light travel is no longer a niche wellness add-on, it’s becoming a core expectation, particularly among time-poor, high-stress travellers,” Schwenk added.
The trend has reshaped high-end trips, replacing endless options with curated choices, luxury travel company HunterMoss said.
That allows ultra-luxury travelers “to be free from thinking about additional costs or logistics planning during their trip,” said Julie Hunter, director and chief operating officer of HunterMoss.
3. Wellness moves…
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