Travel in 2026 won’t just be about ticking off destinations — it will be about discovering yourself through the journeys you take. According to Booking.com’s Travel Predictions 2026, based on insights from more than 29,000 travellers across 33 countries and territories, the future of travel is hyper-personal, imaginative, and unapologetically individual.
Over the years, these reports have captured the world’s shifting travel moods — from cool-cationers escaping the heat to conscious travellers choosing sustainability over luxury. But in 2026, the transformation goes deeper. Travellers will reject cookie-cutter itineraries, chase emotional fulfilment, and embrace travel that mirrors their identity, passions, and quirks.
From fantasy-inspired getaways to AI-designed wellness escapes and star-guided journeys, these are the top 10 travel trends shaping 2026 — where every trip says, “this is who I am, this is what I love, and this is how I want to see the world”.
1. Romantasy Retreats: Escaping Into Enchanted Worlds
The line between fiction and reality is blurring as fantasy becomes a travel inspiration. The booming “romantasy” genre — where romance meets fantasy — is driving travellers to explore destinations that bring mythical worlds to life.
91% of Indian travellers say they’d love to visit a destination inspired by romantasy settings, while 79% are open to participating in role-play retreats based on their favourite fantasy books, films, or games. Nearly 40% plan to include these immersive escapes in their future itineraries.
Technology is fuelling this magic. Nine in ten Indians are open to AI-powered fantasy itineraries that recommend hidden “storybook” stays, design whimsical journeys, or even locate real-world filming sites — making fantasy escapism the next big wave in experiential travel.
2. Humanoid Homes: The Future of Vacation Rentals
In 2026, your next Airbnb might come with a robotic roommate. Vacation rentals are evolving into smart, AI-powered “humanoid homes” that blend futuristic tech with personalised service.
94% of Indian travellers are eager to try these next-gen stays, with 44% prioritising homes featuring cleaning bots, 37% excited by robotic chefs, and 39% intrigued by sustainability-focused bots managing energy and waste.
For others, the appeal lies in novelty (32%) and bragging rights (33%) — the thrill of living in a home that feels like it belongs in a sci-fi movie. These spaces redefine hospitality, offering futuristic convenience without sacrificing comfort or charm.
3. Turbulence Test: Love, Friendship, and Teamwork on Trial
Vacations will double as relationship test labs in 2026, helping travellers gauge compatibility with partners, friends, or colleagues.
A striking 88% of Indian travellers are open to travelling with someone new — be it a potential partner or a co-worker — just to see how well they click. 84% would go to remote destinations to test patience and adaptability, while 82% are intrigued by role-reversal trips where control shifts between planner and follower.
Gen Z travellers are the most experimental — 88% say they’re open to AI-designed “compatibility itineraries” that simulate real-life relationship challenges, testing whether bonds can soar or snap under travel pressure.
4. Shelf-ie Souvenirs: Turning Kitchen Shelves into Cultural Showcases
Forget fridge magnets — 2026 is about edible souvenirs and design-led treasures that tell a story. The modern traveller’s kitchen is becoming a gallery of global culture, filled with artisan oils, spice jars, and handcrafted cookware.
84% of Indian travellers plan to buy such items on trips, while 79% would visit destinations famous for local pantry goods or kitchenware. For 33%, these edible keepsakes rekindle travel memories every time they cook, while 37% value the craftsmanship and sustainability behind them.
Whether it’s a tin of Sicilian olive oil or hand-painted Moroccan pottery, these “shelf-ie souvenirs” turn everyday kitchens into showcases of travel and taste.
5. Roadtrip Rewired: Embracing Shared Journeys on the Open Road
The classic solo or family road trip is getting an upgrade. In 2026, it’s all about shared journeys and tech-driven spontaneity.
97% of Indian travellers are open to carpooling on vacations, with 85% willing to use apps to find others travelling the same route. For 93%, the appeal lies in spontaneity and flexibility; for 92%, it’s about meeting new people; and for 88%, it’s about shared driving responsibilities.
AI and self-driving vehicles are rewriting road travel, with 87% of Gen Z travellers ready to let AI map out scenic, offbeat routes — turning every road into a shared adventure.
6. Destined-ations: Travel Written in the Stars
Astrology will guide more than horoscopes — it will shape itineraries. Mystical travel is set to soar as people seek spiritual alignment with their destinations.
74% of Indian travellers say they’d change or cancel trips based on advice from spiritual guides, while 70% would reconsider travel dates if horoscopes warn against it. Gen Z (73%) and millennials (63%) are leading this cosmic movement, timing trips with moon phases or visiting “energy-rich” places to recharge spiritually.
For these travellers, vacations aren’t random — they’re written in the stars.
7. Glow-cations: Skincare-Specific Travel, Driven by Tech
The wellness trend takes a high-tech turn with “glow-cations” — skincare-focused getaways powered by AI and science.
93% of Indian travellers want skin-specific travel experiences, including personalised treatments, hydration stations adapted to climate, and smart mirrors analysing pores in real time. 86% are even drawn to sleep-optimised rooms with circadian lighting to promote repair and rejuvenation.
From DNA testing to ancient thermal rituals, glow-cations blend innovation with self-care — ensuring travellers return home not just rested, but visibly renewed.
8. Hushed Hobbies: Quiet Pursuits for a Louder Sense of Calm
In a noisy world, silence becomes a luxury. 2026’s travellers are trading stimulation for stillness, embracing nature-based hobbies like foraging, birdwatching, and fishing.
56% of Indians say they’d travel to feel closer to nature, with 23% seeking vacations centred on “quiet” pastimes that nurture patience and mindfulness.
91% would stay at hotels offering guided foraging, 90% are interested in fishing or birdwatching trips, and 83% would try insect or butterfly spotting.
Even here, tech lends a hand — AI tools now identify species, suggest trails, and predict migration patterns, helping travellers reconnect with nature without losing their sense of wonder.
9. PastPorts: Where Memories Become Destinations
In 2026, nostalgia becomes a travel compass. With AI-powered photo mapping, travellers can now trace memories back to their exact locations and relive the moments that matter most.
89% of Indian travellers want to revisit sites from old photos or family stories, while 56% hope to share those experiences with loved ones. 44% view these journeys as personal milestones — a way to reflect, reconnect, or heal.
Beyond sentimentality, technology makes this possible by turning old images into new maps, allowing travellers to literally step back into time.
10. Modern Milestone Missions: Travel That Celebrates YOU
Travel is becoming a celebration of individuality, not tradition. The era of waiting for weddings or anniversaries to book a getaway is over.
71% of Indians say they don’t need a special reason to travel. 31% would visit dream destinations “just because,” while 81% travel to reward themselves for hard work. New milestones include landing a new job (34%), marking sobriety or fitness goals (32%), or even celebrating a tax refund (13%).
These modern milestone missions prove that in 2026, the only reason you need to travel — is you.
As the report makes clear, travel is no longer about escaping life — it’s about expressing it. From fantasy-driven escapes and robotic stays to quiet nature retreats and astrology-inspired journeys, 2026 is the year of radical personalisation.
Travellers aren’t following guidebooks anymore — they’re writing their own. Whether it’s through stars, stories, or skin serums, the next era of travel belongs to those who dare to explore the world their way.
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