In the year ahead, expect supermarket safaris, beauty-centric itineraries and romantic expeditions. So says Skyscanner's 2026 Travel Trends report. Robbie Hodges reports

Each year, Skyscanner draws upon its extensive database of consumer activity to forecast what’s next in travel, leaning upon expert brand partners to paint a comprehensive picture of where and how travellers will be heading next. After crunching the numbers, Skyscanner identified one common theme that filtered across all seven trends: a shift away from community connections and a prioritisation of individual interests and passions. 

It’s an observation that echoes Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report, co-produced by Globetrender, which observes a collective turn inwards; travellers retreating into their family unit, spending more time indulging in their hotel room and seeking out familiar comforts while on the road. For Skyscanner, this shift is driven by mounting financial pressures that are causing travellers to adopt a more value-conscious mindset – travelling more intentionally for experiences that feel ‘worth it’.  

Skyscanner’s report highlights not only emerging travel styles, but also how the search and discovery phases of the customer journey are set to evolve by 2026, as agentic AI becomes mainstream and social platforms adapt in response. While 47% of travellers felt confident using AI to plan their trips in 2024, that figure rose to 54% in 2025's survey, marking a notable shift in both perception and adoption of AI in travel planning.

To produce their seven-trend report, Skyscanner teamed up with notable brand partners including Reddit, Malin and Goetz, Alltrails and Penguin Books. The trends as follows: 

Glowmads

For certain destinations – say, Korea or France – beauty culture has become a key driver of travel intent. But in 2026, Skyscanner predicts that beauty will play an outsized role in how, if not where, people travel. Rituals and routines, from in-flight face masks to jet-lag-quashing IV drips and hotel spa sleep programs, will define a new mode of travel, one where looking and feeling good are paramount, no matter in which timezone travellers are catching their beauty sleep. 

Shelf Discovery 

With the cost of living remaining high for many around the globe, Skyscanner anticipates a shift in how foodies choose to savour local flavours. Increasingly, the local grocery store is becoming a must-visit stop on travel itineraries – a development clearly signalled in summer 2025’s must-have Trader Joe’s tote bag. Skyscanner’s finding that 43% of travellers have explored local supermarkets abroad is reflected in Hilton and Globetrender’s research which found that 77% of travellers enjoy exploring local grocery stores to try authentic local food and drink offerings. 

Altitude Shift 

Skyscanner's 2026 Travel Trends Report notes that mountains are becoming year-round destinations, as climate change drives travellers from overheated, overcrowded hotspots. The key motivator is serenity, reflected in a 103% year-on-year rise in “Room with a mountain view” bookings. Globetrender notes that hotels are expanding portfolios to meet demand and future-proof operations amid rising temperatures. In 2025, sun-and-sea-focused luxury brand Casa Cook opened its first alpine property in the Dolomites — a clear sign of the shift in altitude and attitude among travellers.

Bookbound 

Much has been said about set-jetting (travel inspired by the big and small screen), but Skyscanner predicts books will become a major source of travel inspiration in 2026. Travellers are stepping into the worlds of their fictional heroes, heading on reading retreats, and seeking out picturesque libraries and bookshops. Literary inspo is also shaping hotel searches, with Skyscanner reporting a 70% year-on-year rise in use of its “library” filter. For more on literary-inspired trips, see the Paperback-Packers trend in Globetrender and British Airways Holidays’ 2025 Trends Report.

Catching Flights and Feelings 

Dating app fatigue has reached its climax, with the young and footloose venturing further afield in their pursuit of romance. Skyscanner notes that 39% of travellers have gone or considered going overseas specifically to meet new people, whether for friendship or dating. Gen Z and Boomers are the generations driving this trend, though general use of the “solo” filter has increased 84% globally YoY across all age brackets. 

Family Miles 

Skyscanner also reports a growing interest in family memory making through travel. Multi-generational travel is gaining ground as families look to share costs and to make meaningful memories that will last long after the suitcases have been rolled away. More than a quarter (28%) of Gen Z travellers say their main motivation for travelling with family is to save money. The increase in multi-gen travel also reflects a broader trend of adult children living at home for longer.

Destination Check-In 

While hotels have long been a differentiator for luxury travellers, Skyscanner's 2026 Travel Trends Report suggests that for growing numbers of travellers hotels are becoming destinations in themselves. Perceptions of hotels are shifting. No longer just somewhere to bed down for the night, people are actively seeking out those that are unique – whether as a result of impressive architectural design or perfectly cultivated atmospheres. A significant 45% of travellers have chosen a destination based purely on the accommodation, rising to 61% among Gen Z travellers.