Expedia Group has released Unpack ’26: The Trends in Travel™, a data-driven deep dive into what’s inspiring global travellers—and where they’re headed next year.

This year’s report, drawing insights from 24,000 travellers worldwide and real-time Expedia Group platform data, flips the script on traditional getaways. From curling matches in Canada to book-club retreats in Italy, the seven 2026 travel trends reveal one major theme: travellers want meaning, not just movement.

And for Canadians, there are even more reasons to pack your bags. Several homegrown destinations—from Ucluelet, B.C. to Niagara, Ontario—made the global spotlight for their sustainability, charm, and authentic travel appeal.

Let’s unpack what’s shaping the way we’ll travel (and date, and unwind) in 2026.

Expedia’s 2026 Destinations of the Year

If 2025 was about finding hidden gems near major cities, 2026 is all about going beyond the crowds. Expedia’s “Destinations of the Year” list celebrates the most in-demand spots where travel interest is rapidly rising, even before they’ve gone viral.

Among them is Ucluelet, British Columbia, a rugged, year-round coastal escape that saw a major surge in searches this year. It’s one of six destinations recognized under Expedia’s new Smart Travel Health Check, a sustainability framework inspired by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

These places balance meaningful travel experiences with responsible tourism, so you can enjoy your next romantic adventure without contributing to over-tourism.

2026 Destinations of the Year:

• Big Sky, Montana, U.S.
• Okinawa, Japan
• Ucluelet, Canada
• Sardinia, Italy
• Phu Quoc, Vietnam
• Savoie, France
• Fort Walton Beach, Florida, U.S.
• The Cotswolds, U.K.
• San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
• Hobart, Australia

Date-night idea: Stay at a cozy boutique hotel in Ucluelet and explore its wild beaches, then toast to sustainability with a locally brewed craft beer as the sun dips below the Pacific.

Expedia’s Travel Trend: Fan Voyage

where local sports meet local culture

2026 is a major year for global sports, from the Winter Olympics to the World Cup, but this new wave of Fan Voyage travel isn’t about the big stadiums. Instead, it’s about immersive, local sporting experiences that connect you to the heart of a community.

Think sumo wrestling in Japan, Lucha Libre in Mexico, or Curling in Canada—the kind of activities that let you cheer alongside locals, not tourists.

More than 57% of travellers say they plan to attend a regional sporting event while abroad in 2026, proving that the ultimate souvenir might just be a front-row ticket to culture.

2026’s Hottest Fan Voyage Experiences:

• Sumo Wrestling – Japan
• Muay Thai – Thailand
• Curling – Canada
• Banana Ball – U.S.
• Capoeira – Brazil
• Lucha Libre – Mexico
• Hurling – Ireland
• Caber Tossing – Scotland, U.K.
• Australian Rules Football – Australia
• Baseball – South Korea

Date-night idea: Try curling lessons in a local rink (bonus points if followed by hot chocolate and matching flannels).

Hotels.com Trends

from upcycled stays to multi-stop adventures

Salvaged Stays

Travel’s next obsession? Hotels with a past life.

Hotels.com spotlights Salvaged Stays—beautifully restored hotels reborn from banks, train stations, or schools. They blend architectural heritage with modern comfort, offering experiences that are equal parts nostalgic and luxurious.

Canadian pick: Hotel Place d’Armes in Montréal, a former bank turned elegant boutique stay, where old-world grandeur meets gourmet dining.

Trending Salvaged Stays for 2026:

• Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu – Kyoto, Japan → former school
• Bodmin Jail Hotel – Cornwall, U.K. → former prison
• Sandi Hotel – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil → former mint and school
• Fontevraud L’Ermitage – Anjou, France → former abbey
• The Union Station Nashville Yards – Nashville, U.S. → former train station
• Hotel Place d’Armes – Montreal, Canada → former bank, federal building
• Nine Orchard Hotel – New York, U.S. → former bank
• Canfranc Estación, a Royal Hideaway Hotel – Canfranc, Spain → former train station
• Rosewood Amsterdam – Amsterdam, Netherlands → former courthouse *newly opened 2025*
• Populus Seattle – Seattle, Washington, U.S. → former warehouse *newly opened 2025*

Salvaged Stays Opening Soon

• Bank Piccadilly – London, U.K. → former bank *opening 2026*
• Fairmont New Orleans – New Orleans, U.S. → former bank *opening 2025 tbd*
• Admiralty Arch Waldorf Astoria – London, U.K. → former First Sea Lord residence *opening 2026*

Hotel Hop

The one-hotel vacation is out. In 2026, 54% of travellers say they’ll be “hotel hopping”—booking multiple stays in one destination to experience different vibes, neighbourhoods, or price points.

Gen Z and Millennial travellers are leading the charge, turning concert weekends, beach escapes, and even business trips into multi-stop adventures.

Hot Trips for Hotel Hoppers:

• Tokyo, Japan – Cyashitsu Ryokan Asakusa → Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya by IHG
• Phuket, Thailand – Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort → Metadee Concept Hotel
• London, U.K. – Broadwick Soho → The Petersham Hotel, Richmond
• Paris, France – Hotel Regina Louvre → La Planque Hôtel
• Honolulu, Hawaii – Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina → Wayfinder Waikiki
• Los Angeles, U.S. – The Hollywood Roosevelt → The Georgian Hotel
• Las Vegas, U.S. – business at the Wynn → JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa in Summerlin
• Mallorca, Spain – Concepció by Nobis → Finca s’Estelrica
• Bali, Indonesia – GDAS Bali Health and Wellness Resort (adults only) → Junjungan Ubud Hotel & Spa
• San Juan, Puerto Rico – Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico → Don Rafa Boutique Hotel & Residences

Date-night idea: Book two contrasting hotels in one city; start in luxury, end somewhere local and artsy.

Vrbo’s 2026 Trends

slow, soulful, and story-driven

Readaways

Bookworms, rejoice: 2026 is the year of the Readaway—a literary-inspired getaway designed for reading, relaxing, and reconnecting.

With #BookTok still dominating social feeds, 91% of travellers say they want to take a trip centered around reading and quiet time. Vrbo rentals like The Atlantic Pearl in Port Medway, Nova Scotia, or The Literary House in Sorrento, Italy, are perfect for curling up with a novel and a glass of wine.

Top Spots for Readaways in 2026:

• The Book House No. 43 – Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
• Luxury Mid-Century Home – North Berwick, Scotland
• Lyra – Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales, Australia
• Grand Beachfront Villa – Rethymno, Crete, Greece
• Family-Friendly Cottage – Gnarrenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany
• Atlantic Pearl – Port Medway, Nova Scotia, Canada
• The Professor’s Beach House – Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
• Novel Retreat – Austin, Texas, U.S.
• Forest House – Orcas Island, Washington, U.S.
• The Literary House – Sorrento, Italy

Farm Charm

Meanwhile, the “slow travel” movement continues with Farm Charm, where 84% of travellers say they want to stay on or near a farm.

Think starlit skies, farm-to-table breakfasts, and morning walks with alpacas.

Canadian pick: Lakefront Farm House in Niagara, Ontario—a dreamy, rustic escape where you can sip wine, feed chickens, and watch the sunset over the vineyard.

Top Farm Charm Finds:

• Lakefront Farm House — Niagara, Ontario, Canada
• Elegant Modern Farm — Sharon, Connecticut, U.S.
• Kanuka Terrace — Kaikoura, Canterbury, New Zealand
• Thatched Farmhouse — Lübstorf, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
• Cider Hill Haven — New Haven, Vermont, U.S.
• Wine Country Farmhouse —Santa Rosa, California, U.S.
• Moorhall Farm — Worcester, U.K.
• Barakee Homestead — Queensland, Australia
• The Haven at Hills Point Farm — Cambridge, Maryland, U.S.

Date-night idea: Wake up early to pick fresh berries and end the night stargazing by the firepit.

The 2026 Set-Jetting Forecast

This trend has become an ongoing travel motivator year after year Screen-inspired travel is officially an $8 billion industry and still growing more than ever. Over 80% of Gen Z and Millennial travellers now plan trips based on what they’ve seen in movies or shows.

And with The White Lotus rumoured to film next in France, wanderlust is hitting new heights

2026 Set-Jetting Hotspots:

• Yorkshire, U.K. – Wuthering Heights, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
• Tuscany, Italy – Jay Kelly
• Samoa, Polynesia – Moana (Live Action)
• Dalmatian Coast, Croatia – People We Meet on Vacation
• Peloponnese, Greece – The Odyssey
• Los Angeles, U.S. – Nobody Wants This
• Wellington, New Zealand – Avatar: Fire & Ash
• Palawan, Philippines – The Last Resort

Date-night idea: Recreate your favourite movie scene on location (or just pretend you’re in White Lotus over Aperol spritzes).

Canadian Highlights from Unpack ’26

The report features five Canadian standouts, which we’ll be diving into further into soon, but in the meantime here’s your cheat sheet:

• Ucluelet, BC – Destination of the Year
• Curling, Canada – Fan Voyage experience
• Hotel Place d’Armes – Montreal – Salvaged Stay
• Atlantic Pearl, Nova Scotia – Readaway rental
• Lakefront Farm House, Ontario – Farm Charm retreat

From slow travel to sustainability, Unpack ’26 shows that next year’s biggest trend isn’t about going farther, it’s about going better. Continue reading and getting travel inspo for all your future datenight getaways here!