2026 travel trends: What will Americans do next year?

Cultural calendar events and sporting moments are likely to drive travel trends in 2026. 

What they're saying:

"We're seeing, for the first time since 2023, people are looking not to add a ton of trips to the calendar. They're looking to be a bit more reserved, more intentional, more purposeful about where they go and really the "why" behind where they go," Katy Nastro from Going.com told LiveNOW.  

And the "why" could vary between checking off a personal bucket list, or following pop culture events or celebrations. 

For example, Airbnb said 65% of the top-search travel dates so far in 2026 align with major global events, such as Carnival, Coachella, the Winter Olympics and the World Cup. 

Sports travel

Big picture view:

Big sporting events such as the Winter Olympics and the World Cup will drive tourism across the globe in 2026. 

Timeline:

The Winter Olympics will be held in Milan-Cortina, Italy, from Feb. 6-22. The World Cup will be held in cities across North America from June 11 - July 19. 

Dig deeper:

The U.S. has hosted Men’s FIFA World Cup matches only one other time – in 1994 – so the matches here in American cities this summer are sure to drive crowds. 

Team USA’s matches are scheduled for June 12, June 19 and June 25 in Los Angeles and Seattle, with other teams playing in the following American cities: 

• Atlanta, Georgia
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Dallas, Texas
• Houston, Texas
• Kansas City, Missouri
• Los Angeles, California
• Miami, Florida
• New York/New Jersey
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• San Francisco Bay Area, California
• Seattle, Washington

RELATED: FIFA World Cup group schedule: Full list of matchdays

Also:

Kayak said it’s seen a 14% increase in flight searches to Kansas City for 2026, likely riding a wave powered by the World Cup games in addition to KC’s football team and its ties to mega pop star Taylor Swift. 

USA 250 events

Big picture view:

America is celebrating its 250th anniversary in 2026, with major events and milestones being scheduled across the country. 

Or maybe you’re keen to hop on the Great American Road Trip, planned out by the Department of Transportation, which includes museums, battlefields, beaches and more attractions in all corners of the country. 

Dig deeper:

And another way to see America is to visit the protected lands at our national parks – destinations that are already reportedly trending higher for 2026. 

"Travelers are stepping away from screens and "touching grass", with interest in U.S. national parks surging 35 percent," according to Airbnb. 

Specifically, Airbnb reported high interest in Acadia, Shenandoah, The Great Smoky Mountains and Yosemite national parks, as well as interest in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, which is near Grand Teton National Park. 

RELATED: Here's when you can visit US national parks for free in 2026

International destinations

Nastro said Asian destinations will be popular amongst American travelers in 2026. 

The Unpack ‘26 guide agrees, and found Okinawa, Japan, as its top-trending international destination. 

Kayak reported a 194% search increase year-over-year for Christchurch, New Zealand, suggesting where travelers are most eager to go next. 

Airbnb has seen interest in international parks as well, such as Samaria Gorge National Park in Greece and Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park in India. 

By generation:

Regardless of which international destination makes the cut, travel there might look a little different depending on the generation. 

"Gen Z travelers are fueling a trend in 1-2 day international city getaways, favoring quick, high-energy and culture-packed trips over longer vacations," Airbnb is finding, saying it’s coming from a viral TikTok day-trip trend.  

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