• Thursday 01 January 2026

6 Travel Trends for 2026

How are the travel industry, commentators, influencers and experts predicting people will travel in 2026? Here we take a look at 6 of the top travel types predicted to trend in 2026.

1. Slow Journeys: Rail and Road

The journey itself is becoming just as important as the destination, with overland travel gaining significant popularity in the last couple of years. More travellers are choosing scenic, epic rail journeys instead of quick flights.

Train travel is now embraced as a wonderful part of the adventure, whether you are crossing the Alps or travelling through the Balkans, and bookings for rail journeys are increasing each year. One particular favourite of ours is the iconic Canadian Rocky Mountaineer... its cool glass-domed roof offers truly spectacular 360-degree views as you roll by ice-blue lakes and thickly-forested mountains.

We've also seen a surge in Road Trips these last few years, as travellers rediscover the appeal of the open road, seeking flexibility and freedom. The USA's Route 66 will turn 100 in 2026, making it an extra-special time to experience this bucket list journey. 

2. Ultra-Personalised Travel

We're moving even further away from the days of booking the same trip as everyone else. Travel is focusing more on hyper-individuality by offering specialist tours designed for specific situations and life stages. This includes trips focused on niche interests, such as tours for literary enthusiasts or sports holidays. Multi-generational and holidays catering for those with special abilities

Luckily, personalised travel is where travel agencies shine! We've got the years of experience, local contacts and personal connections which can take your holiday from meh to amazing.  Let us organise your perfect trip, no matter your interests or preferences. Even better, our team will also get to know what you like, keep you in mind & let you know when something special crosses our desks. We might even suggest something you would never have thought of- that ends up being your new favourite destination!

3. Going Off the Beaten Path

Many travellers are growing tired of overcrowded hotspots that often don't look as perfect in real life as they do online. The anti-Instagram brigade are actively turning away from these popular, over-filtered places- resulting in a rising interest in authentic, off-grid destinations.

We've seen a growing interest in destinations across northern Europe, Switzerland, rural Japan, Mongolia, Namibia and Tanzania to name just a few. Many travellers want to get up close to nature with a wildlife or wellness experience.

4. Seeking Spectacle

For 2026, big, shared cultural and sporting events are proving to be a huge draw. Some of the of the most requested dates and cities next year line up with major events, like the Solheim Cup, the FIFA World Cup, and Grand Prix. Go all out to mark big birthdays or anniversary with bucket-list VIP experiences.

5. Solo Explorers

Travelling alone is making a major comeback, often driven by online conversations encouraging self-discovery regardless of relationship status. This unique holiday experience is the perfect opportunity to meet like-minded people and forge lasting friendships. A large proportion of our solo travellers end up going again, often meeting up with people from previous tours. Solo travellers are leading the charge in finding the next wave of up-and-coming hotspots, and 2026's favourites will include Costa Rica and Vietnam.

6. The Food Focus

Culinary travel is set to be absolutely sizzling for 2026. For many travellers, food is becoming the central focus of their trips, whether they are attending cooking classes, exploring local cuisine, or visiting food markets. Some foodie destinations growing in popularity include Cambodia, Northern Spain and Sri Lanka- though classic hotspots like Japan and India are always hot with travellers! For something totally diferent, why not try Georgia?

Start planning your own 2026 adventure now!

Our expert teams in Cork, Bantry and Clonakilty are here to give you advice and recommendations. Get in touch:

Cork City: info@shandontravel.ie, 021 4277094 or 01 6965135

Bantry: (027) 50341 or bantry@shandontravel.ie

Clonakilty: (023) 8833220 or clonakilty@shandontravel.ie

Sources include: Travel + Leisure, BBC Travel, RTE, Explore Worldwide as well as our own experience and data.