Solo trips, national parks, and more 2026 travel predictions

This year, travelers sought out alternative trends, like ‘forest bathing and ‘noctotourism’ and explored places off the beaten path. Very little will change in 2026, experts say.

Early this month, Airbnb released its travel predictions for 2026. “Travelers will seek to make the most of their time away, rooted in authentic and immersive experiences,” the company said.

“[There is] a desire for people to get out, get away from their phones, unplug, immerse in culture and really connect with people on a local, personal level,” Natalie Shalk, Senior Editorial Lead at Airbnb, tells CNBC Make It.

“A lot of these we have seen in the past, but I think we’re seeing the trends rooted in authentic and immersive experience-based travel. It speaks to people’s desire to get back out into the real world and make those real-world connections.”

Airbnb found that Gen Z is taking one- to two-day international trips and that’s thanks in large part to the viral TikTok “day trip” trend.

“Gen Z is taking quick trips and maybe not waiting until they have weeks off of work, but instead trying to jump around and do one to two-day getaways. They are packing in a lot in terms of having culture-rich escapes,” Shalk says.

“I think it speaks to this desire to get out there and discover new places that offer authentic experiences that aren’t just typical.”

The report found that Gen Zers are choosing vibrant cities instead of relaxing beach towns.

Airbnb’s list of trending cities was compiled using Airbnb internal data searches made in Q3 2025 for 2026, compared with searches made in Q3 2024 for 2025 by Gen Z global travelers:

• Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Busan, South Korea
• João Pessoa, Brazil
• Ko Samui, Thailand
• Maceió, Brazil
• Marrakesh, Morocco
• Mexico City, Mexico
• Nakano, Japan
• San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Stockholm, Sweden

Mexico City is one of the world’s oldest capital cities, and with an estimated 22 million inhabitants, it’s the most populous city in the western hemisphere.

The country’s capital city is filled with amazing sights, including the Frida Kahlo Museum, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the National Palace. Just outside the city are the ancient pyramids of Teotihuacan.

Airbnb found that searches and interest in national parks worldwide have risen. Nature was a top trend in 2025 but there’s been a big surge for 2026 in terms of national parks, Shalk says.

“People are looking to disperse and avoid those crowds but still get that great experience of being outdoors.”

To identify trending locations, Airbnb analyzed internal data on searches made in Q3 2025 for 2026, compared with searches made in Q3 2024 for 2025 by global travelers.

It also looked at internal data of searches made in Q3 2025 for 2026, compared with searches made in Q3 2024 for 2025 by global travelers for emerging destinations.

Airbnb defines emerging regions as locations that have seen an increase in traveler interest over the last three years.

The report found that searches for stays “near a national park” are up 35% in the U.S. in 2026. Nature and outdoor experiences are the top booked experience category on the platform.

U.S. destinations

• Acadia National Park
• Jackson Hole, WY (near Grand Teton National Park)
• Shenandoah National Park
• The Great Smoky Mountains National Park 
• Yosemite National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a national park in the United States that runs through parts of North Carolina and Tennessee. With over 12 million visitors a year, it is America’s most visited national park.

Global Destinations

• Crete, Greece (near Samaria Gorge National Park)
• Goa, India (near Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park)
• Sardinia, Italy (near Gennargentu National Park)
• Jakarta, Indonesia (near Ujung Kulon National Park)

Goa, India, is one of the country’s smallest states and is located about 250 miles south of Mumbai. The place is known as India’s tropical paradise thanks to its sandy beaches and forests.

Airbnb found that travelers are prioritizing trips tied to cultural events like FIFA World Cup, Winter Olympics, Coachella and Carnival.

The report states that 65% of the top-searched 2026 travel dates and cities align with major global events.

“Whether you’re a fan or not, I think we’re really going to see people using these events to discover new cities too. People are taking those group trips and getting those bigger Airbnbs that allow them to spread out and enjoy their stay together,” Shalk says.

The 2026 Winter Olympics, officially called the Milano Cortina 2026, will be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, from February 6 to 22, 2026.

This year marks the 25th Winter Olympic Games and the fourth Olympic competition hosted by Italy.

With more and more people talking about solo trips on social media, Airbnb found that travelers are looking for scenic escapes that offer a slower pace and more reflective experience.

Shalk says that although solo travel has been popular for many years, 2026 is all about seeing new places and skipping the typical major cities.

To find the most popular destinations for solo travelers in 2026, Airbnb looked at internal data of searches made in Q3 2025 for 2026, compared with searches made in Q3 2024 for 2025 by global solo travelers.

• Algarve, Portugal
• Costa del Sol, Spain
• Florida Keys, Florida
• Idyllwild, California
• Inverness, Scotland
• Isère, France
• La Altagracia, Dominican Republic
• North Carolina Mountains, USA
• Tromsø, Norway

Idyllwild, California, is located in the San Jacinto Mountains about an hour from Palm Springs. It was once known as one of America’s top art towns because of all the galleries around.

Outdoor enthusiasts will love the various trails and activities that are available in Idyllwild.

Airbnb’s report found that food and drink experiences are among the most booked on the platform.

The report found that wine tourism is also on the rise as wine regions saw a spike in bookings and wishlist inclusions for 2026 based on Airbnb searches made in Q3 2025 for 2026, compared with searches made in Q3 2024 for 2025 by global travelers.

Shalk says a major driver of this trend is social media.

“Those viral videos are inspiring people to go out and see popular bakeries and experience hands-on classes. It’s about just going beyond your classic cities and really dispersing,” she adds. “People are thinking about doing something a bit different and wanting to learn something new too.”

Wine Destinations

• Bangalore, India 
• Finger Lakes, NY, United States
• Melbourne, Australia 
• Traverse City, MI, United States
• Var, France

Melbourne, Australia, is home to Victoria wine. The Australian state of Victoria has over 600 wineries and is known for blends like Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc.

Bakery Destinations

• Istanbul, Turkey
• Lisbon, Portugal
• Paris, France
• Taipei, Taiwan
• Tokyo, Japan

France is known as the pastry capital of the world, and is a trending bakery destination in Airbnb’s report.

The city is home to thousands of bakeries and pastry shops. In France, bakeries must bake their bread on-premises to hold the title of “boulangerie” (French bakery in English). The main things sold at a boulangerie are baguettes and pain de campagne.

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