Expedia Group released Unpack '26: The Trends in Travel™. The annual global report highlights shifts in traveler behavior and the destinations set to dominate itineraries in 2026.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: multivu.com/expedia.

From Destinations of the Year to salvaged hotels and reading retreats, to Banana Ball and farm stays, the seven trends in Unpack '26 offer a look at the future of travel. Each trend is backed by first-party data and insights from 24,000 global travelers.*

Expedia — Destinations of the Year:Expedia's 2026 Destinations of the Year list — powered by real-time data from millions of daily visitors to the Expedia site and app — highlights where global interest is rising fast, even in destinations that haven't yet gone viral.

Six of these hotspots also meet the criteria for Expedia's new Smart Travel Health Check — a first-in-travel framework from Expedia, inspired by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The Smart Travel Health Check recognizes destinations that offer meaningful travel experiences and proactively manage tourism in a sustainable way, helping to ease the strain on the world's most overvisited cities.

Explore each Destination of the Year here.

Expedia — Fan Voyage: 2026 is a huge year for international sports, but there's a new wave of fanaticism all about immersive, local experiences. Expedia's Fan Voyage trend reveals a surge in uniquely regional sporting experiences, with 57% saying they're likely to attend one while on a trip.

From sumo wrestling in Japan to Muay Thai in Thailand, travelers — particularly Gen Z and Millennial travelers (68%) — are seeking front-row seats to learn about timeless traditions. Fan Voyage shows it's not just about the game — it's about community, culture, and feeling like a local.

Check out how to get seats to Fan Voyage events here.

Hotels.com — Salvaged Stays: Next year, travelers are putting the "rest" in restoration by checking into hotels that combine historical architecture with modern amenities. Hotels.com's 2026 Hotels of the Year list spotlights a surge in demand for upcycled retreats such as former schoolhouses, train stations, and banks that offer guests a comfortable stay filled with unique character and cultural relevance.

See more Salvaged Stays inspiration here.

Hotels.com — Hotel Hop: More than half of travelers (54%) are making every trip count by booking multiple hotels within a single destination. This emerging trend — dubbed Hotel Hop — is driven by travelers' desire to:

• Explore different neighborhoods (50%)
• Unlock better deals (35%)

City breaks, island escapes, and event-driven travel such as concerts and festivals are key motivators. The Hotel Hop trend is especially popular among Gen Z and Millennial travelers, with one in four seeing "bleisure" trips as the perfect opportunity to hop from one stay to the next.

Hot trips for Hotel hoppers

• Tokyo, Japan: Hop from Cyashitsu Ryokan Asakusa to Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya.
• Phuket, Thailand: Hop from Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort to Metadee Concept Hotel.
• London, U.K.: Hop from Broadwick Soho to The Petersham.
• Paris, France: Hop from Hotel Regina Louvre to La Planque Hôtel.
• Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.: Hop from Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina to Wayfinder Waikiki.

Read about the top Hotel Hop combinations here. 

Vrbo  — Readaways: Trips in 2026 are getting "lit" — literally. Vrbo reveals 91% of travelers are seeking getaways focused on reading, relaxation, and quality time with loved ones. As #BookTok continues to dominate social media, interest in literary-themed travels is surging with Pinterest searches for "book club retreat ideas" up 265%, and Vrbo's reading-related terms in guest reviews nearly tripling.*

Recommended rentals for Readaways :

• The Book House No. 43 — Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
• Family-Friendly Cottage — Gnarrenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany
• Novel Retreat – Austin, Texas, U.S.
• Lyra — Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales, Australia
• The Literary House — Sorrento, Italy

See more inspiration on the best Readaways here.

Vrbo — Farm Charm: The slow travel movement is gaining ground, with 84% of travelers expressing interest in staying on or near a farm. Mentions of farm-related experiences in Vrbo guest reviews have also surged 300% year-over-year,* signaling how travelers are searching for starlit skies over busy city lights in 2026.

Farm Charm is about unplugging and reconnecting with nature. Top activities for travelers include:

• Hiking trails (73%)
• Animal interactions such as collecting eggs, feeding animals, or birdwatching (62%)
• Gardening or harvesting produce (42%).

Top Farm Charm finds :

• Cider Hill Haven — New Haven, Vermont, U.S.
• The Haven at Hills Point Farm — Cambridge, Maryland, U.S.
• Lakefront Farm House in Niagara — Lincoln, Ontario, Canada
• Moorhall Farm — Worcester, England, U.K.
• Barakee Homestead — Rosevale, Queensland, Australia

Explore more properties with Farm Charm here.

The 2026 Set-Jetting Forecast: Set-Jetting is back — and bigger than ever. First spotlighted by Expedia in 2022, this trend of traveling to destinations inspired by TV shows and movies is now projected to become a potential $8 billion industry in the U.S. alone.* Interest is accelerating:

• 53% of travelers say their desire to take a set-jetting trip has increased in the past year.
• 81% of Gen Z and Millennial travelers now plan getaways based on what they've seen on screen.

With The White Lotus's next location in France still to be officially confirmed, the 2026 Set-Jetting Forecast reveals the next wave of cinematic escapes — from the U.K.'s rolling hills of Yorkshire to the epic coastlines of Croatia. Set-Jetting is turning binge-worthy moments into bucket-list adventures.

Read more about Set-Jetting here.

To learn more about the travel trends in Unpack '26, visit expedia.com/unpack26.