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Summer bookings are already picking up pace, and travel companies are spotting clear patterns shaping 2026 holidays. From solo adventures to a renewed taste for slow, screen-free experiences, operators say these eight trends are steering where and how people plan to travel this season.
1. Solo getaways on the rise
Adventure operator Much Better Adventures reports a sharp rise in independent travellers. Bookings by solo travellers are up 55% in 2026 compared with 2025, and the company says figures are 200% higher than in 2023. Three quarters of its customers now join trips alone.
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The firm notes that solo bookings are favouring longer, multi-activity itineraries to places such as Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam, while long-standing favourites like Morocco, Italy, Portugal and Norway remain popular. Hiking is especially in demand: the company records a 66% increase in hiking holiday bookings year‑on‑year, with multi‑activity trips up 63%.
2. Northern Europe and “cool-cations”
Operators say cooler, scenic destinations are drawing holidaymakers who want fresh air and dramatic landscapes. Regent Holidays highlights Norway — its top seller in recent years — alongside Iceland, and reports Azores sales in March were more than 50% higher than a year earlier. Slovenia bookings are also up nearly 20%.
Naturetrek’s managing director, Andy Tucker, expects Slovenia and alpine areas in Switzerland and Italy’s northern Alps to be particularly sought after this summer. Meanwhile, Inghams Ski has noticed growing summer interest in mountain hotspots such as Fort William and Glencoe in Scotland, Jackson Hole in the US and Voss in Norway, as travellers look to experience mountains outside the ski season.
3. Screen-free, analogue experiences
Hotelplanner.com’s CEO Tim Hentschel says digital fatigue is nudging travellers towards phone-free stays. Properties that limit Wi‑Fi, offer device-free dining or focus on immersive nature experiences are gaining appeal.
The attraction is simple: guests want more presence and sensory travel — handwritten menus, deeper conversations with locals and uninterrupted views — rather than constant connectivity.
4. Dusking and golden-hour activities
A slow ritual originating in the Netherlands, “dusking” — quietly watching twilight — is finding followers elsewhere. Travel platforms report increasing bookings for experiences tied to sunset and twilight.
GetYourGuide says bookings for dusk activities are up 41% year‑on‑year, with tours ranging from sunset walks on Dubrovnik’s city walls to evening visits in Kyoto and after‑hours access to landmarks such as St Mark’s Basilica in Venice.
5. Sailing makes a comeback
Sailing holidays are gaining momentum. Intrepid reports sailing-trip bookings jumped 241% in March, driven in part by the chance to reach quieter coves and islands inaccessible from land.
Many itineraries combine island hopping with overnight stays on classic sailboats and small-group formats, offering either active crewing or relaxed, crewed options for those who prefer to unwind.
6. Rail as part of the journey
Train travel is being framed as an experience, not just transport. Explore Worldwide has seen a 25% year‑on‑year rise in rail journey bookings for 2026, and a 77% surge in the last three months, suggesting growing demand for scenic, airport‑free travel.
Slow, panoramic routes appeal to travellers seeking lower-carbon options and a more leisurely pace.
7. “Townsizing”: smaller cities, richer stays
Instead of major capitals, many visitors are choosing smaller cities and second-tier destinations that promise cultural depth without crowds. Hentschel calls this shift “townsizing,” a preference linked to slow travel and popular among younger travellers seeking immersive local experiences.
Travel booking platform Omio reports second-city bookings are up 34% year‑on‑year. Fastest-growing destinations in its data include Segovia (+96%), Murcia (+86%) and Bari (+85%), alongside rising interest in Belgian cities such as Antwerp (+69%) and Ghent (+66%).
8. Learning while away: skillcations
There is also strong appetite for holidays that teach new skills. Much Better Adventures says bookings for learning‑focused trips have climbed 200%, covering activities from surfing to rock climbing.
Hentschel echoes this trend, noting that travellers increasingly seek enrichment — cooking classes, language lessons or traditional crafts — and want to return home with new abilities as well as memories.
