From "Romantasy Retreats" to "Glow-cations": 10 travel trends for Canadians in 2026

Now marking its tenth year, Booking.com’s annual Travel Predictions report continues to be a bellwether for how global travellers want to explore the world.

Over the past decade, the insights have charted the rise of everything from “cool-cations” designed to beat the heat to “conscious travel” driven by environmental and social awareness.

Looking ahead to 2026, the latest findings reveal a new era of ultra-personalized travel — one where trips are experimental, expressive, and tailored to every niche interest imaginable.

Based on responses from more than 29,000 travellers across 33 countries and territories, including 1,018 Canadians, Booking.com has identified ten defining travel trends for the year ahead.

1. Romantasy Retreats: Escaping Into Enchanted Worlds

Fantasy is stepping out of the pages and onto the travel itinerary. Inspired by the surge in “romantasy” literature and film, travellers are seeking immersive escapes set in mystical forests, castles, and storybook landscapes.

• 62% of Canadians are interested in destinations inspired by fantasy worlds.
• 44% would join role-play retreats themed around their favourite stories.
• 72% are open to AI-powered fantasy travel suggestions or film location recommendations.

In 2026, imagination becomes the itinerary — and fantasy the new frontier of experiential travel.

2. Turbulence Tests: Love, Friendship, and Teamwork on Trial

Vacations are no longer just for relaxation — they’re for relationship evaluation.

• 65% of Canadians say they’d travel with a new partner or friend to test compatibility.
• 54% would go off-grid to see how travel companions handle discomfort.
• 50% are open to “role-reversal” trips where one hands over control.

Gen Z leads the way, with 80% keen to take custom itineraries that simulate real-life dynamics. Travel becomes a testing ground for teamwork, trust, and chemistry.

3. Modern Milestone Missions: Travel That Celebrates You

Traditional celebrations are evolving. In 2026, travellers are booking trips to mark personal wins of every kind — from promotions and fitness milestones to new beginnings.

• 64% say they don’t need a reason to book a trip.
• 76% travel simply because they’ve earned it.

Whether celebrating a breakup recovery or a tax refund, travellers are redefining what it means to reward themselves.

4. Hushed Hobbies: Quiet Pursuits, Louder Calm

The quest for peace is taking centre stage.

• 42% of Canadians plan trips to feel closer to nature, with a rise in fishing, birdwatching, and foraging holidays.
• 49% would even try moth or butterfly watching.

Technology complements, not replaces, the calm — with apps and AI tools that identify wildlife or guide travellers through ecosystems.

Silence is the new luxury, and slowing down is the new adventure.

5. Glow-cations: Tech-Driven Wellness Travel

Wellness travel gets a high-tech overhaul in 2026.

• 69% of Canadians are open to skin-specific “glow-cations.”
• 66% want personalized hydration stations, and 53% are curious about AI skincare analysis mirrors.
• 70% would book sleep-optimized suites with circadian lighting and soundscapes.

From DNA-based treatments to ancient thermal rituals, wellness travel is moving from rest to rejuvenation.

6. Destined-ations: Travel Written in the Stars

Astrology meets itinerary planning.

• 39% would cancel or change a trip based on a spiritual advisor’s guidance.
• 35% factor in horoscopes or moon phases when planning.

Gen Z and Millennials are especially tuned in, viewing travel as a spiritual journey as much as a physical one.

7. Humanoid Homes: The Smart Future of Stays

The next generation of vacation rentals is here — smart, sustainable, and a little bit sci-fi.

• 68% of Canadians are open to booking robotic-enhanced homes.
• 53% want cleaning bots; 45% are excited by robotic chefs.
• For 27%, the novelty alone is the draw.

Automation meets imagination, redefining what “home away from home” can mean.

8. Shelf-ie Souvenirs: Culinary Keepsakes with Cultural Flair

Travel souvenirs are getting a lifestyle upgrade.

• 62% of Canadians would buy locally designed kitchenware or pantry goods abroad.
• 43% would travel to destinations known for their culinary design.

From hand-painted spice jars to artisan olive oil tins, travellers are curating their kitchens as cultural galleries.

9. PastPorts: Revisiting Memories, Powered by Tech

Nostalgia goes high-tech as travellers revisit the past through AI and photo mapping.

• 61% would travel to recreate a favourite old photo using AI.
• 57% want to revisit those places with family or friends.
• 37% see these trips as milestones of reconnection and closure.

Travel becomes a bridge between memory and modern experience.

10. Roadtrip Rewired: Community and Connectivity on the Move

The open road is being reimagined for the digital age.

• 79% of Canadians are open to carpooling while on vacation.
• 58% would use AI to plan scenic, off-the-beaten-path routes.
• 77% of Gen Z are ready to try self-driving vehicles on the road.

Blending spontaneity, sustainability, and connection, the classic road trip is evolving into a networked, social adventure.

A New Era of Personal Expression in Travel

For 2026, Booking.com’s research makes one thing clear: travel has become a form of self-expression.

“In 2026, travel is becoming a reflection of who people truly are, with journeys built around interests that perhaps in the past felt too niche or bold to explore,” said James Waters, chief business officer at Booking.com, in a press release. “Travellers are stress-testing relationships, stepping into fantasy worlds, turning their kitchens into reflections of their journeys, and looking at new ways to experience road trips and vacation rentals with enhanced technology features.”

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