As Americans enjoy all that fall has to offer, from leaf-peeping to apple-picking adventures before the busy holiday rush, some experts are sharing early travel predictions for the year ahead and what to expect for trips, destinations and more in 2026.
The Expedia Group, which encompasses travel technology platforms including price tracking and booking sites like Expedia, Hotels.com and VRBO to name a few, shared an exclusive early look at its Unpack 2026 global travel forecast report with "Good Morning America" on Tuesday.
Similarly, Booking.com shared an early glimpse at its annual Travel Predictions, which in its 10th edition surveyed over 29,000 travelers across 33 countries and found that travelers in 2026 will likely embrace ultra-personalized journeys that reflect their individual preferences and passions.
More people are looking to explore the outdoors and focus on destinations that can help them feel calm, which for some may include an aspect of "farm charm."
Expedia defines the term as "unplugging and reconnecting with nature." It includes top activities such as hiking, animal interactions such as feeding farm animals or collecting fresh eggs, and gardening or harvesting produce.
The slow travel movement, according to Expedia, has seen an uptick recently, with 84% of travelers expressing an 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," the Unpack 2026 report states.
The term "set-jetting" first made it into the spotlight in 2022 and translates to visiting locales where TV shows or movies have been filmed -- see the Thailand travel boom following the season 3 premiere of the hit series "The White Lotus," which is still going strong, according to Expedia.
Expedia projects this binge-to-bucket-list travel trend could lead to a potential $8 billion industry in the U.S. alone, with accelerated interest from 53% of travelers who have expressed a desire to take a set-jetting trip and 81% of Gen Z and Millennial travelers planning getaways based on what they've seen on screen.
Page-turning books could spark another new travel trend, according to Booking.com, which found new interest in reading retreats or a so-called "romantasy" trips, where destinations are inspired by a favorite romance or fantasy novel.
Genre-inspired itineraries could include castles, forests and ancient ruins that set the stage for the 71% of global travelers who are open to visiting a destination inspired by "romantasy."
