Sweat Jetting and Investigative Drinking (yes, really) are shaping up to be two defining travel trends for 2026.
According to Tripadvisor, travel in 2026 is less about ticking destinations off a list and more about fully committing to meaningful experiences.
Drawing on millions of bookings, reviews and forum discussions, the data suggests travellers want memorable activities that foster genuine connection — with places, personal passions and the people they travel with, children and pets included.
Sweat Jetting
Active travel is booming. Holidays are no longer centred on hotel gyms; fitness has become part of travellers’ identities. Bookings for sports and athletic experiences are rising sharply, with “mara-cations” and “race-cations” gaining traction. Runners are tackling mountain trails in Chamonix and ultra-marathons in Patagonia, while Challenge Family offers triathlon experiences in the Middle East combining resort stays with elite training facilities.
Major sporting events are also fuelling demand, including the 2026 Winter Olympics in the Dolomites, the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Investigative Drinking
Meanwhile, travellers are venturing beyond traditional wine tours to explore hyper-regional spirits and artisan producers. In Yantai, visitors sample emerging Chinese reds; in Devon, English sparkling wine shines; and Swartland is celebrated for old-vine Chenin Blanc.
Beyond wine, destinations such as Oaxaca and Jalisco showcase agave spirits like raicilla and pulque. In Mumbai, Bandra Born spotlights mahua, while Lima is home to Museo del Pisco, where Peru’s national spirit is explored well beyond the classic pisco sour.
Other travel trends include Future Foodists - travellers are going deeper on farm-to-table efforts, exploring regional ingredients and traditions and Flex Lux - welcome to the era of à la carte luxury, where travelers can buy into high-end experiences by the seat or room — or even day — rather than going all-in.