BOSTON, Massachusetts—KAYAK launched its 2026 What the Future (WTF) Report, providing a have a look at the locations and journey behaviors that can form the 12 months forward. In its second version, the WTF report used billions of KAYAK person queries to focus on neglected locations providing decrease costs, fewer crowds, and extra flexibility.
The 2026 version added outcomes from a survey of 14,000 Gen‑Z and Millennial vacationers, social and cultural analysis, and KAYAK govt interviews to ship 10 developments shaping subsequent‑gen journey. One key development is the impression of AI on journey planning, with 41 % of these surveyed saying they’d belief an AI advice over associates and social media.
“In 2026, AI will develop into an much more highly effective, invisible engine behind journey, anticipating what vacationers want earlier than they ask and eradicating friction at each step. The way forward for journey isn’t simply smarter; it’s extra human and customized, with know-how enhancing the expertise alongside the best way,” mentioned Matthias Keller, chief product officer, KAYAK.
“TikTok is reshaping how folks discover the world, and is dwelling to a vibrant tradition of search and discovery on the subject of planning journey – from flights, to resorts, to locations, and past,” mentioned David Hoctor, vertical director of journey, international enterprise sSolutions at TikTok. “KAYAK has recognized a variety of rising journey behaviors that we’re seeing play out in real-time on TikTok, from microtravel journeys with associates, to “gasp-away” dream holidays with their family members. We’re thrilled to see these developments take form within the 12 months forward as vacationers plan their subsequent journeys.
Journey Developments
2026 is the 12 months of adjusting common journey routines by swapping trending locations from everywhere in the web, with the subsequent “gen of locations” not seen on social media to this point. 69 % of Gen Z and 66 % of Millennials mentioned they like locations off their feeds.
KAYAK’s 2026 High 10 Rising Locations
The checklist of KAYAK’s high ten rising locations is as follows:
- Cork, Eire
- Chongqing, China
- Harbin, China
- Zakynthos, Greece
- Shenzhen, China
- Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Hilo (Massive Island), United States
- Noumea, New Caledonia
- La Romana, Dominican Republic
- Luxembourg, Europe
Key Developments
- Booked now, paid later: 35 % of Gen Zs and 31 % of Millennials vacationers surveyed mentioned credit score or installment plans will determine what number of journeys they will really absorb 2026. KAYAK’s new “Purchase now, pay later” filter migrates a most popular retail fee technique right into a journey facilitator.
- Gasp-aways: Itineraries that encourage awe are trending. From photo voltaic eclipses to meteor showers, 63 % of next-generation vacationers mentioned pure wonders will information their journey plans in 2026.
- The Rise of AI: 41 % of Gen Z and Millennial vacationers mentioned they belief AI suggestions greater than folks and social media as a result of it attracts from tens of millions of sources; 34 % mentioned AI feels extra correct and updated than peer strategies.
- Wellness Journeys: Greater than 60 % of next-gen travellers named psychological reset as their high journey precedence, whereas #wellnesstravel posts rose 150 % within the TikTok neighborhood.
- Small Cities: 84 % of vacationers mentioned they would favor a smaller city for his or her 2026 escapes as they anticipated decrease costs and fewer crowds, however extra authenticity.
- Occasions: 97 % of Gen Z and Millennial vacationers mentioned they deliberate to journey for a serious occasion in 2026.
- Gradual Journey: Greater than half of surveyed vacationers mentioned slower journey clears their heads, with a transparent desire for high quality over amount on the highway.
- Nanocations: Almost 63 % of KAYAK surveyed vacationers mentioned they had been planning a number of shorter journeys in 2026, selecting fast modifications of surroundings for immediate rest.
- Mushy adventures: 25 % of vacationers mentioned they like mild journey mixed with rest, resembling a morning run adopted by seaside time or a average hike topped with a chilly drink.
