New Trends in Travel for 2026

From Big-Energy Events to Celestial Cruises

Vacation travel has always offered a break from everyday life. It’s a chance to ditch responsibilities, dive into something you love or experience something totally different. But the some of the travel trends emerging this year redefine the word “different.”

With everyone linked to the digital world 24/7, many travelers are searching for trips that help them unplug and reset. They’re looking for experiences that help them reconnect – with nature, their roots, themselves, and the people around them.

If that sounds like your kind of getaway, then let’s get on with it. The team at Joe’s Airport Parking has spotted six interesting trends that could totally change how you think about travel (and everything else, too).

Big-Energy Events

More and more travelers are trading several smaller trips for one big, memorable moment. They’re attending iconic concerts and festivals, global sports events and other crowd-sourced experiences that make them feel like part of something larger than life. Imagine attending the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, cheering for your favorite soccer team at the World Cup or watching the Monaco Grand Prix from ten feet away. According to Accor, Europe’s largest hospitality company, major live events now factor into 89% of their guests’ vacations. In other words, for these travelers, the choice is simple: Go big or stay home.

Hushpitality & Quiet Travel

The trend in quiet travel we wrote about last year has continued to grow in both popularity and degree; so much so that “hushpitality” has become a term for quiet vacation environments that not only eliminate noise but unnecessary human contact. Personal comfort and familiarity are also part of the experience, with many travelers seeking accommodations that are similar to home and/or bringing more personal belongings along. Which brings us to another new trend: Readaways. These book club retreats involve groups staying in serene locations like coastal homes, mountain chalets or specialized resorts to unwind, discuss the latest books and enjoy quiet time.

 Victorian Venues

A plethora of recent films based on some of the greatest love stories of all time – including this year’s “Wuthering Heights” – has awakened a lust for the destinations in which these Victorian tales take place. Dolly Alderton’s remake of “Pride and Prejudice” was filmed in Derbyshire, Kent, Wiltshire and Lincolnshire. Georgia Oakley’s latest iteration of “Sense and Sensibility” was staged almost entirely in Dartmoor and Devon. And Chloe Zhao’s adaptation of “Hamnet” substituted the village of Weobley for Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon. All of these offer their own, unique form of English charm and are within reasonable driving distance from London’s Heathrow International Airport.

Celestial Cruises

With celestial activity at an uncommonly high level, many cruise lines are offering astronomical opportunities. Literally. These specially scheduled cruises offer viewing of the Aurora Borealis – or Northern Lights – which appear in the northern skies from late autumn and early spring. This natural phenomenon creates a spectacular light show of glowing waves, arcs and swirls of red, blue, green and pink. Another big celestial event this year will be the total solar eclipse on August 12, so start shopping now. Some cruise lines even host scientists, astronomers and other experts to help guide the guest experience.

 Workcations & Micro-Retirements

The comingling of work and leisure continues, with shorter, multiple, microvacations becoming increasingly popular and hybrid workers creating more portable lifestyles. Each year, a growing number of people are pursuing their careers while exploring the globe. Research from HR consulting firm MBO Partners found that 7.3 million Americans identified as “digital nomads” in 2019. By 2024, that number had surged to 18.1 million—more than doubling in just five years. Armed with their laptops, pets, dietary requirements and fitness routines, today’s travelers are searching for accommodations that blend the best qualities of their office and home.

Experiential Airports

Is there anything more boring than waiting around an airport? Probably not. But not for long. With consumers becoming increasingly focused on personally engaging experiences, many airports are investing in major renovations that expand and enhance both secured areas and public zones. Food courts and shopping malls won’t be going away, but this new wave of airport environments now includes indoor gardens, entertainment centers, sprawling open areas and other amenities that promote the concept of airports as community spaces accessible to all whether they have a ticket or not. Watch for a new blog on the coolest airports in the world coming soon.

Those are just a few of the trends we’re seeing in travel so far this year. Here’s another one you can enjoy every time you leave town: Start your trip at Joe’s Airport Parking. We’re becoming more popular with LAX travelers every month and we’re way more affordable than parking at the airport. Just remember to reserve your space with Joe’s online whenever you book your flights. But we fill up fast during peak travel periods, so we suggest you book now.