Skyscanner has released its Travel Trends 2026 report, highlighting seven behavioural shifts expected to influence how consumers book hotels, flights and holidays in the year ahead.
With travellers increasingly focused on value and personal relevance, the report suggests 2026 will be defined by experiences that feel intentional, expressive and based around individual passions.
A key trend is Glowmads, where beauty culture becomes part of the itinerary, from inflight skincare to visiting iconic cosmetic retailers.
Shelf Discovery sees culinary tourism move from restaurants to supermarkets, with travellers exploring local life through grocery aisles.
Mountain destinations are also set for a surge, as Altitude Shift shows growing demand for year-round alpine escapes.
Literary-inspired trips are rising under Bookbound, with more travellers seeking reading retreats or hotel libraries.
Meanwhile, Catching Flights and Feelings highlights a growing appetite for meeting new people on the move, reflected in rising solo-travel hotel searches. Family travel continues its comeback through Family Miles, with multigenerational trips driven by shared budgets and the desire to reconnect.
And crucially for Scotland’s hotel sector, Destination Check-in shows accommodation becoming the main attraction itself, with nearly a third of travellers choosing where to go based on where they want to stay.
Skyscanner says the future of travel will be “curated, considered and clever,” with travellers planning more – and expecting more – in 2026.”
