Amadeus presents the Travel Trends 2026, a guide to the six emerging trends that will shape next year’s travel experiences. From the “pet economy” and point-to-point aircraft to AI mixology and the rise of pop-culture destinations, tourism is entering a new, transformative era.
The six trends shaping the future of travel
1. The Pawprint Economy – Pets enter travel with new rules
Pet care is rising to a new level. According to Bloomberg, the global pet industry is expected to reach 500 billion dollars by 2030.
Research by Shape Insight shows that animals are traveling more than ever. In a survey conducted among 2,896 travelers in the UK and the USA, researchers found that 27% of pet owners who brought their pet on their main holiday in 2025 did so for the first time.
As a result, transport companies and hotels are launching services specifically for four-legged travelers. For example:
– China Railway Express is testing pet-friendly Beijing–Shanghai routes.
– In Italy, medium and large dogs are now allowed in passenger cabins.
– SkyePets will launch long-haul Australia–USA flights exclusively for pets.
Amadeus predicts that 2026 will be the year of “true care” for our four-legged travel companions.
2. Travel Mixology – Travel planning becomes hybrid
Travelers in 2026 mix multiple sources to shape the ideal trip: from Large Language Models (LLMs) and Reddit to YouTube, AI travel assistants, and booking platforms.
What changes in practice:
– Google Flight Deals offers suggestions based on “vibe,” without needing a destination.
– Expedia’s Trip Matching turns Instagram Reels into ready-made itineraries.
Travel Mixology creates more flexible and more accurate travel planning than ever before.
3. Point-to-Point Precision – Narrow-body jets shrink the world
The year 2026 brings a revolution in long-haul connectivity:
– The Airbus A321XLR, equipped with an additional rear-center fuel tank that increases the jet’s range by 700 nautical miles (compared to the long-range version), enables new ultra-long routes.
– IndiGo launches the first direct India–Athens route, while Air Canada connects Montreal to Mallorca for the first time.
– According to Amadeus Travel Intelligence, by early 2026 these narrow-body aircraft will represent nearly 10% of Iberia’s flights, operating seven long-haul routes between Madrid and the Americas.
– Qantas’ ambitious Project Sunrise links Sydney–London and Sydney–New York non-stop, with direct flights up to four hours shorter than traditional routes, using the A350-1000ULR (Ultra Long Range).
4. Pop Culting – Travel inspired by pop culture
From Bridgerton and K-Pop to the Labubus blockbusters, pop culture is driving tourism demand:
– The Bridgerton series generates £5 million annually for Bath.
– Seoul created a complete “travel experience” based on the film Kpop Demon Hunters.
– Searches for Comic-Con San Diego are up 9% for 2026.
– Universal Studios Great Britain begins construction in 2026.
Pop Culting is not a trend – it is a new category of tourism, transforming IP into travel products.
5. Pick ’n’ Stays – Hotel rooms become tailor-made for travelers
The traveler chooses everything:
– room location,
– equipment (from reformer Pilates to VR setup),
– level of soundproofing,
– type of workspace.
With tools such as Amadeus iHotelier, hotels offer fully customizable options.
The era of choosing “standard” is over. 2026 is the year of total hotel personalization.
6. Innovation Tourism – Travel to the future… today
Ecosystems and cities investing in innovation are becoming “future tourism magnets”:
– Shenzhen sees a 48% increase in air-travel searches for 2026.
– The USA and London are preparing fleets of autonomous taxis.
– Jony Ive unveils OpenAI’s first hardware.
– Wearables promise even translations from the “language” of animals to humans.
– Scenarios such as robotic luggage, palm-based payments, and 3D-printed room service are becoming reality.
The traveler of the future does not wait – they go where the future is already happening.
