Booking.com Says ‘Deeply Personal Travel’ a Top Trend for Canadians in 2026

Now in its tenth year, Booking.com’s Travel Predictions has revealed how Canadians are expected to explore the world in 2026.

The findings point to a new era of travel that is individual, experimental, and deeply personal.

Drawing from insights from more than 29,000 travellers across 33 countries and territories, including 1,018 Canadians, Booking.com has identified ten key trends that will shape how and why Canadians travel in 2026.

Fantasy – Canadians’ love for fantasy whether it’s dragons, castles or mythical creatures is inspiring “Romantasy” travel : 62% said they’d visit a destination inspired by fantasy and 44% are open to role-play retreats based on beloved games or novels. Nearly 72% are also open to AI-powered tools that recommend storybook stays or filming locations.

A Relationship Test – For Canadians, travel is becoming a way to test relationships—romantic or otherwise. 65% are open to taking a trip with a new partner, colleague, or friend specifically to see how well they connect. More than half (54%) would travel to remote destinations to gauge adaptability, while 50% would swap roles to test flexibility or impose travel challenges like limited connectivity or tight budgets. Among Gen Z Canadians, 80% are eager to try personalized itineraries that reveal how relationships hold up under pressure.

Milestone travel is evolving beyond weddings and anniversaries. In 2026, 64% of Canadians say they don’t need a reason to book a trip, while 76% treat travel as a personal reward for hard work. From celebrating sobriety or fitness goals (22%) to toasting a new job (18%) or even moving on from a breakup (14%), Canadians are using travel as a way to commemorate life’s personal wins, big or small.

Peace and Quiet – As the world grows louder, Canadians are seeking serenity, 42% plan vacations that bring them closer to nature, turning to quiet hobbies like birdwatching, fishing, or foraging.

Glowcations – Nearly half (49%) are interested in insect or butterfly watching, while 58% would stay somewhere that incorporates local foraging experiences. Wellness travel is going high-tech. 69% of Canadians are open to booking glow-cations focused on skin health and personalized treatments. 66% are intrigued by smart hydration stations and 70% by circadian lighting suites designed for better rest and rejuvenation.

Spirituality and astrology are shaping when—and where—Canadians go. 35% say they’d reconsider travel plans based on horoscopes or cosmic timing, and 39% would even cancel a trip if advised by a spiritual guide. Among Gen Z and Millennials, over half view cosmic or energy-based travel as a path to self-discovery—aligning their getaways with moon phases, solstices, or “energy-rich” sites around the world.

Smart Stays – The future of vacation rentals is here. 68% of Canadians say they’d stay in a robotic-enhanced home. Convenience leads the appeal: 53% are drawn to cleaning bots, 45% to robotic chefs, and 22% to sustainable automation managing energy and waste. For others (27%), it’s the novelty—staying somewhere that feels straight out of science fiction

“Shelf-ie” travel – Kitchen shelves are becoming cultural showcases. 62% of Canadians say they’d buy local kitchenware or pantry products as souvenirs, such as artisan olive oils, spice jars, or handmade ceramics. Nearly half (43%) would even travel to destinations known for their culinary craftsmanship.

PastPorts – Nostalgia is tops as 61% of Canadians would use AI photo mapping to locate and revisit places from old photos, with 57% motivated by reconnecting with family or friends. 37% see these journeys as milestones themselves—opportunities to revisit meaningful locations or find closure through travel

Reimagined Roadtrips – Canadian road trips are being reimagined with community and technology at the core. 72% value spontaneity, 70% want to meet new people, and 76% like sharing driving duties.

“In 2026, travel is becoming a reflection of who people truly are, with journeys built around interests that perhaps in the past felt too niche or bold to explore,” said James Waters, Chief Business Officer at Booking.com,

“Travellers are stress-testing relationships, stepping into fantasy worlds, turning their kitchens into reflections of their journeys, and looking at new ways to experience road trips and vacation rentals with enhanced technology features. At Booking.com, we’re continuously evolving to make it easier for everyone to experience the world and fully lean into their dream trips by offering more choice, flexibility, and convenience than ever before.”

For more information about Booking.com’s 2026 Travel Predictions, please visit: https://www.booking.com/articles/travel-predictions-2026.html.