The Skyscanner Travel Trends report for 2026 has unveiled the seven biggest trends in travel, showing that the year will become "personal" for travellers in the UAE. From literature escapes to supermarket tourism and skincare-fuelled itineraries, travellers are planning to curate trips based on their hobbies and passions for 2026, according to Skyscanner data and global consumer research.
The seven trends
shaping travel for 2026 are:
Destination Check-in –
In 2026, accommodation will increasingly hot shaping where and why people
travel, with where hotels they stay becoming the destination Data shows that
76% of travellers have picked a destination based purely on accommodation.
Glowmads – Statistics
show more than half (55%) of adults in the UAE have bought beauty or skincare
products on previous international trips while 45% plan to visit beauty stores
and get skincare/beauty treatments in 2026. Therefore, beauty rituals have the
potential to shape how, not just where, beauty lovers travel. Furthermore, 37%
said beauty-related activities are cheaper abroad than home.
Shelf Discovery –
Travellers are searching for the most authentic bites in the food aisles with
83% saying they often or always explore the local supermarkets or grocery
stores on their trips, while 57% say they learn more about local culture in
food aisles. Furthermore, 44% are keen to try local food on holiday.
Altitude Shift –
Travellers are chasing year-round alpine escapes from snow to stillness.
Skyscanner data shows more than three-quarters (92%) are already looking into
booking a summer or autumn trip to a mountain destination next year and 31% are
planning a hiking trip with 59% saying the clean air and cooler weather makes
mountain trips more appealing.
Bookbound –
Individuals are looking to write new chapters on how to escape and reconnect
through literary travel. More than 7 people out of 10 consider reading time
important while they travel while 78%
have thought about booking a trip inspired by literacy content.
Catching Flights and
Feelings – There is a rise in travellers seeking connections through travel –
meeting matches and friends on the move. Data shows 82% of individuals in UAE
have considered to travel internationally to meet new people while 32% are open
to meet people with different cultures
Family Miles –
Multi-generational trips are also popular with travellers preferring to spend
more time together as a family, bringing different generations together. As
such a total of 41% said they plan to travel with their family, building on the
trend where 31% said they travelled with their parents and grandparents on
trips within the last two years.
Ayoub El Mamoun,
Travel Expert at Skyscanner, said: “As 2025 comes to a close, people are
already exploring where to visit next year. Our findings from Skyscanner’s
annual Travel Trends Report have shown people are opting for different
experiences based on their personal interests and hobbies, doing tasks that
appeal to them or their families. From
shopping for beauty products, reading a book or enjoying time with your family,
there are different ways that travellers in the UAE are enjoying holidays, and
they can now plan their trips with greater purpose.” -TradeArabia News Service