Biggest travel trends of 2026

Why does it matter in 2026? Scandi-inspired wellness, from hot-cold therapy to hygge, is now de rigueur. But Viking wellness takes this a step further, with a focus on raw, elemental experiences. At Eleven Deplar Farm, a Viking sauna includes guided breathwork, intense heat, plunges into frigid water, and chanting and birch twig tapping in between. “Guests breathe the same bracing Icelandic air and drink the same clear water that sustained the Vikings, emerging grounded and connected to an ancient practice,” says general manager Kurt Berman. Spas with similar offerings can be found along the Göta River in Gothenburg, Sweden, where Viking traders once travelled. Miles away at Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa in St Barts, a trio of Nordic baths made from red cedar wood also takes its cue from Viking contrast therapy. Communal dining is another key feature of the trend, with large tables and sharing dishes. For a taste, try Ekstedt at The Yard in London’s Westminster, where Michelin-starred Swedish chef Niklas Ekstedt cooks hay-smoked sirloin on open fires. Forget horned helmets and heavy mead and get ready to embrace an elemental approach to wellness. Jessica Burrell

16. All eyes on Design Week

What’s the trend? For years, fashion week has been the place to be seen – and not just for editors, stylists or designers. Sitting front row has become a marker of relevance for celebrities, musicians and influencers as a way to signal taste, status and a certain stamp of cool. Now, other industry events are following suit, particularly across the world of design. No longer trade-only, design weeks and fairs are increasingly drawing tastemakers eager to align themselves with the aesthetic world of interiors, architecture and craftsmanship. For creatives looking to broaden their brand and flex their design credentials, they’ve become a new kind of cultural currency.

Why will it matter in 2026? Milan’s Salone del Mobile is arguably the most prestigious design week of the year and, in 2025, reported its highest-ever proportion of international visitors, with more than 68 per cent travelling from countries including China, the US, Brazil, Russia and the UK. With its focus on “under 35” talent, the fair drew design enthusiasts at every stage of their careers – but this year, it wasn’t just industry professionals. Content creators and tastemakers also made the pilgrimage, signalling how a trade event like this now resonates with a wider audience.

UK stylist and creative consultant Lucy Williams (584,000 followers) attended for the first time, declaring it would be on her “schedule from here on out”. Meanwhile, model-artist Conie Vallese and Alix Rutsey, a merchandising lead at Calvin Klein, were spotted at design week cocktail parties across the city.

And it’s not all about Milan. Copenhagen’s 3 Days of Design in June and Paris’ Maison&Objet in January also saw increased attention from non-industry guests, with glowing coverage online suggesting their popularity will only rise. Set in some of Europe’s most exciting cities, these events inspire a flurry of pop-ups that broaden their appeal – and fuel design-led travel content that lets visitors experience a destination through a more aesthetically attuned lens. For travellers who prioritise design, these weeks may well become the new way to see a city: a fresh kind of city break. Megan Murray

17. Sailing for serenity

What’s the trend? Many travellers are rethinking their usual holiday plans to accentuate wellbeing. Cruise lines are rising to the challenge by adding more Eastern and holistic therapies to their spa offering and expanding the role of spas in voyages. Ships now offer day-long onboard wellness retreats and even entire wellbeing-themed cruises for the growing number of passengers seeking relaxation equally, if not more, than exploration and indulgence.