The main travel trends for autumn-winter 2026 see the rediscovery of immersive experiences, the focus on wellbeing and the identification of cultural and unusual destinations. Travel demand continues to shift towards more informed choices. In fact, a third of travelers tend to avoid overcrowded areas, preferring quieter and less visited areas.
In the technological field, AI will take on an increasingly multifaceted role throughout the entire travel journey, thanks to tailor-made solutions, from destination inspiration to planning and final booking. Furthermore, more and more travelers will use social media to fuel their desire to explore and search for a destination for their next holidays.
Read also: Traveling in the scroll era
Autumn, above all, is experienced as a season to rediscover villages, widespread museums and rural areas far from the large summer flows. Due to economic uncertainty and rising costs, nearby destinations, domestic travel or short stays with close bookings will continue to be favored. The search for low environmental impact accommodation and regenerative experiences is growing. The so-called slow tourism (or slow tourism) is consolidating as one of the main alternatives to overtourism. The most recent data highlights how this travel philosophy is no longer just a niche, but a conscious choice for millions of travellers. There are almost 12 million Italians who actively choose this type of travel with 76% actively seeking less conventional destinations outside the mass circuits. Looking at the results of the second edition of the Feries Territories Tourism Observatory, 67% of Italians have spent at least one holiday in the last year in a village, in a rural area or in a location far from the main tourist circuits, while 80% declare that they will definitely or probably take these destinations into consideration for future trips. Among the reasons that guide the choice emerge the search for authenticity, traditions and local culture (59%), the desire to avoid mass tourism and overtourism (47%) and the desire to immerse oneself in nature (46%).
Read also: Escaping from overtourism... and Molise takes revenge
Tours inspired by books and film settings (set-jetting) will increasingly grow in the coming months, favoring destinations linked to local stories and narratives. United by the traveler's desire to experience fictional places live, whether they arise from the pages of a book or from the frames of a film, these new tourist destinations are driven above all by the success of TV series and streaming platforms. A phenomenon, that relating to cinema, which can literally transform the economy of small villages or entire regions. An example above all in Italy is the "Montalbano phenomenon" in the Ragusa area, which multiplied the accommodation facilities in the space of a few years or the "Matera case" which saw the Lucanian town transformed into Mel Gibson's Jerusalem for The Passion of the Christ. Traditionally considered a "niche" tourism, so-called literary tourism is also experiencing a real renaissance.
Read also: From Harry Potter to Bridgerton, film tourism takes us to Great Britain
Officially included by Skyscanner among the hottest travel trends of 2026, the boom of the so-called Supermarket Safari will continue, also in this second part of the year, i.e. the exploration of local markets and foreign supermarkets as an authentic mirror of the culture of a place. Also known as grocery tourism, it consists of transforming food markets and grocery stores into real tourist attractions: a real cultural adventure undertaken to discover unobtainable snacks, eccentric packaging and understand daily habits and the most authentic soul of a destination. The data confirms that this habit has now conquered a very important segment of travellers. Six out of 10 Italians say they actively enter a local supermarket when they are abroad and as many as 40% of travelers consider this activity the best way to understand the culture and spirit of the place.
Read also: Supermarket safari, the most curious trend in food and wine tourism
High-end skincare rituals have exploded in recent years. Consumers are looking for increasingly niche products, ingredients and routines to achieve healthier, more radiant skin. Also in this second part of 2026, more and more travelers will choose glowcations that combine travel, beauty, well-being and technology. We will leave specifically for skin and wellness treatments. The trend is especially popular among Gen Z, with the goal of returning home with glowing, healthier skin. According to reports from Booking.com, the percentage of global travelers ready to plan holidays entirely dedicated to personalized skincare treatments reaches 81% and 59% of travelers are willing to rely on artificial intelligence to identify the ideal destinations for their dermatological needs.
Read also: With K-pop there is also K-beauty: is everyone on holiday in South Korea?
Multigenerational travel, also known as "3G vacations" (grandparents, parents and grandchildren), represents one of the strongest and growing trends in the tourism industry. SkyScanner numbers confirmed this. In the last two years, 33% of Generation Z adults traveled with their parents while 16% of Millennials traveled with their children and parents. Among the main reasons are the desire to deepen family bonds, create lasting memories and celebrate major milestones such as anniversaries. Savings count: Large groups benefit from more discounts, and parents sometimes pay for their adult children. Three-generation trips will therefore continue at the end of 2026 and the beginning of 2027, together with the so-called skip-gen (literally "skipping a generation") in which grandparents travel with their grandchildren and leave mum and dad at home.
Read also: Heritage travel, traveling in search of one's origins
