From the Rockies to Morocco, Canadian travel trends are taking off in a new and exciting way this year. After years of pandemic-era trips and shifting economic realities, new data suggests that 2026 travel is becoming more personal and purposeful than ever before.
Here’s a look at five major trends emerging this year!
1. Travel Smarter, not less
The desire to experience new people, places and things is intrinsically human. It reminds of the scope of human creativity and nuance that rewards our curiosity and craving for learning.
Economic factors, tariff disputes and the trauma of a global pandemic are major obstacles to travel. However, despite inflation and higher costs, Canadians are optimizing how they plan and spend.
Canadians are increasingly using artificial-intelligence tools and digital platforms to compare price deals, plan itineraries, and identify alternatives outside traditional hotspots.
AI is an effective way to condense an abundance of information into manageable amounts. It helps travellers find deals and opportunities faster.
This trend reflects a broader shift toward intentional planning over impulse bookings. Balancing value with unique experiences is becoming more of priority than grabbing the flashiest deal after one Google Search.
This doesn’t just help maintain holiday budgets. It feeds into smarter, more personalized journeys that put emphasis on why we travel, not just where.
As always, we recommend using AI with caution. Double check your facts before booking!
2. Decreased U.S. travel
One of the most striking shifts in Canadian travel behaviour is avoiding travel to the United States as a top destination.
This pattern is now several years in the making. Statistics Canada data shows Canadian trips to the U.S. have declined sharply between both road and air travel.
Canadians are continuing to choose travel within Canada and enriching parts of the world instead of the U.S.
Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe and parts of Asia are gaining traction. Vibrant coastal destinations like the Azores and Taiwan are emerging as unexpected favourites for Canadian tourists.
This shift reflects both a desire novelty and diversity as well as personal, political values
3. The rise of“Glo-mads”
Travel in 2026 is focusing heavily on self-care. Wellness travel continues to gain momentum, but this time with a futuristic twist.
A significant portion of Canadian travellers are open to wellness-centric “glow-cations”.
These trips centre on personal rejuvenation through advanced tech-treatments like skin-optimized experiences, circadian-aligned sleep suites, and customized hydration rituals.
This trend taps into the idea that health and leisure aren’t separate. Instead, travel becomes a transformative reset, offering benefits than traditional beach lounging or sightseeing.
As a side note, those kinds of trips can be taxing in a different way for certain personality types. For the free-spirited adventure-seekers of the world, having a lot of appointments and needing to exercise heavy discpline while travelling could feel overwhelming and unsatisfying. The rest could trigger restlessness.
Ensure to thoroughly research “glow-cation” destination if this sounds appealing to you — and that it aligns with anyone you may be travelling with.
4. Cultural, historical, & literary journeys
Canadian travellers are increasingly choosing trips with meaning, not just miles.
Many are reconnecting with heritage by visiting places tied to family history and cultural roots.
This movement isn’t just anecdotal. Travel bookings show a spike in diaspora-destination searches, such as Ireland, Italy, and Eastern Europe.
At the same time, experiential travel is on the rise in novel ways. Nearly half of Canadians say they might choose a trip based on literature or storytelling.
This includes visiting places tied to beloved novels or planning holidays around bookish themes.
These trends reflect a curious, “slow travel” mindset focused on heritage, connection, and meaningful memories rather than short, infographic vacations.
5. Adventure, activity & excitement
The “read a book on the beach” template of travel is timeless but is becoming tired for many Canadians. As planning becomes more intentional. Canadian travellers are increasingly looking for stimulating adventures outdoors.
Interest and demand in mountain treks, hiking and immersive wilderness programmes is climbing.
Outdoor travel, whether in Canadian parks or far-flung natural landscapes, is a core driver for trip bookings. Mountain escapes are particularly popular, with travellers seeking serenity, nature communion, and physical challenges.
What travel trends have you noticed heading into 2026?
For more articles like this, click here.
