Reconnection and renewal among top travel trends for 2026

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Travel trends for 2026 are predicted to give R&R a whole new meaning. Flight Center of Canada

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The company believes Canadians are ready to redefine what sustainability means when it comes to travel.

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“For Canadians, sustainability is no longer about staying put. It's about getting up, getting out and finding meaning,” Amra Durakovic, director of communications for Flight Center Travel Group Canada, said in a statement.

“We're seeing travel transform from something people do to escape to something they do for recovery—an intentional reset of their mental, emotional and social well-being.”

With unpredictable economic times making life stressful for many, and other factors such as artificial intelligence changing the job market, Canadians are feeling more burned out than ever before.

Canadians have packed their bags and escaped real life in 2025, and that won't change as tourism momentum remains strong, the company said.

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The data shows that Canadians took more than 77 million trips in the first quarter of 2025 alone. Statistics Canadawhile tourism GDP grew by 1.3% in the second quarter.

But now Canadians are ready to travel with a greater sense of purpose.

HEALTH? CHECK!

More than half (58%) of Canadians use travel to relax and de-stress, seeking wellness in any form, be it digital detoxes, burnout retreats or sound baths.

In 2026, Flight Canada expects the growing demand for fuel to support the wellness tourism industry, which is expected to reach $12.6 trillion annually by 2028.

ADVENTURE AWAITS

More than half of travelers (55%) are looking to step out of their comfort zone, opting for wilderness holidays and outdoor experiences, from Arctic cruises to treks from Patagonia to the Australian outback.

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BUSINESS AND PLEASURE

Nearly two-thirds of Canadians (63%) are extending work and time off as a trade-off to improve work-life balance, save money and bond with colleagues-turned-friends.
Flight Center has found an increase in value-added short-stay services near convention centers such as Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Las Vegas and New York.

SEARCHING FOR ROOTS

Many Canadians look back on their history with a growing desire to visit places connected to their family and cultural roots, with Ireland, Italy, the Philippines and Eastern Europe being the strongest in diaspora markets.

Playful holiday

Interest-based travel, such as sports and literary-sports tourism, now accounts for 10% of the tourism market, be it pickleball or birdwatching (think micro-safari).

USA CONTINUES TO BE THE LAST RESORT

When it comes to tariffs and exchange rates, most Canadians (81%) still prefer to avoid America.

But they are also finding ways to spend their money to not only stay in Canada and visit places like Banff, but also find new destinations abroad such as Bangkok, Thailand.

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