Gen Z is no longer the future traveler. They are the benchmark. And if you want a glimpse of where travel is heading next, the latest insights from Skyscanner make one thing clear: 2026 will be shaped by identity, algorithms, and a deep hunger for meaning.

Based on millions of searches and a global survey of 22,000 travelers, Skyscanner’s 2026 Travel Trends report reads less like a traditional forecast and more like a cultural snapshot. Gen Z is not chasing postcards or ticking off landmarks. They are curating experiences that reflect who they are, what they value, and how they want to be seen, both online and offline.

This generation does not separate travel from self-expression. Trips are extensions of personal identity, social life, wellness routines, and even dating strategies. And unlike older generations, Gen Z has no hesitation letting technology, especially AI, take the wheel.

Gen Z travel mindset in 2026

For Gen Z, travel is intentional. Instead of aspirational bucket lists, they plan trips around passions like beauty, food culture, outdoor solitude, and local rituals. Viral internet culture plays a central role. BookTok recommendations, GRWM videos, and TikTok food trends are not just entertainment. They are discovery engines.

Nearly three-quarters of Gen Z travelers say they are confident using AI to plan and book trips in 2026. That confidence matters. It changes how destinations are discovered, how brands surface, and how decisions are made. AI is not replacing inspiration. It is accelerating it.

Inside Gen Z travel: the trends shaping 2026

Glowmads

Beauty tourism has moved from niche to mainstream, driven largely by Gen Z. Forty percent plan to seek out beauty treatments or skincare shopping while traveling next year. TikTok is the ignition point. A single viral clip from Seoul, Paris, or Tokyo can now inspire a flight search within minutes. Compared to Baby Boomers, Gen Z is significantly more likely to prioritize beauty experiences abroad, signaling a shift toward travel as self-care and cultural immersion at the same time.

Catch flights and feelings

Travel has become social currency, and not just for posting. Seventy-four percent of Gen Z travelers say they are using travel to meet people outside their local circles. New cities feel safer for self-expression. One third say they are more open to connection while traveling, whether romantic or platonic. In a post-pandemic world shaped by remote work and dating fatigue, travel is becoming a reset button for social life.

Shelf discovery

Supermarket tourism is no longer ironic. Nearly one in three Gen Z travelers plan to visit supermarkets abroad on their next trip. The appeal is authenticity. Local snacks, unfamiliar brands, and everyday rituals. TikTok trends around Japanese convenience stores or European chocolate aisles show how mundane spaces have become cultural attractions. This is curiosity without curation. And it reflects a broader Gen Z preference for lived-in experiences over polished ones.

Family miles

Gen Z is also reshaping multigenerational travel. More than half travel with parents, while over a quarter travel with grandparents. Affordability plays a role, but the deeper driver is connection. Shared memories, shared costs, shared time. This trend challenges the stereotype of Gen Z as hyper-independent and suggests a more collective approach to travel planning.

Altitude shift

Mountains are no longer seasonal escapes. Fifty-eight percent of Gen Z travelers are turning to mountain destinations year-round for peace and restoration. Places like the Dolomites, the Canadian Rockies, and Annapurna are attracting visitors outside ski season. The appeal is silence, scenery, and distance from digital noise. Ironically, these trips are often inspired online but designed to disconnect once on location.

Beach 2.0

Classic beach holidays are being redefined. Destinations like Madeira, Zadar, Olbia, and Mykonos are trending because they combine scenery with activity. More than half of Gen Z travelers are interested in beach trips, but over a third plan to add wild swimming, paddleboarding, snorkeling, or surfing. Passive lounging is out. Active exploration is in.

Tech-forward travelers

Seventy-two percent of Gen Z say they are confident using AI for travel planning. That number is transformative. Gen Z relies on smart tools to find deals, build itineraries, and discover destinations they might never have searched for manually. Social media, AI recommendations, and price prediction tools are now interconnected. Travel planning has become dynamic, fast, and highly personalized.

What this means for the travel industry

Skyscanner’s data confirms a shift that many platforms are racing to adapt to. Inspiration is algorithmic. Loyalty is fluid. And experience matters more than brand legacy. This puts pressure on traditional players and opens doors for agile platforms that understand Gen Z behavior.

Compared to competitors like Google Travel, Booking.com, or Expedia, Skyscanner’s strength lies in its search-first, partner-agnostic approach. By analyzing intent through searches rather than transactions alone, it captures early signals of behavior change. Meanwhile, social-first platforms like TikTok are becoming unofficial travel engines, forcing established players to integrate discovery earlier in the funnel.

We are also seeing overlap with trends reported by sources like Phocuswright, McKinsey, and Euromonitor, all of which highlight Gen Z’s preference for personalization, values-driven travel, and technology-led decision making. Skyscanner’s report adds texture by showing how those preferences translate into real destination choices and behaviors.

Conclusion

Gen Z is not just influencing travel trends. They are rewriting the rules. Travel in 2026 will be less about where you go and more about why you go, who you become there, and how seamlessly technology supports the journey. Platforms that succeed will be the ones that understand travel as culture, not just commerce.

Skyscanner’s data shows a generation comfortable letting AI guide them, confident mixing self-care with exploration, and intentional about connection, whether with people, places, or themselves. Compared to older generations, Gen Z travels lighter, faster, and with fewer assumptions. Compared to previous digital natives, they are more reflective about what travel means.

For the industry, the message is clear. Stop selling destinations. Start enabling stories. For Gen Z, travel is no longer an escape from real life. It is where real life happens.