From AI Planning to “Nanocations,” What Travel Will Look Like in 2026

From AI Planning to “Nanocations,” What Travel Will Look Like in 2026

Travelers are heading into 2026 with new priorities and fresh strategies, shaking off traditional vacation patterns as they chase authentic experiences, flexibility and value, according to KAYAK’s WTF: What the Future Report 2026.

New Data Shows How Travelers Are Using AI to Plan and Book Trips, And It’s Not What You Think

The travel industry has spent years trading opinions about what AI will do to planning and booking. No more hypotheticals. New research by TakeUp, The Rise of AI Planned Travel in 2026, based on a survey of 300 US leisure travelers, shows the shift is already influencing real booking behavior: 78% of travelers who use AI say they’ve booked travel primarily based on an AI recommendation.