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Are you already dreaming of trips in 2027, but aren’t sure where to go? New data has revealed the top trending destinations for the upcoming year, and it makes for interesting reading.
Statistics from Advantage Travel Partnership, a UK-based consortium of independent travel businesses, have tipped Albania as the destination to watch for 2027, thanks in part to its stunning beaches and solid value for money.
Further afield, the data showed that Hong Kong, Egypt and Vietnam are likely to be popular next year, too.
The findings show that the busy sporting calendar will have a significant influence on travel in 2027, with the Ryder Cup in Ireland, the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, and the Men’s Rugby World Cup in Australia set to drive bookings.
The solar eclipse in North Africa and Spain is also attracting plenty of interest from astronomy-loving travellers.
Summer 2026 booking trends
The travel body’s data also looked at trends from this year, which could well influence 2027’s patterns.
For British travellers, Spain came out on top in summer 2026, with Tenerife, Mallorca and the Costa Blanca revealed as the most popular short-haul destinations. Lanzarote, the Costa del Sol and Antalya in Türkiye were also popular options for shorter-haul trips.
In terms of long-haul travel, New York, Orlando, Jamaica and Thailand topped the charts of the most booked destinations.
Due to the conflict in the Middle East, travellers who would originally have visited that region opted instead for trips to the USA, the Caribbean and the Far East. The USA saw a further boom in visitors thanks to World Cup fever.
While family holiday bookings dipped around Easter, likely because of the conflict, they were up some 5% in the summer and in the October school break, too.
Touring holidays gain popularity
The data showed that touring holidays – trips where you travel along a planned route through a region or country, moving from place to place to see multiple destinations rather than staying in just one spot – were a major area of growth from 2025 to 2026.
South Africa, Kenya and Japan have been particularly popular as long-haul destinations as travellers hunt for experiences centred around wildlife, culture and exploration.
Closer to home, Italy, France and Spain were seen to be leading the short-haul touring market.
“Touring has been a real growth story for us in 2026. People are looking beyond a traditional fly-and-flop holiday and increasingly want to see and experience a destination properly,” John Sullivan, Commercial Director at Advantage, said.
For next year, he tipped China, Indonesia and South America as destinations to watch.
In 2025, China eased entry restrictions for citizens from 74 countries – including many European nations – who can now enter the country for up to 30 days without a visa.
That move, Sullivan said, will help to “shine the light on the incredible cuisine, culture and nature of the expansive country”.