If early searches are any indicator, travelers are ready to make 2026 count. With airfare remaining steady, Europe is drawing more interest and a few surprising hotspots are emerging. We analyzed our flight searches to uncover the biggest trends shaping travel in 2026. Here’s what to know before you start planning.
2026 travel at a glance.
Canadian flight interest for travel in 2026 is up 6% vs. 2025. Domestic and international airfare are on par with 2025.
Hotel interest is up 2% in 2026 compared to 2025. Domestic and international hotel rates are holding steady vs. 2025.
Rental car interest is down 4% vs. 2025. Domestic rental car rates are holding steady while international rates are down 4%.
Europe is the star of 2026.
Europe continues to dominate Canadian travel interest at the moment, with a 24% increase in regional interest overall. But 2026’s biggest story as of now isn’t Paris or London, it’s the rise of next-wave European cities that offer culture, strong value and expanding flight connectivity.
KAYAK’s top trending destinations for 2026.
These destinations saw the strongest YoY growth in flight interest, signaling where travelers are most eager to go next.
Asia is the best long-haul deal of the year.
If finding a good deal is driving your travel decisions, Asia is where Canadians are currently seeing the biggest win in 2026 with an overall 10% drop in airfare. When we look even closer at destinations, some of the best deals of the year can also be found in Asia.
Across all flight searches, these were the destinations where airfare dropped the most, making them smart picks for value-driven travelers.
Canadians love Canada in 2026.
For those looking to stay on budget, here are the most affordable domestic cities to visit in 2026.
The Caribbean remains in high demand.
A sneak peek at summer trends.
Summer may still be a ways off, but travelers are already planning, and the early data is painting a good picture of what the season will most likely look like. Here are the biggest insights shaping summer 2026 so far:
Interest is up, prices are down.
Overall summer flight interest is up 20%, while domestic airfare is down 19% and international airfare is currently down 2% vs summer 2025.
Canadians are already finding major summer ’26 deals.
Summer airfare to Asia is down 21% at the moment, and to Europe down 10%, fueling early deals to places like Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Tokyo and Reykjavik. Even domestic hubs like Vancouver (-23%) and Calgary (-19%) are trending cheaper, signaling a more affordable summer travel season.
Canadians are trading “classics” for alternative destinations.
Poland (+182%), Egypt (+61%) and the Netherlands (+59%) are seeing the biggest jumps in summer flight searches, pointing to rising interest in deeper cultural experiences and alternative European gateways.
Searching earlier pays off, but so does exploring beyond the usual picks. With new routes expanding destination accessibility and prices shifting downward, now’s the perfect time to start searching on KAYAK, set a Price Alert and see where 2026 takes you.
Methodology
Based on searches made on KAYAK in the period between 4.1.2025 and 9.30.2025 for travel between 1.1.2026 and 12.31.2026. They were compared to searches made in the period between 4.1.2024 and 9.30.2024 with the travel period between 1.1.2025 and 12.31.2025. Flight prices are average prices for economy, return tickets. Hotel prices are average for 1 night in a standard double room. Rental car prices are daily averages. Prices may vary and savings cannot be guaranteed. Percentages for changes in searches and prices are approximate.
Based on flight searches made on KAYAK in the period between 6.1.2025 and 11.15.2025 for flights with departure between 5.14.2026 and 9.9.2026 from any CA airport. They were compared to searches made in the period between 6.1.2024 and 11.15.2024 with the travel period between 5.15.2025 and 9.3.2025. All prices are average prices for economy, return tickets. Prices may vary and savings cannot be guaranteed. Percentages for changes in searches and prices are approximate.
