2026 Solo Travel Trends

We recently sent out a survey to better understand how solo travelers are thinking about travel in 2026. From booking timelines to destination wish lists, the results offer an early look at where (and how) people hope to travel next year.

Here’s what we learned.

Have Solo Travelers Planned Their 2026 Trips Yet?

If you haven’t booked your 2026 leisure trips, you’re not alone.

More than half of travelers (51%) said they have not booked any of their 2026 leisure trips yet.

Another 29% shared that they’ve booked some, but not all, of their trips, while only 20% said they’ve already booked all of their 2026 leisure travel.

But that doesn’t mean people don’t plan on traveling!

When asked how their travel plans compare to this year, 42.1% of travelers said they plan to travel more in 2026 than in 2025.

About half (49.4%) expect to travel about the same amount, and only 8.52% said they plan to travel less.

In other words: many travelers are still planning on taking trips in 2026 but they’re planning to book closer to their travel dates.

Trending Destinations: Where Do Solo Travelers Want to Go in 2026?

When it comes to bucket-list destinations for 2026, two regions tied for first place: Australia/Oceania and Asia. Europe followed closely behind in third place, with South America and Africa rounding out the top five.

This regional interest closely matched the most sought-after individual destinations for the year ahead. Australia, Japan, and New Zealand emerged as the top three countries overall.

Top 10 Countries Solo Travelers Want to Visit in 2026

What Are Solo Travelers Looking for in Their 2026 Trips?

When choosing where to go, solo travelers are prioritizing experiences over nightlife or party scenes.

The top reasons for selecting a destination were:

Nightlife ranked last, with only 13% of respondents saying it was a priority when deciding where to travel.

When asked what they’re hoping to get out of a trip, the most common response by far was simple: they just want to see the world. Nearly 74.6% selected this option.

Other motivations followed closely behind:

• Adventure: 44%

• Fun: 40%

• Connection: 35.5%

Meanwhile, personal growth (20.2%) and rest (15.1%) were the least-selected responses.

Where Are Solo Travelers Finding Travel Inspiration?

When it comes to travel inspiration, personal recommendations and visual platforms continue to lead the way.

The top two sources by a wide margin were:

• Friends and word of mouth: 65%

• Instagram: 63%

TikTok came in third, but with a much lower share – only 22% of respondents cited it as a primary source of travel inspiration.

How Long Do Solo Travelers Prefer to Travel?

Trip length preferences reveal a shift toward longer, more immersive travel in 2026 with a sweet spot for one-to two week trips.

When asked how long they prefer to be away, most solo travelers favored longer trips:

• 62.7% prefer trips lasting 8–14 days

• 61.4% prefer trips of 4–7 days

Short trips ranked far lower, with only 7.3% preferring 2–3 day getaways. Interest in extended travel exists but remains niche, with 7.6% selecting trips of two weeks or longer.

Overall, the data points to a growing preference for slow travel. Fewer trips, more time on the ground, and deeper experiences once travelers arrive.

Still Dreaming?

The travel trends survey shows that many solo travelers are still planning their 2026 trips rather than rushing to book. If you’re in that same place, you’re not alone!

Our Community Team at FTLO Travel would be happy to help ideate on where 2026 may take you. And if you haven’t already, our Travel Dreams Survey remains open, and we’d love to hear your thoughts.