Travel in 2025 isn’t just about where people go — it’s about why they go, who they travel with, and how they expect the experience to unfold.
Across the industry, four clear patterns are reshaping the landscape:
For operators, agents, and group travel organizers planning into 2026, these aren’t just interesting trends to watch. They’re practical opportunities to engage new markets, stand out from the crowd, and design trips that travelers can’t stop talking about.
Let's take a closer look at each of these trends and how travel operators and agents can maximize their potential.
Concerts, festivals, and global events are no longer just “extras” — they’re reasons to travel. From Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres, to global sporting spectacles like the FIFA World Cup and Formula 1 Grand Prix, travelers are building entire trips around experiences they absolutely do not want to miss.
Travel operator tips:
Top Events Driving Travel in 2025-2026
Music
| Event | What is it | Where is it held |
| BLACKPINK — Deadline World Tour 2025–26 |
A record-breaking K-pop spectacle filling stadiums with energy, choreography, and global fandom. | Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand |
| Ed Sheeran — Loop Tour 2025–26 |
A global stadium tour from one of the world’s best-selling singer-songwriters, known for intimate yet epic live shows. | Global (Europe, Oceania, North America — ongoing announcements) |
| Lollapalooza 2026 | A high-energy multi-city music festival with global headliners and diverse lineups across continents. | Argentina, Brazil, Chile, France, Germany, India, USA |
| Tomorrowland 2026 |
An immersive electronic music experience where fantasy staging meets world-class DJs and dance culture. | Belgium, Thailand |
Culture & Festivals
| Event | What is it | Where is it held |
| Riyadh Season 2025–26 |
A months-long mega festival blending concerts, sports, arts, and cultural showcases. |
Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) |
| Carnival / Mardi Gras 2026 | Iconic pre-Lenten parades, samba street parties, and masquerade traditions drawing millions. |
Brazil (Rio), Italy (Venice), USA (New Orleans), Trinidad & Tobago |
| Oktoberfest 2026 |
The world’s largest beer festival with Bavarian tents, music, and parades. |
Germany (Munich) |
| The Edinburgh Festival Fringe | The world’s biggest open-access arts festival across comedy, theatre, and music. |
Scotland (Edinburgh) |
Sports
| Event | What is it | Where is it held |
| T20 Cricket World Cup 2026 | Cricket’s premier international tournament, bringing together top teams and a passionate global following. |
India, Sri Lanka |
| FIFA World Cup 2026 |
The world’s biggest sporting event, uniting nations through football with matches across three host countries. |
Canada, Mexico,USA |
| Formula 1 Grand Prix Season 2026 |
A thrilling motorsport championship with iconic global circuits, luxury experiences, and growing fan culture. |
Australia, China, Japan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, USA, Monaco, Spain, Canada, UK, Belgium, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Singapore, Mexico, Brazil, Qatar, UAE |
Baby Boomers and Gen X retirees aren’t slowing down — they’re stepping into travel with curiosity, resources, and the freedom of flexible schedules. This growing segment is seeking trips that balance accessibility and comfort with authentic cultural experiences, making them one of the most powerful forces shaping travel demand in 2025–26.
Travel operator tips:
Top Senior Travel Trends in 2025-2026
| Experience / Trip Type | Travel Style / Focus | Why Seniors Love It |
| European River Cruises | Slow travel | Comfortable journeys along the Rhine, Danube, and Seine let travelers enjoy castles, vineyards, and historic towns at a gentle pace. |
| Wellness & Spa Retreats | Health & leisure | From Bali’s luxury spas to Kerala’s Ayurvedic retreats and hot spring resorts in Japan, these trips combine rest, rejuvenation, and cultural traditions. |
| Cultural Immersion Tours | History & heritage | Small-group tours in Italy, Greece, Japan, and Mexico offer hands-on cooking, walking tours, and heritage experiences without the rush. |
| Accessible Safari Lodges | Wildlife & adventure | South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, and Botswana now feature lodges and guided safaris designed for comfort and accessibility — bucket-list wildlife, made easier. |
| Northern Lights Travel | Nature & adventure | Guided trips in Norway, Iceland, Canada, and Finland let older travelers experience the aurora with cozy accommodations and curated itineraries. |
| Mediterranean Off-Season Escapes | Sun & leisure | Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Turkey offer mild weather, fewer crowds, and better value in the shoulder season — perfect for longer, slower stays. |
As iconic cities strain under over tourism, travelers are turning to longtail destinations — places that feel authentic, less crowded, and more affordable. From fjord adventures in Norway to wine country in Georgia, these emerging destinations are climbing fast on the global radar, offering unique experiences without the saturation of traditional hotspots.
Travel operator tips:
Emerging Longtail Destinations to Watch in 2025-2026
| Destination | Travel Style / Focus | Why It's Rising |
| Albania | Coastal & cultural travel | Undiscovered Riviera beaches and Ottoman towns deliver the Mediterranean charm of Greece or Croatia — but with fewer crowds and lower prices. |
| Bolivia | Nature & adventure | The surreal Salar de Uyuni salt flats and high-altitude Andes treks create jaw-dropping landscapes, luring adventurers seeking something beyond Peru or Chile. |
| Tunisia | Heritage & beach travel | Ancient Roman ruins and sun-soaked Mediterranean coasts offer a cultural blend that feels both exotic and affordable — a quieter rival to Morocco and Egypt. |
| Namibia |
Wildlife & desert landscapes | Stark desert beauty, the Skeleton Coast, and Etosha safaris make Namibia a rising star for travelers craving offbeat wilderness experiences. |
| Colombia | Urban & coastal travel | Medellín’s innovation and Cartagena’s Caribbean charm combine with rich coffee regions, positioning Colombia as a dynamic alternative to Mexico or Costa Rica. |
| Georgia | Wine & culture | With Tbilisi’s historic charm and Kakheti’s vineyards, Georgia is fast becoming an emerging hub for wine lovers — offering authenticity Europe’s hotspots can’t. |
| Oman | Desert & coastal adventure | Wahiba Sands and Muscat’s coastline deliver an authentic Arabian experience — calmer and more immersive than Dubai or Qatar. |
| Philippines (emerging islands) |
Beach & island hopping | Palawan and Siargao are rising as must-visit islands, drawing travelers with pristine beaches and laid-back vibes that rival Bali and Thailand without the chaos. |
AI is no longer a buzzword — it’s becoming the backbone of how trips are designed. From personalized itineraries to faster admin, AI is helping operators deliver the kind of seamless, tailored experiences that travelers now expect. It’s less about the tech itself, and more about what it enables: more time for human connection, better anticipation of needs, and trips that feel made-to-measure.
Travel operator tips:
AI Prompts You Can Use Right Now
You don’t need a big tech team to start making AI work for you. YouLi’s free resource — The Ultimate Prompt Playbook for Retreat Leaders and Travel Planners — gives you 15 practical, ready-to-use prompts, including how to:
….and much more.
Travel in 2025–26 is full of opportunity — from event-driven itineraries and senior explorers to longtail destinations and AI-powered personalization. But with opportunity comes higher expectations. Travelers now want more flexibility, more personalization, and more transparency — and that means operators need to think differently about how they design, market, and deliver trips.
What this means for travel operators:
Why it matters:
At YouLi, we believe in helping travel organizers adapt quickly to change — with tools that scale as you do, so you don’t have to rethink your platform in a year or two.
Want to know if YouLi is the right platform for you? Start exploring with a free Explorer account, or join a live demo for a guided walkthrough.