The world feels unsettled: the dollar is dipping, AI is reshaping jobs, and burnout feels like the new normal. Yet Canadians aren’t staying grounded. Flight Centre Canada is declaring 2026 the Year of R&R Travel—reconnection and renewal—unveiling 10 trends that show how resilient Canadians are adapting. Tourism momentum is already strong. Canadians took more than 77 million trips in the first quarter of 2025 alone, while tourism GDP grew 1.3% in the second quarter, according to StatsCan.
“For Canadians, resilience is no longer about staying put. It’s about getting up, getting out and finding meaning,” says Amra Durakovic, director of communications for Flight Centre Travel Group Canada. “We’re seeing travel evolve from something people do to get away to something they do for recovery—a deliberate reset for their mental, emotional and social well-being.”
Flight Centre’s Top 10 Travel Trends for 2026
- Canada Strong: With 81% of Canadians saying exchange rates drive their choices, travellers are favouring destinations where the loonie holds strong. From Banff to Bangkok, resilient Canadians are stretching their dollar while steering away from U.S. trips, which StatsCan says have dropped for seven straight months.
- Wellness Revolution: Nearly 58% of Canadians use travel to de-stress and they’re chasing wellness in every form: digital detoxes, burnout retreats, sound baths and more. In 2026, their growing need to recharge will bolster the wellness tourism industry, whose value is expected to reach US$9-trillion by 2028.
- Adventure Rising: Globally, adventure and active exploration now account for 55% of Flight Centre bookings with travellers looking to get out of their comfort zones. They’re opting for wilderness stays, Arctic cruises and treks from Patagonia to the Australian outback—a shift toward outdoor experiences that reward growth over excess.
- Roots Routes: Many Canadians are looking back as much as looking forward with tourists increasingly visiting places tied to their family history or cultural roots. Growth is currently strongest in diaspora markets such as Ireland, Italy, the Philippines and Eastern Europe.
- Solo Surge: In 2025, solo travellers made up 37% of all Flight Centre bookings, averaging 19 days on the road—the longest of any group. Women are leading the movement, embracing the freedom to explore the world on their own terms.
- Legacy Journeys: Nearly one in three (27%) boomers will use retirement savings to pay for once-in-a-lifetime trips. These aren’t just holidays—they’re chances to reconnect across distances and renew traditions through shared experiences.
- Family Edutainment: Millennials travelling with children are trading beach resorts for culturally rich experiences that double as “edutainment.” Families are exploring places like the Galapagos Islands or Berlin’s art scene to instill wonder and curiosity.
- Hooked on Hobbidays: Niche hobbies are cooler than ever and are fueling a rise in hobby holidays that allow travellers to pursue a passion—from pickleball to birdwatching (think: the micro-safari). Interest-focused travel like literary and sports tourism now accounts for 10% of the tourism market.
- Work Meets Play: Nearly two in three Canadians (63%) are blending business and leisure to improve work-life balance, save money or bond with colleagues-turned-friends (a.k.a. frolleagues). The result? Growth in short-stay add-ons near conference hubs such as Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Las Vegas and New York.
- Respectful Roaming: With 71% of Canadians concerned about overtourism and 53% prioritizing environmental impact, Canadians are showing up differently—travelling with care, respect and responsibility.
As Canadians head into another uncertain year, Flight Centre predicts travel will remain one of the few constants—a way to find resilience, reconnection and renewal in a world that needs it most.
