2026 Travel Trends: What Families Are Doing Differently This Year

American Express just released their 2026 Global Travel Trends Report, and it's full of exciting news for families who love to explore together. Here are the two biggest trends shaping how families are traveling this year — and how you can take advantage of them.

1. Miles on Milestones: Turning Celebrations Into Adventures

The report reveals that travelers are increasingly using life milestones — destination weddings, family reunions, milestone birthdays, and anniversaries — as the perfect excuse to plan an unforgettable trip. And they're not just attending the event; they're extending the celebration into a full vacation.

For families, this trend is especially powerful. Think about it: instead of flying across the country for a single weekend reunion, why not turn it into a week-long adventure? We're seeing more and more families book a few extra days before or after a big event to explore the destination together — whether that's a beach week after a cousin's wedding in Hawaii or a national park road trip following a family reunion in Colorado.

Pro tip: If you have a milestone celebration coming up in 2026, let's talk about how to build a full family vacation around it. The best accommodations near popular event venues book up fast!

2. "Sight-Doing" Over Sightseeing: Hands-On Cultural Experiences

This is our favorite trend of the year. According to the report, 79% of Millennials and Gen Z say they're likely to seek out local workshops and hands-on activities specific to their destination in 2026. Today's travelers don't just want to see a place — they want to experience it.

Examples the report highlights include:

• Tortilla-making classes in Mexico City
• Fragrance workshops in Paris
• Local craft and cooking experiences tailored to the destination

For families, this is a game-changer. Kids who might roll their eyes at another museum visit light up when they get to make their own pasta in Italy, learn a traditional dance in Hawaii, or craft their own souvenir in a local workshop. These hands-on experiences create the kind of memories that last a lifetime — and they're often the highlight of the trip in kids' travel journals.

What This Means for Your Next Family Trip

Both of these trends point to the same thing: travel in 2026 is about going deeper, not just farther. Whether you're planning around a milestone celebration or looking for hands-on cultural experiences your kids will never forget, the key is intentional planning.

That's where we come in. As your family travel advisor, we can help you:

• 🎉 Build a vacation around your next milestone celebration
• 🎨 Book hands-on cultural experiences tailored to your destination and your kids' ages
• 🏨 Secure the best accommodations before they sell out
• ✈️ Handle all the logistics so you can focus on making memories

Ready to start planning your family's 2026 adventure? Reach out to us — we'd love to help you turn this year's travel trends into your family's next unforgettable story.