The news: Chase released its list of anticipated top travel and dining trends for 2026, per a press release.
Diving into the trends:
- Hit the road. 94% of Chase travel survey participants said they are interested in road trips—including on Route 66, which will celebrate its centennial in 2026.
- New York or nowhere. Chase predicted the Big Apple’s influence will continue to shine, given the New York power of the food scene to shape local and national trends and the surge of new shops, restaurants, and hotels reshaping the narrative of the city.
- All natural. Hunger for grand natural landscapes is surging: 87% of Chase’s survey respondents indicated that they want to chase natural phenomena in their travels.
- Premium dining. Consumers’ passion for little luxuries and wellness bleeds into the restaurant space as diners look for “premium casual” spots and trendy, brand-backed cafes.
- Infrastructure overhauls. New air routes, airports, ferries, and cruise links are expanding realistic travel destinations. 37% of Boomers surveyed called out new direct flights as incentives to visit certain destinations.
- Events-forward. Travel for an experience—sports, tournaments, festivals, or concerts—will influence travelers’ movement next year. 88% of those surveyed said a major experience drove their travel plans.
What issuers can do: Make booking and financing travel simple when trying to capture millennial and Gen Z travel spend.