Ever been to the Albanian Riviera? How about Botswana? Or the Dolomites? According to a recent report from Chase, all three are trending destinations for 2026 travel. The food outlet Infatuation, one of the financial institution’s subsidiaries, also released the restaurant trends we can expect to see — and combined, the intel offers intriguing dining and travel predictions for the coming year.
Chase’s “26 trips to take in 2026” is based on booking data, consumer surveys, expert insight, and more, and it features locations across the globe, from Portland, Oregon, to Osaka, Japan. According to Hillary Reinsberg, head of the company’s travel and lifestyle content, there’s a clear theme tying the different places together.
“In our hyper-connected world, we are seeing travelers drawn to off-the-beaten-path destinations that let them experience unspoiled nature,” Reinsberg told ABC News. “Hotel and tourism development in places like Chile’s Atacama desert, the Canadian Arctic, the Caribbean island of Dominica, and Sri Lanka demonstrate a growing interest in overseas national parks and exploring unique corners of the planet.”
Chile’s Atacama desert, the driest on the planet, after an unusual amount of rainfall led to a flower explosion in 2025
Keep reading to learn more about what 2026 might have in store for diners and travelers.
Dining
Caesar Salads Are Getting Creative
Nothing beats a classic Caesar salad, right? Wrong, according to the many eateries adding some extra flair to the menu item. “Invented for presumably picky American tourists in Tijuana in the 1920s,” per Infatuation, the salad is getting tossed with numerous non-traditional ingredients at restaurants across the U.S., including tahini and miso at Loudmouth in Austin; dried bonito, nori, and trout roe at Kojin in Miami; and even a sprinkling of Goldfish crackers straight from the bag at My Friend Derek’s in Seattle.
I Saw It on TV
TikTok restaurant reviews are racking up views, and pop culture also continues to be one of the biggest influencers at the table. Seventy-one percent of survey respondents said they choose to eat at places because the locations were featured in a TV show or visited by a celeb or social media influencer, per ABC News.
@keith_lee125 Lala Land Reserve taste test 💕 would you try it ? 💕 #foodcritic
♬ original sound – Keith Lee
On the traveling side, 33% reported that seeing a location in a movie or series has prompted them to book the same spot. (We call this the “White Lotus effect.”)
Little Luxuries Make a Big Difference
Consumers are prioritizing the little things in their dining experiences — the little luxurious things, that is. Chase calls this the “premiumification of everything” when it comes to food and drinks, from matcha shops to takeout sushi.
“Little luxuries and wellness continue to blur with dining, as consumers seek indulgence with intention,” the financial institution wrote in a press release, adding: “81% of survey respondents say they’re drawn to ‘premium casual’ spots — paying more for simple food made with high-quality ingredients — while 71% are into ‘fashionable lattes’: coffee shops and cafés launched by streetwear and lifestyle brands.”
Early Dinners Are In
An 8:30 p.m. dinner? Not this winter, said nearly half of survey respondents: 46% prefer to eat earlier in the cold months.
“More people are back in the office and likely heading straight to dinner after work. It’s also easier to get a table earlier in the evening, you can save with happy hour menus,” Arden Shore, editor in chief of Infatuation, told ABC News. “Restaurants are adapting, with many of our Best New Restaurants of 2025 now opening for dinner as early as 4 p.m. and expanding their happy hour offerings.”
Traveling
Bring on the Road Trip
Per Chase, 94% of survey respondents said they were interested in going on a road trip — and the banking company included Route 66, which celebrates its centennial next year, in its travel roundup.
“As electric vehicle charging stations expand along the historic highway, centennial events and classic car celebrations are being reimagined with eco-friendly road-trippers in mind — merging nostalgia with sustainability for the ultimate American road trip,” the press release reads.
Hotels Are Hip
Over half of respondents told Chase they booked trips based on visiting a specific hotel or resort, and 39% said they were interested in doing so — meaning “hotels are the new landmarks,” as ABC News put it.
“Gig-Tripping” Across the Globe
Attending certain events — such as sports games, concerts (looking at you, Swifties), and festivals — have also informed where people choose to travel: 81% said they were influenced by an athletic match or tournament while 88% cited music festivals or concerts as a factor.
The Wonder of Nature
Aside from human-centered events, travelers are making their way around the world in pursuit of natural wonders, like The Great European Solar Eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026, or whale-watching excursions in Dominica. The vast majority of respondents (87%) told Chase they “want to chase natural phenomena through their travels.”
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