British travel trends are changing and young people are becoming increasingly more adveturous and hungry to travel. According to ABTA’s new Travel Trends for 2026 report 25-34 year olds are the Travel Trendsetters – shaping travel for years to come, and September an increasingly popular month for overseas travel. 25-34 year olds have been dubbed the Travel Trendsetters by ABTA as they are the most prolific in their holiday taking, and place huge value on their breaks.
Around five in six (84%) of this group are planning to travel overseas in the next 12 months, well above the average of 70%. We also know from their travels this year that they take more holidays than anyone else – an average 5.5 holidays overall, including 2.2 abroad. This is backed up by their commitment to splash their cash on travel – with almost half (49%) planning to spend more on their holidays in the next year.
It’s perhaps no surprise, given how much this group values time away, that 83% say holidays are the most important time of the year, more than any other age group (average is 65%). They also place more importance on what holidays can do for their mental health and wellbeing, with 90% saying they are important for this reason versus the average of 80%.
In terms of the holidays they are taking, cruises are popular among this age group, with 19% taking one in the last 12 months, more than any other age group, including the over 65s (16%). This reflects the changing nature of cruise, with companies expanding their itineraries, activities and on-board facilities to appeal to a range of markets.
Also featured in the new report is the rise of ‘Super September’. The intention to travel during September has increased by seven percentage points over the last three years, from 17% in 2023 to 24% in 2025, outstripping the main summer months, and the trajectory is expected to continue into 2026.
ABTA says September is becoming more popular as people appreciate it as a good time to explore Europe and beyond, knowing that great weather is still likely, as well as good value breaks available. It also says that, with travellers increasingly looking to add a bit of adventure to their holidays – such as cycling and hiking – September can be a more suitable time to do so than the hottest summer months.
Graeme Buck, Director of Communications at ABTA – The Travel Association, said: “Travel is a constantly evolving industry – presenting both opportunities and challenges for our members. What is clear from our research is that the demand to travel remains strong - with more people looking to travel abroad on holiday in 2026.
“The way people are travelling is changing, whether that’s embracing different types of trips or times of year to travel. ABTA travel companies are responding to these changing demands – working to make people’s holiday wishes a reality, all with the added peace of mind of being under the ABTA umbrella.”
These top trends and others for 2026 were released at ABTA’s annual Travel Trends conference alongside a variety of the latest industry insights from other speakers.
ABTA’s list of Travel Trends for 2026 are:
1) Super September – Travelling abroad on holiday in this month is increasingly popular
2) Travel Trendsetters – 25–34-year-olds are shaping why, how, where and when we travel
3) Rail-ly Good – Younger adults discovering the joys of train and interrailing holidays
4) The Longest Haul – Exploring destinations the furthest away from home as possible
5) Cruise Goes Long and Short – Appetite grows for very short and much longer itineraries