Key 2026 Travel Dates for Travel Distributors
The what and where in the world of travel for this year.
The travel industry is fast-paced, with consumer trends that fluctuate with many external factors; but also, sometimes it's just hard for your clients to pin down where exactly they want to go.
So to help you navigate the next twelve months, and to help you exceed your clients’ expectations, we’ve compiled a list of key dates and events from around the world that are key to remember.
Bookmark this page and be sure to revisit any time your clients want to book an unforgettable, eventful escape.
To support your planning, you can find comprehensive travel products in our powerful Booking Engine, from memorable hotels in global destinations to immersive travel experiences, as well as car hire and transfers, to ensure your clients enjoy memorable, seamless travel experiences this year.
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So, here are some key 2026 travel event dates we think you should keep in mind...
Cultural Events: New Year’s Day, Global – January 1st
The beginning of the year remains a prime opportunity to capture travellers seeking fresh adventures and new experiences – with around 56% of all travellers looking for ‘the next best thing’, more interested travelling to destinations new-to-them rather than old favourites compared to two years; Gen Z and Millennials in particular are leading the charge here.
Today’s travellers seek authentic, unique experiences and prioritise meaningful connections with their chosen destinations. Therefore, you as travel distributors should incorporate these preferences when designing personalised itineraries for this year, and beyond.
With the global travel industry set to grow at a faster pace than the global economy in the next ten years, according to the WTM Global Travel Report in association with Tourism Economics, now is the optimal time to promote unique travel experiences aligned with New Year’s resolutions to travel more.
Sporting Events: Winter Olympic Games, Italy - February 6th – 22nd
Hosting the Winter Olympic Games in the Dolomites offers a significant booking window for travel distributors. The 2023 Summer Olympic Games in Greater Paris attracted over 11.2 million visitors, with 3 million staying overnight, underscoring the event’s potential to drive demand across flights, accommodations, and packages.
Promoting immersive local experiences, such as guided tours of the area, immersive dining, or experiences that highlight the local culture, can help your clients maximise their visit – all of which can be found in our time-saving, powerful Booking Engine.
Tip: This year’s Games coincides perfectly with Valentine’s Day, which offers a unique opportunity to encourage global travellers to maximise their time in this destination with loved ones, for a memorable trip outside the thrill of seeing the world’s best athletes compete.
In addition, the Winter Paralympic Games in the Dolomites from March 6th – 15th present a valuable opportunity to attract luxury travellers with the budget and availability to plan an extended trip that bridges these two prestigious events.
Leverage our Luxury Collection, a carefully curated portfolio featuring premium hotels with exclusive perks such as concierge services and VIP treatment, to facilitate personalised itineraries and memorable experiences.
Encourage clients to extend their stay in Italy to explore nearby regions, immersing themselves in the authentic local culture with a curated experience tailored to their personal preferences.
Sporting Events: Super Bowl LX, USA – February 8th
The Super Bowl remains one of the most lucrative sporting events globally, with last year’s event generating around $1.25 billion in economic activity across Louisiana. With out-of-state visitors who visited to attend the game spending around $5,500–$5,550 each, the event presents a lucrative opportunity for travel distributors to offer comprehensive packages – including transfers, local experiences and memorable stays that maximise your clients’ stay outside of this renowned event.
The halftime show, featuring international star Bad Bunny for 2026, further amplifies the event’s global appeal, with the fast-growing opportunities presented by music tourism. Following his recent residency announcement in Puerto Rico, flight interest surged over 7x from the previous week, primarily from US and LATAM markets.
The Super Bowl therefore presents a prime opportunity for travel sellers to capitalise on the rising demand for music tourism, alongside the sporting excitement, and offer tailored experiences that attract diverse travellers.
Cultural Events: Valentine’s Day, Global – February 14th
As one of the most widely celebrated days of love, Valentine’s Day takes on different meanings around the world and is an incredible opportunity for travel sellers to make the most of this increased demand for romantic getaways.
Whether it's a lantern-lit boat ride in Hoi An’s canals, an evening in awe over the Northern Lights in Finland, an Italian romance minus the crowds in the Dolomites, or even a cherry-blossom-filled stay in Okinawa, where Japan’s iconic blooms begin to decorate the scenery from February.
Top tip: South Korea took the idea of Valentine’s Day and really ran with it, celebrating the 14th of each month with a different kind of love or friendship-themed holiday! So for any clients looking to escape the crowds on Valentine’s Day but still celebrate, there’s plenty of opportunity here...
Discover some of the best alternative destinations for Valentine's Day here.
Cultural Events: Chinese New Year: China, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia – February 17th – March 3rd
As the Year of the Horse in 2026, Chinese New Year offers vibrant cultural tourism opportunities. Celebrations featuring fireworks, traditional foods, and festivals are prominent not only in China but also in Singapore, Malaysia, the UK, and Australia and more. In London alone, festivities are expected to attract large crowds, creating memorable experiences for both locals and visitors. Promoting cultural packages and festive experiences can attract both heritage-conscious and culturally curious travellers eager to experience this vibrant and culturally-rich observation.
Cultural Events: Ramadan, Global Muslim observation – February 17th – March 19th/20th
This significant religious observance drives increased travel activity for family reunions, cultural festivals, and special events. Early promotion of tailored packages and culturally sensitive offerings can help travel you as distributors capitalise on this high-demand period, especially in destinations with large Muslim populations. Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan and falling this year on the evening of March 19th-20th, typically sees members of the Muslim community on the move to be with loved ones during the three-day festivities.
Cultural Events - Sakura season, Japan – March – May
The iconic cherry blossom season remains a top draw for international travellers. Cities such as Kyoto, Tokyo, and Himeji attract millions of visitors eager to witness the fleeting beauty of sakura blooms. Promoting lesser-known viewing spots like Kawaguchiko or Kushiro, alongside cultural festivals such as Hana Mitsuri, can provide differentiated offerings.
Additionally, Hana Mitsuri, or the ‘Flower Festival,’ occurs during this period, celebrating Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death, symbolising the fleeting nature of life reflected in the transient cherry blossoms. This year, Hana Mitsuri falls on April 8th, providing another excellent opportunity for travel distributors to capitalise on this highly sought-after experience.
However, exploring other global locations with cherry blossoms, including South Korea, Thailand, Vancouver and Auckland, can diversify your offerings for travellers eager to experience this iconic sight but with fewer crowds.
Cultural Events: Holi, Global Hindu observation – March 4th – 5th
The Hindu Festival of Colours, Holi, offers a unique cultural experience. Celebrated with lively water and powder throws, traditional foods, and music, Holi provides a compelling reason for travellers to visit India and Nepal, as they burst into life around the beginning of March. Incorporating immersive cultural tours and experiences into your product mix can enhance the appeal of this period.
Sporting Events: Formula 1 Grand Prix, Global – March 6th – December 6th
The FIA Formula One World Championship offers year-round opportunities for luxury and adventure travel, with 24 races scheduled across the globe – including Australia, China, Japan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United States, the UK, Spain, Canada, Monaco, Austria and more. Notably, women now comprise a vast number of the F1 fan base, with the fastest growth among ages 16-24, presenting travel agents with a new, dedicated market segment to target with tailored experiences that allow clients to enjoy the thrill of the races firsthand.
The sport’s recent exponential growth also presents a lucrative niche for curated travel experiences, VIP packages, and exclusive access, not to mention memorable stays with exclusive perks when you book the hotels in our Luxury Collection.
As a carefully curated portfolio of exceptional hotels in global destinations, the Luxury Collection offers properties that align with the culture of glamour that has recently come to surround this renowned sporting event, and allows travellers to enjoy the atmosphere of the race in comfort tailored to their needs.
Cultural Events: Songkran, Thailand – April 13th – 15th
Thailand's enduring popularity among tourists worldwide is evident in its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. From delicious cuisine to the intense sport of Muay Thai, the country has introduced the world to a multitude of amazing experiences. However, it is Thailand's captivating culture, exemplified by the magnificent Grand Palace in Bangkok, that truly captivates the imagination.
Songkran, a three-day event, involves cleansing rituals and an enormous water fight that is sure to be a memorable experience! The biggest celebrations take place in Bangkok, and you can suggest a tour of the capital's major sights to round out the trip.
Commercial Events: Golden Week, Japan – April 29th – May 5th
Due to the succession of other public holidays (Constitution Memorial Day; Greenery Day; Children’s Day), the whole period is an opportune time for Japanese travellers to be on the move. This consecutive holiday period is ideal for both domestic and international travel. Promoting cultural festivals, cherry blossom viewing, and local experiences during Golden Week can help you capture early bookings and extend your clients’ stay, as long as they’re mindful of any local business closures.
Cultural Events: Cinco de Mayo, Mexico, US – May 5th
Cinco de Mayo is a day of Mexican pride and heritage and is steeped in history, with many communities celebrating this event on a grand scale, with parades, battle re-enactments, mariachi music, traditional foods, piñatas and fireworks.
Be ready to promote activities and accommodations in Mexico, as well as in popular US destinations that fully embrace the celebration, such as Los Angeles, San Antonio, Denver, New York City, Chicago, Albuquerque, San Francisco, and San Diego.
Cultural Events: Spring Break, US – April, early May
Spring Break is a widely celebrated time in the United States, as travelers pack their bags in search of memorable experiences. It’s estimated that for US travellers, over 30% of millennials and parents planned trips around this time last year, with high interest in sunny domestic spots like Orlando, Las Vegas, and Cancun, alongside a rise in adventure travel. While in the UK, around 77% planned summer travel, with significant interest in international trips and cooler climates in Northern Europe.
Be sure to capture this opportunity early, as many travellers are increasingly booking in advance and this high travel intent period will sell fast.
Entertainment Events: Festival & Music Event Season, Global – June - August
Summer in the Northern Hemisphere kicks off with renowned festivals such as Primavera Sound in Barcelona, Glastonbury in the UK, Coachella in California, Fuji Rock in Japan, and Tomorrowland in Belgium and Thailand. Promoting festival-specific travel packages, including accommodations and exclusive experiences, can help you capture the attention of global music fans.
Similarly, attendees travelling from outside of the festival’s host country will likely want to make the most of their time, so consider recommending hotels and upselling activities with Hotelbeds.
Observance Days: World Environment Day, Global – June 5th
With over 70% of Millennials and Gen Z travellers booking eco-friendly options, and 56% willing to spend more for them, promoting sustainable hotels and responsible travel experiences is crucial.
Utilising our Sustainable Hotels Programme, offered as part of the wider HBX Group ecosystem, and highlighting eco-conscious options in your marketing can position your agency as a leader in sustainable tourism.
What’s more, the hotels in our Sustainable Hotels Programme are only shown in our ‘Sustainable Hotels’ filter in our travel booking platform if they have sustainable certification from industry-leading organisations, offering guaranteed sustainable stays, as sustainable travel increasingly becomes the expectation for today’s travellers.
Discover more about how Hotelbeds empowers travel distributors to promote and book more sustainable trips for your clients here.
Cultural Events: Independence Day, US – July 4th
A major domestic travel event, the US Independence Day holiday attracts millions of travellers – in the last few years have seen record-breaking numbers of US travellers (around 70-80 million) travelling during this Fourth of July period.
From car rentals to accommodation and more, this is a fantastic opportunity for travel sellers to lock in bookings from domestic travellers, or even those flying in from elsewhere to sample a taste of the American dream.
Entertainment Events: Comic-Con International, USA – July 22nd – 26th
The rise of fandom tourism makes Comic-Con a significant event for immersive travel experiences. Additionally, as gaming itself is now a $222 billion global industry and around 70% of gaming fans willing to travel for conventions, it’s clear that demand for fandom and gaming experiences will continue to grow.
This trend makes Comic-Con International, and related events like this throughout the year, ideal events for travel distributors to offer tailored packages, including accommodations and in-destination activities – as well as partnership opportunities for exclusive access or ticket passes.
Leveraging the passion of fans can help distributors capture bookings from pop culture tourism, and a segment of travellers who have not only consistently demonstrated a willingness to spend on their niche interests, but also provide a valuable opportunity for travel distribution businesses around the globe.
Cultural Events: Hanabi (Fireworks Festivals), Japan - All Month
Attendance at Hanabi fireworks festivals across Japan is a must for those looking to immerse themselves in Japanese culture. Experience-first tourism is a key trend for today’s traveller, so providing them with opportunities to take part in authentic celebrations like this is a perfect way to cater to their needs.
Travel distributors can appeal to travellers by curating unique experiences related to the event. Additionally, this event presents a valuable chance for travellers to enhance their trip with enjoyable experiences, tours, activities, and exploration of other regions to maximise their time in the destination.
Cultural Events: Oktoberfest, Germany – September 20th – October 5th
Germany’s Oktoberfest is a masterclass in how to have a good time. The world’s largest fair takes place for around two weeks each year and is the ultimate celebration of German culture: there’s delicious food, live music and, of course, plenty of beer to go around. So beloved is this atmospheric event that smaller iterations have cropped up around the globe, but tourists looking for an authentic experience should head to Munich, the true home of Oktoberfest.
Promoting authentic Bavarian stays and even immersive experiences like beer-tasting tours can position your travel business to attract culturally curious and adventure-seeking travellers for this renowned festival.
Cultural Events: Mid-Autumn Festival, Asia – September 25th
Celebrated with mooncakes, lanterns, and family gatherings, the Mid-Autumn Festival is the second-most important observation within Chinese culture - outside of New Year. Promoting festive experiences and cultural tours in China can help your clients partake in this tradition and experience this important cultural observance firsthand for travellers wishing to immerse themselves in this rich and vibrant celebration.
This celebration is also widely celebrated in other countries such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia, and America among its diaspora communities, although it is not always a public holiday in these locations.
In South Korea, Chuseok is also celebrated during this time; known also as Autumn Eve, or Harvest Festival, this is a major event in Korean culture, lasting three days. It is a time for expressing gratitude, enjoying delicious food, and coming together with loved ones to celebrate. Chuseok is also one of the most popular events for travellers with an appreciation for Korean culture, and something special to witness.
Cultural Events: Halloween, Global – October 31st
Halloween is the perfect opportunity for travel distributors to showcase their creativity and offer a unique vacation experience for their clients. Leveraging the vast portfolio of travel experiences available in our Booking Engine offerings can help your clients enjoy a memorable seasonal holiday, no matter the destination they have in mind.
Simply sign up to Hotelbeds to access thousands of travel products to make your clients' experience unforgettable.
Cultural Events: Diá de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Mexico – November 1st – 2nd
Mexico's Day of the Dead is a vibrant and colourful celebration that provides a unique and authentic cultural experience for tourists. The holiday pays tribute to the deceased with colourful altars, traditional cuisine, and lively parades, offering a sensory feast. This cultural celebration presents a wonderful opportunity for travellers to delve into Mexican culture and traditions, and to soak up the lively ambience of the festivities.
Tip: While traditionally celebrated on the November 1st and 2nd, other days including October 31st and November 6th may be included depending on the locality.
Cultural Events: Thanksgiving, US – November 26th
A feast-time for travel, Thanksgiving is a prime opportunity to tap into travel demand. This holiday sees roughly 55 million American travellers on the move during this time.
Despite an increase in international travel during this time, domestic travel reigns during Thanksgiving for US audiences. Supported by a general preference for domestic travel year-round, the notion of togetherness is a major driver for travel over this period, presenting an opportunity for upselling via add-ons, such as car hire and transfers to create seamless trips.
Commercial Events: Black Friday, Global – November 27th
While Black Friday isn’t strictly about travel, it’s certainly worth building offers and social media campaigns around. Like Singles Day in Asia, Buen Fin in the Americas, and Travel Tuesday (the Tuesday after Black Friday) this is one commercial holiday that travel distributors would be wise to mark in their calendar since tourists will be on the lookout for good deals.
Discover our quick guide to preparing for Black Friday travel marketing, to inspire your own offers.
Cultural Events: Winter Solstice, Global – December 21st
With continued demand for nature travel and tourism rooted in experiencing the natural world, the Winter Solstice offers a perfect opportunity for adventure travellers, or those with an eagerness to see truly impactful natural phenomena this year.
UK: Thousands gather at important sites like Stonehenge for the sunrise on this shortest day, a tradition deeply-rooted in Celtic and pagan rituals; while Newgrange in Ireland offers a lottery for travellers to witness the sunrise light the inner chamber of this ancient passage tomb; in Carn Kenidjack, Cornwall, visitors can witness a sunrise framed by ancient stones; in Brighton, the Burning the Clocks festival is a local community event with lanterns and bonfires, and the Montol Festival in Penzance, Cornwall features colourful costumes, torchlit parades and Celtic dancing.
For international trips and festivities, travellers can celebrate in:
Japan: with Yuzu baths for purification at various temples for Toji, Japan’s term for the Solstice, as well as enjoying local customs like eating foods for fortune, either with friends or in locally-run homestays.
Guatemala: for Fiesta de Santo Tomas, a week-long festival vibrant celebration honouring the town's patron saint, Santo Tomás, and which coincides with the Winter Solstice. Travellers can expect a unique blend of Catholic and traditional K'iche' Maya beliefs, with dances, parades with masked figures (like the Baile del Tzijolaj), Palo Volador (Flying Pole Dance), fireworks, and copal incense.
Iceland: offer a winter tour package to experience the country's natural beauty during the colder months, and maybe travellers will welcome in the arrival of longer, warmer days with the Aurora Borealis.
Discover stays and additional experiences for these destinations in our Booking Engine, to enhance your clients’ experience of this powerful natural phenomenon.
Cultural Events: Christmas & New Year, Global – December 25th
The holiday season sees a surge in travel demand worldwide. Promoting festive packages, exclusive events, and early bookings for iconic destinations such as European Christmas markets, New York, London, Sydney, and beyond can help your travel business secure valuable reservations.
Where possible, try to encourage your clients to book their December trips well in advance – hotels are likely to be in high demand, and flight prices will increase rapidly. Discover how to leverage trends and Hotelbeds' products to enhance your New Year's travel bookings.
But speak to your clients to discover their dream destination – they’ll want to secure their flights, hotels and tickets to any events well in advance.
With exclusive access to over 300,000 properties in 170+ countries worldwide, 23,000+ experiences, and valuable offerings like our Luxury Collection to capture luxury travel bookings, and our Sustainable Hotels Programme to easily offer sustainable travel experience, connecting with our travel network by partnering with Hotelbeds is a great way to take your travel business to the next level.
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