The 2026 FIFA World Cup was expected to provide one of the biggest tourism windfalls in U.S. history, a $30.5 billion in U.S. gross output and a $17.2 billion contribution to U.S. GDP.

Higher costs increase the appeal of shorter, lower-cost regional getaways, as domestic leisure travel spending is expected to climb to $909 billion in 2026, according to U.S. Travel Association’s latest forecast.

In 2026, many industry experts say luxury travel is less about doing or spending more, and more focused on quality of the experience and how the vacationers feel after the trip. While some travel predictions just point to places that look good on a map, a new hotel opening, a rare solar eclipse, or a growing culinary scene could be enough to move a destination onto travelers' short lists.