After running 50 prompts across seven leading generative AI language learning models — ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, Meta AI, Grok and Microsoft Copilot — for a total of 9,800 predictions, Beach.com has shared a list of the top travel destinations for 2026. According to the company, the analysis’ findings provide valuable insights into which cities, countries and regions vacationers will be most keen to visit in the new year. Beach.com also said the results shine a light on which destinations generative AI will suggest to travelers who turn to the technology for help with trip planning and ideation.
“As travelers begin planning for the next year, our AI forecasts offer a look at the destinations that could surge in 2026. Or at least, these are the destinations AI will be possibly recommending most,” said Beach.com.
Eager to dig into the results? Here’s where generative AI predicts travelers will go in 2026.
AI Forecasts the Top Cities for 2026
Ready your berets and baguettes because, as the top predicted city for 2026 travel, vacations to Paris are about to have a moment. In reference to these findings, Beach.com said no other global city came close to Paris as, upon asking each of the seven generative AI models to predict the top destination for travel in the new year, Paris took the cake finishing first in 124 of 350 model runs (35%). In a distant second place was Tokyo, which snagged the number one spot in 94 forecasts (27%), while London secured bronze with 48 first-place predictions.
In order of popularity, AI ranked Bangkok, Milan, NYC, Mexico City, Osaka, San Miguel de Allende, Lisbon, Dubai, Jaipur and Brussels as its additional travel hotspots for 2026. “All of the top-ranking cities fall into a mix of classical cultural hubs and past-paced megacities,” said Beach.com. “Similarly, many of the predicted top travel destinations are also among the world’s most visited.”
AI Forecasts Trending Countries for 2026
In addition to cities, Beach.com asked the AI models to predict the top country destinations for 2026, and the results were neck-and-neck with Japan and France tying for the number one spot. “Both countries came out on top 126 times (36% each). With only 350 total forecasts, only a few top spots are (left) for other countries,” said Beach.com. At the end of the day, the U.S., Italy and the United Kingdom each earned a place at the podium ranking 18%, 7% and 1%, respectively. While other contenders for trending countries in 2026 were Thailand, Spain, Mexico and Portugal.
“Clearly, generative AI leans heavily toward longstanding cultural destinations with robust existing infrastructure and strong tourism history,” said Beach.com. “It’s also worth noting that these destinations are among the most well-covered online.”
In line with these findings, Beach.com turned to the models to predict the top regions for 2026 travel, and the results were unsurprising with Europe, Asia and North America being ranked as the most popular. “Europe dominates the forecasts,” said Beach.com. “All seven AI models predict the region to be the #1 destination a whopping 315 out of 350 times. That’s 90% of all forecasts!”
While Europe, Asia and North America each received number one predictions across the AI models, Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the Pacific and Oceania all received zero first-place standings. According to Beach.com, the absence of these regions in its analysis might suggest an algorithmic bias towards destinations with the strongest representation in travel media citing Europe and Asia as some of the most well-covered places online.
“What’s interesting is that the AI models not only predicted Europe as the major regional hotspot for 2026, but also that a plurality of the forecasted top cities and countries fell within this region,” said Beach.com. “In other words, there is some continuity in the destinations AI models favor, even when we adjust the questions.”
How Travel Advisors Can Leverage Results
Heading into the new year, travel advisors can leverage these results by promoting and prioritizing the destinations they know clients are looking for. Whether that means showing Paris a little extra love on social media, promoting Asia in their weekly, monthly or quarterly email blast or catching clients’ eyes in some other creative way; advisors already have a good idea of which destinations are on vacationers’ minds, now all they need to do is get them to commit.
Alternatively, not every traveler is seeking well-trodden destinations. To get an idea of which places are truly trending for your client base in 2026, consider sending out a poll or survey to gauge your clients’ interests — the results may surprise you!
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