Sports-adjacent dining
Sports tourism has been growing across the world, and all those fans need somewhere to eat. While stadiums are constantly racing to improve their concessions, the dining options more broadly located around big games this year are excellent. UNESCO just declared Italian cuisine an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, right as more than a million people prepare to head to Northern Italy for the Winter Olympics. Hosts for the 2026 World Cup include heavy culinary hitters like Guadalajara, Mexico; Vancouver, Canada; and many major American cities — including the criminally underrated food scene in North Jersey, where the final match will be played.
Patriotism on the table
This year is a big one for the USA. In July, the country will celebrate its official semiquincentennial (doesn't exactly roll off the tongue like "bicentennial," but 1976, when fanfare took over major East Coast cities, could offer a preview of what's to come this year). Philly, Boston, D.C., and other cities among the original 13 colonies (especially Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia) are positioning themselves as hosts for anniversary celebrations. Nostalgic feelings for centuries past also pervade new-fangled taverns across the country. America's big birthday isn't the only notable historical anniversary this year either; 2026 also marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month and Route 66, which will both inspire commemorations full of food across the country. Even Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s inverted food pyramid and emphasis on steak and cheese make it feel like we're eating in the past this year.
Even more luxurious lounges
As more and more travelers take to the skies, airport lounges — especially those run by banks and credit card companies — are tapping major chefs to entice big spenders. American Express recently recruited Mashama Bailey, Sarah Grueneberg, Kwame Onwuachi, and Mike Solomonov for its Centurion Lounges; Capital One is bringing its Capital One Landing concept, with a menu by José Andrés, from D.C.'s Reagan to New York's LaGuardia; while Chase tapped Gabriel Stulman to design menus for its Sapphire Lounges in New York, including private suites compete with caviar. The upgrades, which arrive at a moment of particular financial anxiety for plenty of travelers, are yet another signal of a K-shaped economic recovery.
Family-friendly travel
Even as lots of families carefully monitor spending, more are planning to travel together in 2026, including all those multigenerational families who have been living together more. Millennials hitting prime parenting age are embracing resorts, where open bars featuring tropical drinks and on-site childcare make travel a bit easier. Even the most adventurous travelers and diners are turning going all in on all-inclusives, getting the best of great meals with resort comforts.
Detoxes to get away
Heading into 2026, a lot of people feel trapped — in their jobs, in their political divisions, in their digital ecosystems. Travel offers an escape for all that physically and psychologically. Travelers are seeking out detoxes in blue zones like Okinawa, Japan, or Sardinia, Italy, where they can experience traditional diets that have helped locals live remarkably long lives — as featured on Netflix's Live to 100. Others are looking for a digital detox, finding destinations where phones eat last while travelers enjoy offline connection or solitary escape.
Where (and why) do you think everyone will be traveling this year? Let us know at newsletters@eater.com.
