Where (and how) Minnesotans are traveling in 2026

As Minnesotans start planning their 2026 travel, clear patterns are already taking shape. Some post-pandemic habits remain strong, while newer travel styles reflect a shift toward more specific, experience-driven trips, all unfolding alongside America’s 250th anniversary.

Event-based travel continues to be popular, fueled by the success of headline-making concerts and sporting events. In 2026, the FIFA World Cup is drawing fans to U.S. host cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, Seattle, Atlanta and San Francisco, while Formula 1 races are scheduled for Miami, Austin and Las Vegas.

Internationally, perennial European favorites like Italy and France top many Minnesotans’ wish lists, alongside Japan, which remains one of the most in-demand global destinations. Closer to home, U.S. national parks still appeal to travelers seeking iconic landscapes and flexible itineraries.

From a domestic standpoint, a Delta Air Lines spokesperson said the carrier expects Minnesotans to remain loyal to their favorite winter destinations, including Florida’s Gulf Coast, Arizona and Southern California. At the same time, Linda Bendt, owner of Excelsior-based Pique Travel Design and a member of the Virtuoso network, notes growing interest in culturally rich destinations just a few hours away by plane, such as Charleston, S.C.; Savannah, Ga.; Santa Fe, N.M.; and Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

Looking ahead to 2026, Bendt says more Minnesotans are planning ambitious trips well in advance. Antarctica and the Galápagos Islands top the bucket-list category, joined by growing interest in the Arctic and Greenland, where travelers can catch a glimpse of the northern lights.

Major cultural moments are also shaping itineraries, including the long-anticipated opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, which has put Egypt in the international spotlight. These destinations require more planning and often come with a higher price tag, but travelers are prioritizing fewer, more impactful trips.

Perhaps thanks to recent not-so-positive headlines about airlines, some travelers are opting for other forms of travel. Instead, travel experts are expecting to see travelers choose more nostalgic forms of transportation, like train travel or boutique cruising. Familiar lines like Viking Cruises are drawing interest, along with new luxury yachts from Four Seasons and the Ritz-Carlton that emphasize dining and destination-focused itineraries over sheer size. Bendt says cruises along the Great Lakes, with stops in cities like Chicago, Detroit and Milwaukee, as well as Mississippi River cruises down to New Orleans, are especially well-liked by Minnesota travelers.

“Euro summer” may not be a new trend, but getting there is becoming easier for Minnesotans. Instead of connecting through busy hubs like Amsterdam, travelers can now fly nonstop from Minneapolis–St. Paul to Copenhagen, Denmark. Looking ahead to summer, Delta expects increased interest in Europe driven in part by this new route. Copenhagen also offers easy air connections to other Scandinavian capitals like Stockholm and Oslo, making it a convenient gateway to the region. With strong cultural and ancestral ties to the state, the Scandinavian countries are a natural draw for Minnesotans planning European travel.

In a recent Chase survey, 94% of respondents said they’re interested in road-trip travel, and historic Route 66, which celebrates its centennial in 2026, earned a spot on Chase Travel’s “26 Trips” list. Stretching from Chicago to Santa Monica, Calif., the highway connects a remarkably diverse mix of cities and landscapes, including stops in Oklahoma City; Albuquerque, N.M.; and Flagstaff, Ariz.; making it an ideal route for travelers who want to experience multiple regions, cultures and eras of American history in a single journey.