Chase has announced its travel and dining predictions for 2026, unveiling the “26 Trips to Take in 2026” list curated by Chase Travel, as well as Infatuation’s annual Best New Restaurants. The company also introduced new bookable experiences exclusively for Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers.
The “26 Trips to Take in 2026” list is based on proprietary booking data, consumer survey trends, insights from travel experts, cultural events, and new hospitality openings. Destinations highlighted include the Albanian Riviera, Botswana, the Canadian Arctic, and the Dolomites. The full list is available at chasetravel.com/26trips.
Infatuation’s Best New Restaurants features notable openings across the United States. This year’s selections include The Catbird Seat in Nashville, Somni in Los Angeles, Dojo Izakaya in Miami, Emmett in Philadelphia, and Sunn’s in New York City.
Several trends are shaping travel and dining choices for 2026. According to a recent survey of over 4,000 travelers and diners aged 18-60 conducted by Chase between August 6 and August 19, 2025—with a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points—94% expressed interest in road trip travel. Route 66’s centennial is driving renewed attention to classic American road trips with a focus on sustainability due to expanded electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
New York continues to influence culture nationwide; for example, New York–style pizza is gaining popularity beyond the city. The Upper East Side was included on the trips list due to new shops and restaurants revitalizing its image.
Interest in natural phenomena remains high: 87% of respondents want their travels to include events like solar eclipses or whale migrations. Destinations such as Spain’s Basque Country for the Great European Solar Eclipse and Chile’s Atacama Desert for stargazing are featured on Chase Travel’s list.
Dining trends show an increased demand for premium casual experiences—81% prefer simple food made with quality ingredients—and there is growing interest in coffee shops launched by lifestyle brands.
Expanded transportation options are making more destinations accessible; new air routes and train services have sparked interest among older travelers. Event-based travel is also significant: major sporting events (81%) and music festivals (88%) influence destination choices.
Chase has introduced a series of Sapphire Reserve Trips designed by Chase Travel exclusively for Sapphire Reserve cardmembers. These trips offer curated experiences tied to cultural moments worldwide. Examples include skiing in St. Moritz during winter games season; celebrating Holi in Jaipur; wellness retreats in Turks and Caicos; Route 66 centennial festivities in Santa Fe; attending Formula E racing events with Jaguar TCS Racing in London; surfing weekends with World Surf League in Abu Dhabi; and Día de los Muertos celebrations in Oaxaca.
Sapphire Reserve cardmembers receive benefits such as exclusive access to Apple TV and Apple Music event tickets, reservations at top restaurants through OpenTable's Sapphire Exclusive Tables collection, up to eight times points on all Chase Travel bookings, four times points on direct hotel and flight bookings, Points Boost redemption options at select hotels and airlines through Chase Travel, hand-picked hotel selections via The Edit by Chase Travel with added perks, complimentary travel planning services from Reserve Travel Designers, a $300 annual dining credit, primetime restaurant reservations via OpenTable’s Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables program, and three times points on all dining purchases globally.
For more information about these offerings or how to book exclusive experiences or trips through Chase Sapphire Reserve programs visit chase.com/reserveit or chase.com/sapphireexperiences.