Artificial intelligence is already helping millions of people plan their vacations, but a new study took that idea one step further: researchers asked AI to actually predict the biggest travel hotspots of 2026.
Seven popular generative AI systems: ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, Meta AI, Copilot, and Grok were each prompted 50 times to name the top travel city for next year. Altogether, that’s 350 individual predictions, and the results were surprisingly consistent. One city absolutely ran away with the top spot, a handful of others showed up again and again, and a few wildcard destinations slipped in at the bottom of the list.
Here’s where AI thinks travelers will be heading most in 2026.
1. Paris, France — 124 predictions
Paris didn’t just win; it dominated. AI models named Paris the top hotspot more than a third of the time, which feels pretty realistic. The city is still riding the post-Olympics glow, flight options remain plentiful from the U.S., and TikTok has turned Paris into the ultimate “I need to romanticize my life” escape. Between the food, the fashion, the art… yeah, AI probably got this one right.
2. Tokyo, Japan — 94 predictions
Tokyo took second place by a wide margin, and it makes total sense. Japan has been one of the most in-demand international destinations for years now, and the favorable exchange rate hasn’t hurt. Travelers are leaning into food-focused trips, city-meets-nature itineraries, and bucket-list experiences — and Tokyo checks every box.
3. London, England — 48 predictions
London snagged the third spot thanks to its easy flight access, endless museums, theater scene, and overall predictability, and I meant that in a good way. It’s one of those cities that works whether you’re planning your first international trip or your fifteenth. AI loves it, and honestly, so do travelers.
4. Bangkok, Thailand — 36 predictions
Bangkok taking fourth place is a fun twist. Southeast Asia continues to trend across social media thanks to its incredible food, vibrant culture, and affordability. Bangkok is often the gateway to everything from island hopping to temple exploring in Thailand, and AI seems to think its popularity is only growing.
5. Milan, Italy — 15 predictions
Milan is slowly stepping out from under Rome, Florence, and Venice — and AI appears to agree. Fashion, design, Aperol spritzes in every direction… it’s a stylish base for exploring northern Italy, and travelers are catching on.
6. New York City, USA — 11 predictions
The only U.S. city to crack the top rankings, New York landed 11 first-place picks. Domestic tourism has remained strong since the pandemic, and NYC continues to reinvent itself with major hotel openings, restaurant buzz, and year-round events.
7. Mexico City, Mexico — 9 predictions
Mexico City has been rising fast thanks to its food scene, museums, affordability, and walkable neighborhoods. From a cultural standpoint alone, it makes perfect sense that AI sees it becoming even more popular next year.
8. Osaka, Japan — 8 predictions
Japan gets another top-10 entry with Osaka, which has become a favorite for travelers who want a slightly more laid-back (and extremely delicious) alternative to Tokyo. It’s also home to Universal Studios Japan, which continues to expand and draw international visitors.
9 (tie). San Miguel de Allende, Lisbon, Dubai, Jaipur, Brussels — 1 prediction each
These final five barely made the list, but they’re still fascinating wildcard picks. Lisbon has been booming for years, Dubai continues to grow as a luxury hub, San Miguel de Allende is beloved for its arts scene, Jaipur draws travelers interested in India’s Golden Triangle, and Brussels sneaks in as one of Europe’s underrated capitals.
They may not have dominated the rankings, but they clearly caught an AI model’s attention at least once.
So… is AI actually onto something here?
Honestly? A lot of these predictions line up with what travelers are already booking:
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Europe’s popularity is higher than ever
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Japan is having a massive tourism moment
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Long-haul cultural cities remain bucket-list favorites
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Big, globally connected cities keep winning
What’s interesting is the level of agreement. Even when the models were prompted dozens of times, they kept circling back to the same handful of cities you see at the top of this list.
Whether AI is forecasting genuine demand or simply amplifying the destinations with the most online coverage… that part is still up for debate. But if you’re already dreaming about travel in 2026, these cities are definitely worth keeping on your radar.
And while AI seems convinced that 2026 will be all about the classics — Paris, Tokyo, London — part of the fun of planning a trip is finding those places that don’t show up on every trending list. One of my most memorable recent trips was to a quiet corner of Sweden that completely surprised me, and it turned out to be even better than the Alps.
If you’re also curious about how AI is already shaping the way people travel, I recently dug into a national survey that reveals just how many Americans are using it for travel — and why most still don’t fully trust it yet.