The USA has dropped from third to sixth place on travel agency Ticket's list of most popular destinations for 2026. Bookings to the USA are down by over 21 percent, while Japan enters the top ten and the Canary Islands remain Swedish favorites.
According to Ticket's booking statistics, the Nordic region's largest private travel agency, the USA has lost popularity among Swedish travelers for 2026. The country slips from third to sixth place on the list of most booked travel countries, with a decline of over 21 percent compared to 2025. This is the only country in the top ten where bookings are decreasing.
A major change is that Japan enters the top ten, displacing Cyprus. Other countries climbing include Italy, which moves from fifth to third place. Spain retains first place, followed by Thailand.
On the destinations list, Gran Canaria tops the chart, up from second place, while Bangkok drops to second. Tenerife is in seventh place. Specific spots like Alicante in Spain increase by 43 percent and Rome in Italy by 73 percent, while Paris has fallen out of the top ten.
Ticket's PR and communications manager Tiyoneh Jah comments on the USA's drop: 'It puts the country in focus in a completely different way, and even if not everyone travels for the matches, it can contribute to more people starting to look at the USA as a destination again,' referring to the planned football World Cup in summer 2026.
Jah also emphasizes the intensifying competition: 'The competition between destinations has hardened. Destinations that do not grow risk quickly losing positions as travel is redistributed.' The statistics are based on bookings up to December 17.
Top ten countries (with 2025 ranking in parentheses):
1. Spain (1)
2. Thailand (2)
3. Italy (5)
4. Greece (4)
5. United Kingdom (6)
6. USA (3)
7. France (7)
8. Portugal (9)
9. Germany (8)
10. Japan (new)
Top ten destinations:
1. Gran Canaria (2)
2. Bangkok (1)
3. Malaga (3)
4. Alicante (5)
5. Phuket (4)
6. Barcelona (7)
7. Tenerife (6)
8. London (9)
9. Mallorca (8)
10. Rome (new)