Happy family enjoying seaside holiday

Where Brits Are Booking Holidays for 2026 (And Why Prices Are Rising)

If you?ve got a sneaking feeling that everyone is suddenly talking about holidays again, you?re not imagining it.

January has kicked off with a surge in bookings for 2026 holidays, and Brits aren?t just browsing anymore. They?re committing. Early. In large numbers.

And here?s the part many people don?t like hearing: Prices are already creeping up.

Not because travel companies are being greedy. But because demand, availability, and booking behaviour have fundamentally changed.

Let?s break down where UK travellers are booking for 2026, why those destinations are filling fast, and what it means for prices if you?re still ?thinking about it?.

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2026 Is Being Booked Earlier Than Ever Before

Traditionally, people booked holidays 6?9 months in advance. Now? We?re seeing 12?18 months ahead becoming the norm.

Why? ? People want certainty ? Families want guaranteed school-holiday dates ? Remote working allows longer stays ? Travellers want the best choice, not leftovers

Add to that the fact that many popular hotels and flight routes now operate with tighter capacity, and you get a perfect storm: strong demand + limited supply.

Which brings us to where Brits are actually booking.

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1. Greece Is Leading the Way (Again)

No surprises here ? Greece is topping the list for 2026 bookings.

But it?s not just ?anywhere in Greece?.

UK travellers are locking in: ? Rhodes ? Crete ? Kos ? Corfu ? Zante

Why Greece? ? Reliable sunshine ? Short flight time ? Strong value compared to long-haul ? Huge range of hotels (family, adult-only, luxury) ? Safe, familiar, and easy

What?s different this time is how early the most popular hotels are selling out, especially family resorts and all-inclusive properties.

We?re already seeing limited availability for peak summer weeks in some Greek resorts, which is exactly why prices are nudging upwards.

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2. Turkey Is Having a Major Moment

If Greece is about familiarity, Turkey is about value.

For 2026, Turkey bookings are soaring, particularly for: ? All-inclusive resorts ? Larger family rooms ? Luxury hotels at mid-range prices

British travellers are choosing Turkey because: ? All-inclusive genuinely means all-inclusive ? Hotel quality is exceptionally high ? Value for money is hard to beat ? Facilities suit families and couples equally

And here?s the key point: Turkey relies heavily on charter flight capacity.

When those flights fill, prices rise. Quickly.

That?s why early 2026 Turkey bookings are already pricing higher than people expect. The demand is there, and operators know it.

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3. The Canary Islands Are Being Booked as a ?Safe Bet?

The Canaries aren?t flashy, but they?re dependable. And in uncertain times, dependable sells.

For 2026, UK travellers are booking: ? Tenerife ? Lanzarote ? Gran Canaria ? Fuerteventura

Especially for: ? Winter sun ? Shoulder-season travel ? Families wanting year-round warmth

Because the Canaries operate year-round, people often assume availability will always be there.

It won?t.

Flight schedules are tighter, and popular resorts still sell out in school holidays and peak winter months, pushing prices steadily higher as availability drops.

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4. Long-Haul Is Back, But More Selective

Long-haul travel is definitely back, but Brits are being more selective for 2026.

We?re seeing strong interest in: ? Dubai ? USA (Florida in particular) ? Caribbean ? Indian Ocean destinations

However, long-haul bookings are: ? More planned ? More budget-aware ? More reliant on flight availability

Fuel costs, aircraft availability, and route planning all affect long-haul pricing, which is why booking early matters even more for these destinations.

Waiting rarely pays off.

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5. Family Holidays Are Driving Early Demand

Families are one of the biggest drivers behind rising prices for 2026.

Why?

Because families: ? Have fixed dates ? Need specific room types ? Prefer certain hotels ? Can?t be flexible at the last minute

Once family rooms, interconnecting rooms, or larger suites sell out, that?s it.

This is why: ? Free child places disappear early ? Family-friendly hotels increase prices first ? School holiday travel costs rise fastest

Families booking in January are locking in value that simply won?t exist later in the year.

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Why Prices Are Rising (And Why This Isn?t a ?Scare Tactic?)

Let?s be clear, this isn?t about panic-selling holidays.

Prices are rising because of simple economics.

1. Capacity Is More Controlled

Airlines and tour operators are no longer flooding the market with excess seats. They?re managing supply carefully, which keeps prices stable until demand pushes them up.

2. Popular Hotels Sell Out First

Once a hotel sells out, remaining options are often: ? Higher category ? Further from the beach ? Less popular

Which pushes average prices higher.

3. Early Booking Incentives Disappear

Low deposits, early booking discounts, and free extras are typically limited. Once they?re gone, they?re gone.

4. Demand Is Stronger Than Pre-2020

People travel differently now. Holidays are a priority, not an afterthought.

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The Biggest Myth: ?I?ll Get a Better Deal Later?

This myth refuses to die.

Yes, there are occasional late deals. No, they are not reliable. And they almost never apply to: ? School holidays ? Popular hotels ? Family rooms ? Peak summer dates

Most ?last-minute bargains? involve: ? Limited choice ? Unpopular flight times ? Compromised accommodation

If you?re happy with that, fine.

If you want control, booking early wins every time.

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Why Travel Agents Are Seeing This Before Everyone Else

Here?s the bit comparison sites don?t tell you.

Travel agents: ? See live availability across multiple suppliers ? Spot patterns early ? Notice which hotels are closing sales ? Track pricing changes week by week

That?s why we?re confident saying this: 2026 prices aren?t going down overall.

They?re stabilising early, then rising steadily.

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What This Means If You?re Planning a 2026 Holiday

If you?re thinking about travelling in 2026, here?s the honest takeaway: ? The best hotels are being booked now ? The best flight times are available now ? Prices are lower now than they will be later ? Deposits are smaller now than they will be later

You don?t need to rush, but waiting ?to see what happens? usually ends one way.

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Why Booking With Medlife Holidays Makes Sense Right Now

January is a busy booking period, which means mistakes are easy to make if you rush online.

At Medlife Holidays, we: ? Compare multiple tour operators properly ? Explain what?s actually included ? Check flight times, luggage, transfers, and room types ? Make sure your money is protected in a secure trust account

That means when you book early, you?re not just locking in a holiday, you?re locking in peace of mind.

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Final Thought: Early Bookers Aren?t Lucky, They?re Informed

The people securing great 2026 holidays right now aren?t gamblers.

They?re informed.

They understand: ? How the industry works ? How availability affects price ? How early planning pays off

And that?s exactly why they?ll be sipping cocktails next year knowing they booked smart.

If you?re ready to do the same, January is your moment.

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?? Ready to See What?s Available for 2026?

Speak to Medlife Holidays today and let us: ? Check real availability ? Secure the best options early ? Protect your money properly ? Take the stress out of planning

?? Message us now, before choice (and prices) start disappearing.