Edinburgh Crowned 2026 ‘Breakout Star’ as Irish Bookings Skyrocket 75%

Scottish capital, Edinburgh, crowned this year’s leading emerging destination according to loveholidays.

Holidays to the UK are taking off, with bookings to London also jumping by 48% versus the same period last year.

City break destinations dominate the online travel agent’s list of destinations seeing the most growth year-on-year.

Edinburgh has been named the number one emerging destination for Irish holidaymakers in 2026, following a 75% year-on-year surge in bookings, according to new data from loveholidays.

Analysing bookings from the last three months, the online travel agent reports that the Scottish capital is leading a distinct spike in city break popularity for 2026.

Bookings to London for this year have also jumped by a notable 48%, indicating that holidays to the UK are taking off, while escapes to other European city destinations Prague (+48%) and Budapest (+44%) have seen significant increases too.

Bucking the city break trend are Greek island hotspots Crete (+63%) and Rhodes (+54%), signalling that beach destinations remain well-loved, as travellers continue to seek out warm coastlines and poolside downtime.

Meanwhile, the allure of the city break is also inspiring Irish holidaymakers who are heading further afield, driving significant growth for Dubai (+53%) and New York (+30%).

Clem Walshe, Irish Commercial Director at loveholidays, commented, “What unites these emerging destinations, from the cobblestones of the Royal Mile to the thermal baths of Budapest, is the variety that they offer.

“Beach holidays remain a firm favourite, but there is a clear increased enthusiasm for city escapes this year. Edinburgh is the standout performer, but the growth across London, Prague, and Dubai also indicate that Irish holidaymakers are broadening their horizons, seeking more than just relaxation.”

loveholidays’ top 2026 emerging destinations