From The White Lotus to The Lord of the Rings, TV and movie locations continue to shape Australian travel dreams with Europe and Asia leading holiday plans in 2026.
Set-jetting continues to influence travel decisions for Australians as a new study highlights the ongoing screen appeal of TV and movie filming locations and their impact on bookings for these 10 desirable destinations for 2026.
Compare the Market analysed 18,000 travel insurance quotes from January to November 2025 and found Aussies are still swayed by ‘The White Lotus’ effect.
While Bali still topped the list of international destinations for Aussies in 2026 for the third consecutive year, the UK, Italy, Japan and New Zealand also ranked in the top five.
This could be due to the set-jetting trend, based on TV show and movie inspo, such as The White Lotus (Sicily, Thailand and now France), The Lord of the Rings (New Zealand) and Downton Abbey (England).
Japan and New Zealand also have broad appeal for Aussies, packed with cultural experiences and proximity.
Compare the Market’s travel expert and TV presenter Catriona Rowntree said she has seen firsthand how filming locations can inspire travel trends.
“From the glistening sapphire pools of Sicily in The White Lotus to the verdant hills of Hobbiton in The Lord of the Rings, silver screen magic lights up our senses and ignites our imaginations – and that sometimes leads to a trip to the travel agent,” she said.
Rounding out the top 10 list of international destinations for Aussies in 2026 are France (6), Greece (7), Spain (8), Thailand (9) and Singapore (10).
These perennially popular destinations among Aussies – no wildcards here in 2026 – highlight the enduring appeal of Europe, the rise of set-jetting as travel inspiration and the pull of close-to-home destinations that offer culturally rich experiences.
Check out Karryon’s top picks for 2026 here.
KARRYON UNPACKS: Set-jetting’s staying power proves that storytelling sells. For travel advisors, connecting cinematic inspiration with curated itineraries could turn screen dreams into 2026’s biggest booking trend.
