Almost half of Australians are putting travel at the top of their savings goals for 2026, according to new research from Money.com.au.
The nationally representative survey found 46 per cent of Australians – around 10.2 million people – included saving for a holiday among their top two financial goals for the year ahead. It marks the second year in a row travel has topped the list, following a similar result in 2025 (49 per cent), ahead of buying a home, investing or saving for retirement.
Building an emergency fund ranked second (42 per cent), followed by saving for retirement (35 per cent) and saving to buy a home (26 per cent). Fewer respondents nominated investing (23 per cent), paying off their mortgage sooner (13 per cent), home renovations (10 per cent) or saving for children (5 per cent).
Money.com.au finance expert Sean Callery said travel remains one of the few financial goals Australians feel is both achievable and emotionally rewarding.
“Most people can realistically plan for, budget towards and genuinely look forward to an overseas trip within a year, so it’s no surprise travel remains a strong priority, even as cost-of-living pressures continue,” he said.
The research shows Australians take an average of eight months to save for a holiday, with Asia continuing to appeal thanks to the ability to enjoy premium experiences without the premium price tag.
Callery added that travel experiences are increasingly being valued alongside – or instead of – traditional life milestones, particularly among younger Australians.
“Holidays, cruises and even backpacking have become a new kind of life currency, especially for Australians in their 20s and 30s who often feel locked out of milestones like home ownership or starting a family,” he said.
By generation, Baby Boomers were the most likely to prioritise saving for a holiday (53 per cent), followed by Gen Z (50 per cent), Gen X (45 per cent) and Millennials (34 per cent).
Overseas travel demand holds firm
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows short-term overseas trips by Australians rose 9.2 per cent in the year to October 2025, compared with the previous year.
January, July and October were the busiest months for Australians returning from overseas, aligning with school holidays and peak travel periods in destinations such as the US, Europe and Japan.
“Australians can generally stretch their travel budget further by travelling outside peak holiday periods, when demand – and often prices – are lower,” Callery said.
