For years, January was considered a recovery month for travel; quiet, cautious, and overshadowed by year-end fatigue. But that narrative is clearly shifting. The Republic Day long weekend is no longer
an afterthought wedged between winter holidays and summer planning. In 2026, it is emerging as the first decisive travel trigger of the year, signalling a deeper behavioural change in how Indians plan, prioritise, and value their breaks.
Dr Vikas Katoch, Founder and CEO, WanderOn, feels long-weekend travel around January 26 is trending significantly higher than last year, especially among younger travellers. Instead of waiting for traditional peak seasons, this cohort is using early-year holidays to take short, experience-led trips. “Long weekends are increasingly being seen as key travel occasions, not incidental opportunities,” he notes, a shift that reflects how flexibility, remote work, and experience-first travel have reshaped demand.
What’s notable is that this surge isn’t limited to budget-conscious planning. Hotel occupancies across key markets are running well above typical January levels, with many properties reporting 75–85% occupancy during the long weekend. Demand is especially strong for mid-range and premium stays, boutique resorts, and heritage properties, alongside rising interest in coastal and nature-led destinations. This points to a traveller who is less focused on cost optimisation and more invested in quality and meaning.
That sentiment is echoed by Govind Gaur, CEO, WanderOn, who says the Republic Day break is now firmly established as an early-year travel anchor rather than a one-off spike. Bookings between January 24 and 26 have seen a 25–30% rise in domestic, experience-oriented weekend getaways, driving the overall increase in demand. Hotels, too, are feeling the impact, with some reporting weekend sales up by as much as 40% compared to standard January performance.
Destinations such as Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Uttarakhand, and heritage hill cities like Udaipur and Jaipur continue to dominate domestic preferences, reinforcing the appeal of culturally rich, visually immersive, and slower-paced escapes. At the same time, curated packages and tactical offers such as 1+1 destination-led deals being rolled out by platforms like Adotrip are helping convert intent into bookings, particularly for short-haul leisure travel.
Pricing, however, is keeping pace with demand. With Republic Day falling close to peak winter travel and added security-related operational constraints in Delhi airspace, airfare on key domestic routes is expected to remain firm. While precise route-level data isn’t publicly available, the broader trend suggests that travellers are willing to absorb higher costs in exchange for well-timed, high-quality breaks.
Taken together, these patterns point to something more structural than seasonal. The Republic Day long weekend is becoming a cultural checkpoint, a moment when travellers reset, recharge, and invest in experiences early in the year. In 2026, January travel is no longer about easing in. It’s about starting strong.
