CAMBRIDGE, ON — Allianz Global Assistance Canada’s ninth annual Vacation Confidence Index Study shows that Canadians were heading into 2026 with increasing confidence in their travel plans and evolving destination preferences.

That good news comes with a caveat, however. The Vacation Confidence Index is based on an Ipsos survey conducted Oct. 20 – 22, 2025, before the U.S. administration’s Jan. 3 strike on Venezuela and the potential impact on Caribbean bookings.

Allianz says the survey gathered responses from a representative sample of 2,001 Canadian adults. The study examines year-over-year trends in vacation intentions, barriers and the evolving role of travel insurance in Canadians’ travel plans.

Seven in 10 Canadians said they were confident they will take a vacation this year, a significant nine-point increase from last year. Confidence is strongest among families with children (77%) and high-income earners ($100K+, 85%), as well as younger generations, with 71% of Gen Z, Millennials and Gen X planning trips compared to 63% of Boomers.

Seven out of 10 (70%) of Canadians believe annual vacations are important for their wellbeing, with even higher importance among parents and younger demographics.

“Canadians are eager to make travel a reality in 2026, and this confidence underscores the need for proper protection,” said Tayjua Squire, Manager, Corporate Communications at Allianz.

Domestic travel was the top choice at 38%, followed by Mexico and the

Caribbean (24%) and Europe (15%). Travel to the U.S. has dropped eight points from last year.