The current spell of grim weather could well be the time that many of us start to think about planning a holiday abroad. Even if it’s many months off, the mere thought of basking in some sunshine on a trip to come can be enough to carry us through the winter months.
And it’s important to know that 2026 has some big changes in store that we have to factor in to that planning. Holidaymakers can find themselves regularly facing shifts in the likes of airport rules, new tourism limitations and additional paperwork so it’s no surprise if they find travel arrangements confusing.
This year, British travellers to and from the EU have even more to think about. For example, as previously reported, the much-talked-about entry and exit system is set to be introduced this year.
The potential need for a visa waiver is looming large too, reports The Mirror which rounds up six key changes facing the typical holidaymaker. Below are some rules for 2026 to note for those planning a trip abroad to the EU or beyond.
EU Entry/Exit System (EES)
There has been much in the news over this new system, including multiple delays to its planned implementation date, but is due to be fully in place by the deadline of April 10. Luckily, Brits will not need to do anything once this happens but they could face long airport queues when they arrive in the EU.
The EES means anyone from outside the Schengen Area (the zone of 29 countries which have abolished internal border controls ) – so that includes us -will have to submit fingerprints and a facial image at the border when entering all Schengen member countries, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. It means the phasing out of manual passport stamps and is expected to make it easier for EU officials to identify those who overstay.
Car passengers from the Port of Dover were due to go through the EES system from last October but there were delays. It is now set to be in place early 2026 although no exact date is yet confirmed.
ETIAS – EU Visas
This is a new visa waiver programme for exempt visitors travelling to the EU. ETIAS – European Travel Information and Authorisation System – is much like the United States’ ESTA and the process involved will be similar for those planning a European holiday.
Once in place, Brits planning an EU getaway will need to fill out an ETIAS application which is a pre-screening allowing entry into the Schengen Area without a visa. This process will be simple but the downside is that the visa costs €20, about £17, per person, although under-18s and over 70s are exempt from the charge.
Once approved, the ETIAS will remain valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. No official launch date for ETIAS has yet been announced so keep an eye out for any updates.
Spain, for instance, had been set to require an ETIAS by October this year but this has been postponed because of operational challenges and, due to a six-month period of grace, the system is not now expected to be mandatory there until April 2027.
As is the case for any travel visa or official document, when it comes to applying for an ETIAS, it is important to use only the official website and not any third-party sites. For the ETIAS website see here.
Rises in tourist tax and attraction fees
Holidaymakers could find they will have to pay abroad more than local people to visit popular attractions. The famous Louvre in Paris, for instance, has said that from early 2026 visitors from outside the EEA – including us – will have to pay a €32 entrance fee (around £27.86) compared to €22 (about £19.15) for a EEA resident.
US National Parks also plans a two-tier pricing system. Tourists will pay an extra $100 charge on top of standard fees to access famous parks such as the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone, which will not apply to American citizens. Depending upon park rules, the additional cost can be charged per person or per vehicle.
For instance, a family trip to the Grand Canyon usually costs visitors $35 (about £25.87) for a private car. Under the new regulations, this fee for tourists will shoot up to $135 meaning a whopping payment – the equivalent of just under £100 – just to cross the threshold.
Tax hikes are set to be another upcoming extra cost. With certain overseas governments focused upon tackling over-tourism, additional charges are being imposed which are set to affect holidaymakers.
More destinations are introducing tourist taxes and while these extra fees are usually small, they will soon add up for longer stays or larger groups. Mayors in this country are set to given the power to impose tourist taxes too, so these would also affect our holidays at home.
Locations due to begin tourist taxes in 2026 include Edinburgh, where a 5% surcharge will be added to hotel bills from July. Thailand is another and, there, air passengers will face a 300 baht fee, which is about £7.
Fines for problem passengers
Unruly air passengers who refuse to behave well on a plane soon could find themselves saying sorry in money. EU countries may well follow a new French law which aims to crack down on out-of-control passengers.
Fines of up to €10,000 now face travellers flying through French airspace who break rules by, for instance, disobeying requests not to use electronic devices; obstructing flight crew or ignoring safety instructions. They will also face a ban from flying for up to four years.
The French Civil Aviation Authority is to keep a record of misbehaviour, allowing French airlines to report troublesome passengers and pinpoint repeat offenders. For anyone repeatedly flouting the rules, the fines can increase to €20,000,
Changes to liquid rules
The 100ml liquids rule is always a headache for travellers, especially those planning to take just hand luggage on a short overseas break and finding it nearly impossible to squeeze essentials into the designated one small plastic bag. UK airports are working to abolish the strict restrictions, to be replaced by new high-tech scanners.
The original deadline for these to be in place at all UK airports was June 2024 but again there have been delays affecting many plans. Some airports have finished the roll-out but others are still being upgraded so travellers need to check the rules with individual airports.
For example, Newcastle Airport now allows liquids to remain in hand luggage instead of being placed inside a clear plastic bag but the 100ml rule applies. Other airports may differ.
The Government website says: “At most airports, you cannot take liquids in containers larger than 100ml through security. This still applies if the container is only part full.
“Some airports may allow you to take liquid in containers that hold up to two litres of liquid.” These include Birmingham, Gatwick and Edinburgh where, thanks to upgraded scanning technology, passengers can pack up to two litres of liquids in their carry-on bags.
But it is important to remember that rules may differ at the destination airport too. So, anyone carrying a two-litre bottle from the UK in hand luggage and who hasn’t drunk it by the time they go home may have to stow it in their checked luggage for the return trip.
Stricter smoking and vaping restrictions
Several popular holiday destinations in Spain already have various rules in place and some are now planning stricter rules on smoking and vaping in public spaces. Already, the likes of Barcelona and the Balearic Islands ban cigarettes and vapes on beaches.
Certain beaches in the Canaries also have been designated as ‘clean-air zones’. But new proposals, potentially coming into force in 2026, could see a blanket ban on smoking and vaping in some outdoor areas, including beaches and bar terraces, across Spain.
Rule-breakers in such cases would face instant fines. Penalties in the Canary Islands for breaching anti-smoking laws currently range from €30 to €2,000 (about £26 to £1,730) so similar amounts could be on the cards for new regulations.
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