Richmond – October 28, 2026 -- New York City is the most popular domestic Thanksgiving destination for 2026, and Cancun leads the international list, according to travel insurer Allianz Partners' Top Thanksgiving Destinations report. The survey behind it found that nearly 62% of respondents chose their destination to be close to loved ones, and the median insured trip cost $875.
New York leads the domestic list, with Orlando and Seattle behind it
Orlando takes second place and Seattle third. Dallas is fourth and Phoenix fifth. Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Fort Lauderdale complete the top 10.
Cancun, San José del Cabo and Punta Cana top the international ranking
Mexico and the Caribbean dominate the overseas picks. Cancun is No. 1, San José del Cabo No. 2 and Punta Cana No. 3, followed by London in fourth and Aruba's Oranjestad in fifth. Montego Bay, Paris, Puerto Vallarta, Nassau and Mexico City round out the top 10.
Two-thirds of travelers are going to see family or friends
In Allianz Partners' 2026 Thanksgiving Travel Intent Survey, 67% of policyholders said they are traveling mainly to visit family or friends. Others are going to weddings, birthdays, anniversaries or sporting events.
Many are also stretching the holiday. Nearly one-third (32.4%) of respondents plan to add vacation days or are considering it, and 20% have already decided to extend their trip. Those extending report a median trip length of eight days, against six days for holiday-only travelers.
Nine in ten travelers are confident their trips will happen
Some 90.5% of surveyed policyholders said they are very confident their Thanksgiving trips will take place. About 68.6% booked between one and six months before departure.
Emily Hartman, General Manager at Allianz Partners, said the findings show how much Americans value connection, adding that travel protection can help travelers feel "more prepared for unexpected disruptions."
Allianz Partners details what its insurance may cover
Depending on the plan, travel insurance may provide benefits for covered trip cancellations, travel delays, baggage issues and emergency medical situations. Allianz Partners also advises travelers with longer getaways to check that their policy covers the full itinerary, including any extra vacation days.
The data covers Allianz customers only
The destination rankings come from just over 145,000 itineraries for roundtrip flights from U.S. airports. They departed between Nov. 21 and 26, 2026, returned between Nov. 27 and Dec. 1, and were bought with Allianz Global Assistance Travel Insurance. The intent survey drew on 1,524 Allianz Travel Insurance customers traveling at least 100 miles from home, with departures between Nov. 20 and 26, 2026.