{"id":61188,"date":"2025-10-15T13:07:47","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T13:07:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/newsroom\/?p=61188"},"modified":"2025-10-15T13:07:53","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T13:07:53","slug":"expedia-fan-voyage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/newsroom\/expedia-fan-voyage\/","title":{"rendered":"From Sumo Wrestling to Banana Ball: Expedia Identifies Global Trend in Cultural Sports Tourism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>New \u201cFan Voyage\u201d travel trend from Expedia reveals travelers are seeking local sporting experiences<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Expedia\u2019s annual travel trend report, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.expedia.com\/unpack26\/fan-voyage?brandcid=EXPEDIA-US.COMMS.PR.UNPACK26.GENERIC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Unpack \u201926<\/a>, introduces \u201cFan Voyage,\u201d a trend centered on sport experiences that go beyond the game to celebrate tradition and local community. According to new data insights, more than half (57%) of travelers say they\u2019re likely to attend a uniquely regional sporting event while on a trip, showing a growing appetite for immersive, culturally rich sporting experiences among global travelers.*\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe know sports fans will travel this year for the major soccer championships in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and the Winter games in Italy, but Fan Voyage is about more than just watching a game \u2013 it\u2019s about stepping into the heart of a culture,\u201d said Melanie Fish, VP of Communications at Expedia Group. \u201cTravelers want more than stadium lights \u2014 they want stories, rituals, and realness, seeking deeper connections with the places they visit through local sports.\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From sumo wrestling in Japan to Muay Thai in Thailand, travelers \u2014 particularly Gen Z and Millennial travelers (68%) \u2014 are seeking front-row seats to learn about timeless traditions. Fan Voyage is all about community, culture, and feeling like a local.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Expedia\u2019s Hottest Fan Voyage Tickets for 2026:*&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Sumo Wrestling, Japan<\/strong> \u2013 A centuries-old showdown where athletes clash in a circular ring using strength and balance&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Muay Thai, Thailand<\/strong> \u2013 A fierce martial art in a rhythmic, full-body fight&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Curling, Canada <\/strong>\u2013 A strategic ice sport where players slide stones toward a target while teammates sweep the ice to guide its path&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Baseball, South Korea<\/strong> \u2013 A high-energy, offense-driven sport full of choreographed chants and dances&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Australian Rules Football, Australia \u2013<\/strong> A fast-paced hybrid of soccer and rugby with nonstop action and sky-high kicks&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Banana Ball, U.S.<\/strong> \u2013 A wild, rule-breaking twist on baseball where dancing players, trick plays, and nonstop entertainment steal the show&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Capoeira, Brazil <\/strong>\u2013 A blend of martial arts, dance, and acrobatics performed to live music.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lucha Libre, Mexico <\/strong>\u2013 A colorful wrestling spectacle where masked heroes and villains battle in choreographed matches&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Hurling, Ireland<\/strong> \u2013 One of the world\u2019s fastest field sports, combining elements of hockey and lacrosse&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Caber Tossing, Scotland <\/strong>\u2013 A Highland Games classic where athletes show their strength and precision&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out how to get front-row seats to Fan Voyage events <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/unpack26\/fan-voyage?brandcid=EXPEDIA-US.COMMS.PR.UNPACK26.GENERIC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Notes to Editors<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>*Third-Party Methodology<\/strong>&nbsp;<br>Third-party research was conducted by market research partner OnePoll in accordance with the Market Research Society\u2019s Code of Conduct. The Study was conducted online among 24,000 adult respondents across 18 countries, who are planning domestic or international travel in the next three years. Gen Z respondents are defined as those aged 18 to 24, while the combined Gen Z and Millennial group includes all respondents aged 18 to 44.<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>*Expedia \u2014 Fan Voyage&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Top unique sporting activities based on global consumer survey data.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About Unpack \u201926<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q: What is Unpack \u201926?<\/strong>&nbsp;<br><strong>A:<\/strong>\u202f<em>Unpack \u201926<\/em>\u202fis the\u202f<strong>annual global travel insights report<\/strong>\u202ffrom Expedia Group, building on years of trend forecasting and traveler behavior analysis. It draws on\u202f<strong>first-party data<\/strong>\u202ffrom Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo, along with insights from\u202f<strong>24,000 travelers across 18 countries<\/strong>, making it one of the most comprehensive travel trend reports in the industry.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q: What makes Unpack \u201926 a credible source for travel trends?<\/strong>&nbsp;<br><strong>A:<\/strong>\u202fThe report combines\u202f<strong>real-time platform data<\/strong>\u202ffrom millions of users with\u202f<strong>third-party research<\/strong>\u202fconducted by OnePoll, following the Market Research Society\u2019s Code of Conduct. Its findings are backed by behavioral insights, booking patterns, and cultural signals, making it a trusted resource for media, industry leaders, and travelers alike.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q: Where can I access the full Unpack \u201926 report and assets?<\/strong>&nbsp;<br><strong>A:<\/strong>\u202fVisit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/newsroom\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">www.expedia.com\/newsroom<\/a> for the full\u202fUnpack \u201926\u202freport, downloadable assets, and brand-specific insights from Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo.<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New \u201cFan Voyage\u201d travel trend from Expedia reveals travelers are seeking local sporting experiences. Expedia\u2019s annual travel trend report, Unpack&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":61185,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[106,60,101],"tags":[],"companies":[43],"locations":[51],"class_list":["post-61188","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brand","category-featured","category-travel-trends-2","companies-expedia","locations-seattle","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Expedia Identifies Global Trend in Cultural Sports Tourism<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Expedia\u2019s introduces \u201cFan Voyage,\u201d a trend centered on sport experiences that go beyond the game to celebrate tradition and local community.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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