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The year 2026 brings significant travel changes for Brits heading to the EU and beyond, so make sure you know the new rules coming into effect this year, and how they might impact your holiday plans

The travel landscape is always changing, with shifts in airport rules, tourism limitations, and additional paperwork often leaving holidaymakers puzzled about how the changes will affect them and what they need to do.

It seems that 2026 will see the way people travel change once more, especially for Brits journeying to or from the EU. The potential need for a visa waiver looms large, and the new entry and exit system is set to be introduced this year. But what does this mean for the typical holidaymaker?

Below is a rundown of some of the key travel rules you will want on your radar if you’ve got a trip lined up.

ETIAS – EU Visas

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is a new visa waiver programme for exempt visitors travelling to the EU. It’s a lot like the United States’ ESTA, and the process 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 that allows you to enter the Schengen Area without a visa. While the process will be simple, the main downside is that the visa will set you back €20 per person, about £17, with under 18s and over 70s exempt from the charge.

However, once approved, the ETIAS will remain valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. At present, no official launch date for ETIAS has been announced, but it’s wise to keep an eye out for any updates. Recently, Spain announced they were pushing the date back. It was thought that ETIAS would be required to visit the country by October 2026, but due to operational challenges, there will be a six month grace period, so it won’t be mandatory until April 2027.

As when applying for any travel visa or official document, it’s highly recommended to only use the official ETIAS website and avoid third-party sites.

EU Entry/Exit System (EES)

After multiple delays, the Entry/Exit System (EES) is set to be fully implemented by the deadline of April 10. Luckily, you don’t need to do anything once this system is in place, but Brits are being warned to they could face long airport queues upon arrival in the EU.

Once in place, anyone from outside the Schengen Area, including Brits, 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 set to make it easier for EU officials to identify those who overstay.

Car passengers from the Port of Dover were set to go through the EES system from October, but the date has now been pushed back until “early 2026”, with no exact date confirmed.

Tourist tax hikes and higher attraction fees

Brits travelling to certain countries could get caught out by additional charges as governments try to tackle overtourism.

A growing number of destinations are introducing tourist taxes, and while these are usually small nightly fees, they can quickly add up for longer stays or larger groups. English mayors are also set to gain the power to impose tourist taxes, meaning even domestic holidays could carry extra costs.

New tourist taxes set to kick off in 2026 include Edinburgh, where a 5% surcharge will be added to hotel bills from July, and Thailand, which will impose a 300 baht fee (roughly £7) on air passengers.

Brits jetting off overseas may also find themselves forking out more than the locals to gain entry to popular attractions. A prime example is Paris’s Louvre, which recently declared that from early 2026, EEA residents will be asked to cough up €22 (approximately £19.15) for admission, while those outside the EEA, including Brits, will face a steeper €32 entrance fee (around £27.86).

U.S. National Parks are also planning to roll out a two-tier pricing system for American citizens and tourists. The latter group will be slapped with an extra $100 charge on top of standard fees to access famous parks such as the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. This additional cost can be charged per person or per vehicle, depending on the park’s rules.

For instance, a family trip to the Grand Canyon usually sets visitors back by $35 (roughly £25.87) for a private car. However, under the new regulations for non-Americans, this fee will rocket to a whopping $135, meaning tourists could end up shelling out just shy of £100 merely to cross the threshold.

Rowdy passenger fines

A new French law is cracking down on out-of-control passengers, a move that could soon be followed by other EU countries. Travellers flying through French airspace who break rules such as using electronic devices when asked not to, obstructing flight crew, or ignoring safety instructions, now face hefty fines of up to €10,000 and bans from flying for up to four years.

For those who repeatedly flout the rules, fines can rocket to €20,000, serving as a stern warning to be on your best behaviour when flying. The French Civil Aviation Authority will keep a record of misbehaviour, allowing French airlines to report troublesome passengers and pinpoint repeat offenders.

Changes to liquid rules

UK airports are working to abolish the 100ml liquids rule, with new high-tech scanners being rolled out which means passengers won’t need to adhere to the strict restrictions that have been in place for years.

There was an original deadline of June 2024 for all UK airports to have these in place, but this has been repeatedly delayed, with some airports having finished the roll out, and others still doing the upgrades. As a result, your best bet is to check the rules at your individual airport.

The UK government advises on its website: “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 2 litres of liquid.”

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Passengers at Birmingham, Gatwick, and Edinburgh airports can now pack up to two litres of liquids in their carry-on bags, thanks to upgraded scanning technology. Over at Luton Airport, while the 100ml rule still applies, there’s no need to separate liquids from your hand luggage anymore.

This means you can throw out those tiny plastic bags, and simply put your hand luggage on the belt, saving time when going through security.

However, it’s important to bear in mind that rules may vary at your destination. So, if you’re carrying a two-litre bottle from the UK in your hand luggage, you might have to stow it in your checked luggage for the return trip.

Tougher smoking and vaping restrictions

Several Spanish holiday destinations popular with Brits are planning stricter rules on smoking and vaping in public spaces. In some tourist magnets like Barcelona and the Balearic Islands, lighting up a cigarette or vape is already banned on beaches, while certain beaches in the Canaries have been designated as ‘clean-air zones’.

However, new proposals potentially coming into force in 2026 could see a blanket ban on smoking and vaping in various outdoor areas, including beaches and bar terraces across Spain, with instant fines for rule-breakers. In the Canary Islands, penalties for breaching anti-smoking laws currently range from €30 to €2,000 (roughly £26 to £1,730), so similar fines are expected to accompany the new regulations.

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While the change to passports came several years ago, there’s one check that many Brits still aren’t making, which could mean they’re denied boarding when they’re planning to jet off on their summer holiday

With the sixth anniversary of Brexit at the end of the month, most Brits have got used to the changes when they travel, and many will be using their blue passports to take a holiday somewhere sunny this summer.

However, there’s one passport rule that continues to catch out Brits time and time again, and every summer there are reports of holidaymakers having their trips delayed or cancelled due to not being allowed to board the plane – and it’s not just about the expiry date.

Checking your passport now means you can avoid a last-minute rush to the passport office days before your holiday, and still have plenty of time to rectify the issue before travelling to the airport.

Pre-Brexit, if you sent your passport off for renewal and it still had some remaining validity, up to nine months could be transferred to your new passport. This meant some Brits would have adult passports valid for ten years and nine months. At the time, the passport could be used for the entire duration of its validity when travelling in the EU.

But since Brexit, a new rule means that Brits must have passports issued less than 10 years before the date they entered the country. So, if you’re on an old passport, it may still be valid for the time of travel, but could push you past the 10 year rule.

It’s also worth remembering that passports need to be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to fly back from EU countries, while some non-EU destinations will ask for six months left. Make sure you check your passports validity based on the date you plan to return to the UK, not your departure date.

The reason why it’s best to check your passport now is that it’s much quicker to sort out a passport renewal this time of year rather than in the peak summer months.

According to X account @passportwaiting, which tracks the average time a passport application takes to process, the current time to process a renewal for an adult passport is just under nine days. This is based on data provided by people who’ve recently renewed or applied for their first passport.

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In the past, there have been delays at the Passport Office, which have led to Brits waiting weeks for their travel documents to come through. In 2022, a surge of applicants looking to renew their passports for post-COVID travel faced delays of up to 10 weeks, leading to cancelled holidays and travel chaos.

For an adult passport, renewing online costs £94.50, or £107 if you want to apply using a paper form. However, if you need a passport at the last minute, the price goes up to £178 for a fast track one week renewal, or a whopping £222 to use the one day premium service. Again, this shows it’s sensible to sort out any passport issues as early as possible so you aren’t out of pocket.

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From EU border fingerprint checks to new visa waivers and tourist taxes, British holidaymakers face major changes in 2026. Here are some of the most important ones you need to know about before you jet off

The world of travel is constantly changing, with alterations to airport regulations, tourism restrictions, and new paperwork to complete. These changes can often leave holidaymakers scratching their heads, unsure of how they’ll be affected or what steps they need to take.

The upcoming year promises a wave of significant changes, particularly for Brits traveling to or from the EU. The potential requirement for a visa waiver is on the horizon, and the new entry and exit system is likely to be implemented this year, reports the Express.

But what does this mean for the average holidaymaker? And what do Brits need to sort out before they set off? Here’s a breakdown of some of the changes you need to keep an eye on if you have a trip booked.

EU Entry/Exit System (EES)

After numerous delays, the Entry/Exit System (EES) finally got off the ground in October. This means anyone from outside the Schengen Area, including Brits, will have to provide fingerprints and a facial image at the border when entering EU countries.

This initiative aims to phase out manual passport stamps and make it easier to monitor tourists who overstay their welcome. However, the roll-out of the system has hit a number of snags.

For instance, the Port of Dover was initially set to start using EES in October for car passengers, but this was pushed back to early 2026 to prevent delays over the busy festive season. Not all EU airports have the system up and running yet, so if you’re planning to travel early next year, your experience may differ.

The deadline for full implementation across all Schengen members, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, is set for 10 April 2026. Once operational, travellers won’t need to do anything beforehand, but there may be lengthier airport queues as people adjust to the new system.

ETIAS – EU Visas

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is a new visa waiver programme for exempt visitors making trips to the EU. It’s similar to the United States’ ESTA, and the procedure will be largely the same.

Once implemented, Brits planning an EU holiday will need to complete an ETIAS application, which is a pre-screening that permits you to enter the Schengen Area without a visa.

The downside is that the visa will cost €7 per person (roughly £6.10). However, once approved, the ETIAS will remain valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever happens first.

Currently, no launch date has been declared on the official ETIAS website, but it’s advisable to stay alert for any updates. The launch date for ETIAS has already been postponed several times, and while it’s presently set for Q4 of 2026, which is October, there could still be delays in rolling out the system.

As with any travel visa or application, only use the official ETIAS website for applications and steer clear of third-party sites.

Brits face bigger bills on arrival

Overtourism has consistently made the news throughout 2025, and Brits travelling to certain countries might be caught off guard by unforeseen additional costs.

An increasing number of destinations are implementing tourist taxes, and while these are typically minor nightly fees, they can quickly accumulate for extended stays or larger groups. English mayors are also set to be given the authority to impose tourist taxes, meaning even staycations could come with added expenses.

New tourist taxes set to begin in 2026 include Edinburgh, where a 5% surcharge will be added to hotel bills from July, and Thailand, which will levy a 300 baht fee (approximately £7) on air passengers.

Brits heading abroad might also discover they’re charged more than locals to visit popular sites. A recent case in point is the Louvre in Paris, which announced that from early 2026, EEA residents will be charged €22 for entry, roughly £19.15, whereas those from outside the EEA, including Brits, will be hit with a €32 admission fee (around £27.86).

U.S. National Parks are set to introduce a two-tier pricing system for American citizens and tourists, with the latter being hit with an additional $100 fee on top of standard charges to gain entry into popular parks such as the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. This surcharge can be applied per person or per vehicle, depending on the park’s policy.

For instance, a family visiting the Grand Canyon typically pays $35 (roughly £25.87) for a private car. However, under the new rules for non-Americans, this will skyrocket to a staggering $135, meaning visitors could pay just under £100 to simply pass through the gates.

Changes to liquid rules

Air travellers should stay up-to-date with any changes to liquid rules at their departure and destination airports, as the 100ml rule is often subject to change and has even been scrapped in some places due to advancements in technology.

At Birmingham, Gatwick, and Edinburgh airports, passengers can now carry up to two litres of liquids in their hand luggage, thanks to enhanced scanning technology. Meanwhile, at Luton Airport, while the 100ml rule remains in effect, there’s no longer a requirement to remove liquids from your hand luggage. This means the small plastic bag is no longer necessary; you can simply place your luggage in the scanner.

However, it’s important to remember that the regulations at your destination may differ. So, if you bring a two-litre bottle from the UK in your hand luggage, it might need to be stowed in a checked bag for your return journey.

Tightening of smoking and vaping bans

Several Spanish holiday hotspots favoured by Brits are considering imposing stricter regulations on smoking and vaping in public areas. In certain tourist hotspots like Barcelona and the Balearic Islands, puffing away on a cigarette or vape is already prohibited on beaches, while some Canaries’ beaches have been declared ‘clean-air zones’.

However, new proposals set to potentially take effect in 2026 could see a total ban on smoking and vaping in various outdoor spaces, including beaches and bar terraces throughout Spain, with immediate fines for those flouting the rules. In the Canary Islands, penalties for violating anti-smoking laws currently range from €30 to €2,000 (approximately £26 to £1,730), so it’s anticipated that similar fines would accompany the new regulations.

Crackdowns on unruly passengers

A recently enacted law in France, which may soon be replicated across other EU nations, is set to clamp down hard on disruptive behaviour among air passengers.

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Starting from November, passengers traversing French airspace who commit offences such as using an electronic device when forbidden, hindering flight crew, or failing to adhere to safety instructions, will face hefty fines of up to €10,000 and flight bans lasting up to four years. For repeat offenders, fines can soar to €20,000, serving as a stern reminder for passengers to maintain decorum when flying over France.

The French Civil Aviation Authority will maintain a database of misconduct, enabling French airlines to report troublesome passengers and identify habitual offenders.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com