The motto is: Lose yourself…
No longer is a villa just a place to sleep; it has become a private sanctuary designed for deep connection, heritage, and ‘quiet luxury‘. More holiday makers are moving away from crowded hubs in favour of islands and villages that offer authentic, slow-paced Mediterranean living.
The holiday trend for this season is a departure from villas that just look good  towards places that also make us feel good.

Here are the top summer villa trends and the destinations leading the way for 2026

1. The Rise of ‘Country Living and Culture Loving’

Villa Vigla in the village of Stylos, Crete. View of the outdoor dining area and garden

In 2026, the holiday trend is ‘back to the roots’. Holiday makers are looking for villas that are integrated into working villages and nestled in country estates, think olive groves in Crete or lemon orchards in Sicily. These stays often include shopping at local farmers markets and home cooked dining experiences, a real interest in the history of the place and the wish to partake in local life.

Crete, Greece

Maros Spitaki, Varipetro, Chania, view of the pool, terrace, garden

Crete continues to dominate as a leader in sustainable, nature-first villa holidays. The trend here for 2026 is moving toward the White Mountains, the Apokoronas region and the hinterlands of Western Crete.

  • The Holiday Trend 2026: Eco-luxury villas that use solar power and offer large outdoor cooking and dining areas often with stone built ovens for cooking ‘slow food’ and dining together under the evening sky .
    Highlight: With multiple flights into Heraklion’s new Kastelli Airport, interest in the island’s eastern and central regions will be peaking, but the savvy traveler is heading to Chania Airport and booking secluded retreats in the foothills of the Lefka Ori for ultimate privacy.
View of Lake Kournas, Crete

Sicily, Italy

Apartment Torre Archirafi, Riposto, Sicily, View of the terrace with tables and sunbeds. The sea and gardens beyond

Following its “Capital of Culture” legacy, Sicily has seen a surge in demand for villas as a base for a holiday that mixes luxurious living with views of the sea and ‘ancient ruins’. Life in an open-air museum is the motto, with historic sites and other cultural ‘must-sees’ wherever one turns.

  • The Holiday Trend 2026: The focus is on the Noto Valley, the slopes of Mount Etna, Taormina and Syracuse, combining a day at the pool with a sunset performance at the Greek Theatre of Syracuse or the Taormina Film Fest in the Teatro Antico.
Villa Dimora di Circe, Ispica, Sicily. View from the dining area out to the beach and the sea

2. ‘Set-Jetting’ & Cinematic Escapism

The influence of film and television on travel remains huge. In 2026, holidaymakers want to live in the aesthetics of their favourite Mediterranean-set films and TV shows, and experience the vibe of the destination, leading to a boom in high-end, photogenic villas in the Ionian and Adriatic.

Kefalonia, Greece

Pithari Sunset Villa, Fiskardo, Kefalonia, sunset view of the terrace and infinity pool and the landscape and sea below in the distance

Kefalonia is seeing a refined evolution, the Holiday Trend 2026 is ‘Honeymoon Indulgence‘.
Smaller luxury villas with infinity pools and sunset views over Fiskardo or the Bay of Skala.

Villa Mentas, Skala, Kefalonia the view from the villa over the terrace and infinity pool to the sea below
  • The Holiday Trend 2026: Private yacht charters to explore the Blue Caves, Melisani Lake and Fiskardo by water. Star gazing from Mount Aenos ‘International Dark Sky Park‘.
Kefalonia, Greece, a cove with clear water and a boat, a person swimming in the sea

Brač, Croatia

Villa Pine Haven, Bobovišca, Braç, Croatia. View from above of the villa, the pool and gardens, the surrounding trees and the bay

Brač is the rising star of the Adriatic for 2026. While Hvar is for the party, Brač is for the ‘Cool & Collected’.

  • The Holiday Trend 2026: Restored townhouses with beautiful gardens and pools and ultra-modern villas built from the island’s famous white limestone (the very same as used for the White House).
Villa Vicina, Milna, Braç. View of the house, pool outdoor seating areas and garden

3. The ‘Seaside Active Escape’

While Mallorca and Menorca are staples, the way we visit them is changing.
2026 is about quiet luxury and an absence of ‘spectacle’, instead we look for a base camp for exploring the island’s outdoors.

Mallorca, Spain

Villa Papa, Cala San Vincente, Mallorca. The open plan dining are with the kitchen beind

Mallorca’s North West is leaning into its sophisticated side. Sensitively converted Fincas, endless space, beautiful gardens and pools with extensive views of the countryside.

  • The Holiday Trend 2026: A high-end home with a pool for recovery, but with a hiking trail starting pretty much right at the garden gate. The focus is on a mental reset rather than just a tan.
Villa Moreno, Pollença, Mallorca, view of the pool and some of the garden, orchards and hills behind

Menorca, Spain

Menorca remains the ‘low-key’ sister to Mallorca, and in 2026, it is the destination for those seeking a total digital detox.

Casa Madoria, Sant Climent, Menorca. View of one part of the living room with seating area and large wardrobes
  • The Holiday Trend 2026: Traditional Menorcan farmhouses transformed into high-spec villas and seaside villas, on an island that has UNESCO Biosphere status and a historic 185 km walking trail that circles the entire place. Locations like  Binibeca and Son Bou are seeing a high volume of early bookings for 2026.
Villa Bini Sac, Binisafuller, Menorca. View from the sea up to the villa and garden

Would you like to see more?
You can browse all of our Villas in the Mediterranean here… and please call us if you’d like us to help you find the perfect property for you!

A little beach in Braç, the sea in shades of turquoise. A town and mountains in the distance