India’s upcoming cricket season has triggered a sharp spike in domestic travel, with new data from Airbnb showing a 46% rise in searches across key match-hosting cities. The surge is being led by Gen Z travellers, nearly 60% of whom plan to travel to attend live cricket matches in 2026.
Searches between February 5 and June 2 recorded steep year-on-year growth in emerging cricket hubs. New Chandigarh topped the list with a 318% jump, followed by Raipur (232%), Ranchi (118%) and Thiruvananthapuram (114%). Jaipur and Lucknow also reported strong double-digit gains, signalling a shift beyond traditional metro centres. During the India–Pakistan weekend (February 14–17), Colombo searches surged over 325%, while Ahmedabad saw nearly 170% growth ahead of the T20 final window (March 7–10). Airbnb’s Experience-Led Travel Insights survey shows 53% of Gen Z extend trips beyond match days, with a median stay of 3–4 days. Entire home bookings rose sharply in Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Ranchi, reflecting a growing preference for group and family travel.
In Guwahati, the trend is significant as the city was part of the YouGov survey sample and continues to benefit from cricket-led travel in the Northeast corridor. Increased visitor movement during match windows is expected to support local hospitality businesses and short-term rental demand. Amanpreet Singh Bajaj, Airbnb’s Country Head for India and Southeast Asia, said cricket is increasingly shaping travel behaviour, with fans building longer, more immersive trips around marquee matches.
