MIAMI, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — When did adults stop enjoying free time? To explore this question, Club Med, the pioneer of all-inclusive vacations, has released its inaugural research report, Club Med The Art of Free Time Report 2026. Conducted by Wakefield Research, the study explores how North Americans experience free time, what holds them back from trying something new, and the opportunities to rediscover joy, curiosity, and discovery.

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Wakefield Research conducted the study among 2,000 adults in the United States and Canada, and it reveals a striking tension. More than eight in 10 North Americans (81%) say they miss the sense of wonder they had as a kid more than the free time they had then, while 87% say obligations take priority over the things they want to do for enjoyment at least some of the time.

Club Med calls it the “Joy Gap”: the distance between wanting more fun, curiosity and discovery and making room for those experiences in everyday life.

The desire hasn’t disappeared. When North Americans do follow their curiosity, the payoff is overwhelmingly positive: nearly nine in 10 (88%) experienced at least one positive impact the last time they challenged themselves to try something new. And vacation may give curiosity more room, with 79% saying they’re likely to try an activity they’ve never done before on their next trip.

The Joy Gap:
What’s getting in the way of fun?

The report reveals several tensions shaping North Americans’ relationship with free time:

When the to-do list wins: Why adults struggle to make time for play

North Americans aren’t necessarily short on things they would enjoy doing. Everyday life can simply make it difficult to act on them.

The desire to explore remains strong, with 79% of North Americans saying they’re likely to try an activity they’ve never done before on their next vacation. Yet 41% say obligations take priority over the things they want to do for enjoyment most or all of the time.

The findings point to an interesting tension: the curiosity adults struggle to make room for in everyday life appears ready to reemerge when they travel.

Removed from familiar routines and responsibilities, vacation can give people more freedom to follow their curiosity without needing to master an activity, be productive, or turn a new interest into another accomplishment. Sometimes, the value is simply in trying.

The payoff of trying something new

The research suggests making room for curiosity isn’t just something North Americans want; it can have a meaningful payoff.

Nearly nine in 10 North Americans (88%) experienced at least one positive impact the last time they challenged themselves to try something new.

Yet taking that first step isn’t always easy. Equipment, lessons, and upfront costs can turn a passing curiosity into a commitment before the experience ever begins.

More than three-quarters of North Americans (80%) agree there are activities they’d like to try but haven’t because the cost of trying them or getting the necessary gear feels too expensive when they aren’t sure they’ll enjoy them.

Vacation can lower some of those barriers by putting new experiences within reach without requiring the same long-term commitment. At Club Med, sports, activities, and experiences are built into the stay, giving guests the freedom to try something new, return to something they love, or simply move on to whatever catches their attention next.

Freedom is the new luxury

The Joy Gap isn’t only about finding time for enjoyment. It’s also about having the freedom to discover what brings us joy, without feeling the need to plan, accomplish, or make every moment count.

Nine in 10 North Americans (91%) agree that, when traveling, luxury is the freedom to do what they want, when they want, rather than fine dining and being pampered. And 74% prefer an open-ended vacation with opportunities to explore or do something spontaneous rather than following a detailed daily itinerary.

The findings suggest that freedom itself may be key to closing the Joy Gap. When people can follow their interests, change plans, or simply enjoy doing nothing, they have more room for the spontaneity, curiosity, and discovery they miss in everyday life.

Explore the complete findings and research methodology in the full report.

“Club Med was created for happiness, and more than 75 years later, our research suggests people are still struggling to make room for it,” said Carolyne Doyon, President and CEO of Club Med North America and the Caribbean. “Our curiosity hasn’t disappeared, and neither has our desire to experience something new. But somewhere along the way, we’ve lost some of the spontaneity and playfulness that once came so naturally. Through The Art of Free Time, we hope to inspire people to rediscover that sense of wonder, embrace the unexpected, and make more room for the moments that bring them joy.”

The Art of Free Time

The research launches alongside The Art of Free Time, Club Med’s new global platform celebrating a lifestyle rooted in freedom, joy, and possibility.

Inspired by the brand’s Mediterranean heritage and founding promise of happiness through shared experiences, The Art of Free Time gives Club Med’s longstanding philosophy a modern expression: time is the canvas; what guests choose to do with it is entirely their own.

Across Club Med’s collection of mountain, beach, and island resorts, that might mean trying a new sport, discovering a local flavor, spending time with family and friends, joining something on a whim, or doing absolutely nothing at all.

There is no prescribed version of the perfect vacation and no expectation to optimize every hour. Guests can make a plan, change it, or simply see where the day takes them.

About Club Med The Art of Free Time Report 2026

Club Med The Art of Free Time Report 2026 is based on a survey conducted by Wakefield Research among 2,000 adults ages 21+ in the United States and Canada, including 1,000 U.S. adults and 1,000 Canadian adults, between September 11 and September 23, 2026, using an email invitation and online survey. Data was weighted. Findings cited in this release reflect combined U.S. and Canadian respondents.

About Club Med

Club Med, founded in 1950 by Gérard Blitz, is the pioneer of the all-inclusive concept, operating nearly 60 premium resorts in stunning locations around the world, including North and South America, the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Mediterranean. Each Club Med resort features authentic local style and comfortably upscale accommodations, superior sports programming and activities, enriching children’s programs, gourmet dining, and warm and friendly service by its world-renowned staff with legendary hospitality skills, an all-encompassing energy and diverse backgrounds.

Club Med operates in 40 countries spanning 5 continents and continues to maintain its authentic Club Med spirit with an international staff of more than 23,000 employees from more than 110 different nationalities. Led by its pioneering spirit, Club Med continues to grow and adapt to each market with three to five new resort openings or renovations per year, including a new mountain resort annually.

For more information, visit www.clubmed.us, call 1-800-Club-Med (1-800-258-2633), or contact a preferred travel professional. For an inside look at Club Med, follow Club Med on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Media contact:
Malaika Hollis
Alliance Connection
Malaika@allianceconnection.com

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SOURCE Club Med