Airbnb Experiences in 2026: How to Apply and Earn
What is an Airbnb Experience?
Airbnb Experiences are hosted activities, distinct from Airbnb Stays (overnight rentals). Examples: food tours, photography walks, surf lessons, cooking classes, foraging expeditions, whiskey tastings, architecture tours, art workshops. Most are commonly 2–3 hours, priced commonly $50–$150 per person, with commonly 6–10 people per session, and Airbnb has historically taken a 20% host commission on the booking price (commonly cited as the standard take rate). Hosts are commonly vetted for category expertise and storytelling ability.
Most are 2–3 hours, priced $50–$150 per person, with 6–10 people per session. Airbnb has historically taken a 20% host commission on the booking price; the exact fee structure for the newer Experiences and Services format should be verified before you commit. Check the Airbnb host center for current terms.
The 2026 status update
Airbnb paused new Experience submissions in April 2023 to clean up low-quality listings. Experiences were reintroduced as part of Airbnb's 2025 Summer Release (alongside the broader Services product). As of mid-2026, Airbnb is once again onboarding Experience hosts in many cities, though availability varies significantly by city and category.
Important: Application status varies by city and category. Check airbnb.com/host/experiences for the current status in your specific location before building a business around it. The information below is based on the public process as of June 2026.
Sources: airbnb.com/host/experiences, news.airbnb.com (Airbnb 2025 Summer Release), verified June 2026
Who Airbnb wants as a host
Airbnb has strict quality standards. They want hosts who are:
- Passionate experts in their category (chef, photographer, historian, surfer, etc.)
- Experienced guides with 1+ years of relevant professional experience
- Storytellers who can engage a group of strangers
- Locally rooted — you live in the city where you host
- Committed to running regular sessions (not a one-off)
- Multi-lingual (a plus, not required)
You don't need a hospitality background, but you do need to be able to lead a group of 6–10 strangers through a 2–3 hour experience and make them feel like they've had a great time.
How to apply
- Go to airbnb.com/host/experiences.
- Click "Apply to host."
- Create your experience listing — title, description, location, duration, price, group size, photos, what guests will do.
- Submit for review — review time varies; many hosts report several weeks.
- If approved — get listed, set your schedule, start hosting.
- If rejected — Airbnb provides feedback. After addressing it, you may be able to resubmit, subject to Airbnb's current reapplication rules.
The application is more rigorous than becoming an Airbnb host for stays. Expect to spend 4–8 hours on the initial application, including writing a detailed description, taking or sourcing 5+ professional-quality photos, and outlining your experience step-by-step.
The application quality bar
The most commonly reported reasons applications get rejected:
- Vague descriptions — "I'll show you around the city" doesn't cut it. Be specific: "I'll lead you through 3 historic neighborhoods, stopping at 4 family-owned shops for tastings and demonstrations."
- Low-quality photos — phone snapshots won't work. Use a DSLR or hire a photographer.
- No demonstrated expertise — Airbnb wants people who've been doing this for years, not people who decided to host last week.
- Pricing that doesn't match the market — too low suggests low quality, too high suggests unrealistic expectations.
- Categories that are already saturated — generic "city walking tours" in major cities are reportedly hard to get approved.
What categories are getting approved in 2026
Based on host community reports and Airbnb's published categories:
High demand (commonly reported as good odds of approval):
- Food tours (specific cuisine, specific neighborhood)
- Photography workshops (specific skill, specific location)
- Foraging and nature experiences
- Craft workshops (pottery, leather, woodworking)
- Wellness experiences (yoga, meditation, sound baths)
- Specific skill workshops (cocktail making, coffee roasting)
Saturated (commonly reported as harder to get approved):
- Generic city walking tours in major cities
- Generic "food and drink" without specificity
- Standard cooking classes in well-known cuisines
Tough (very specific expertise required):
- Historical tours requiring academic credentials
- Adventure activities requiring certifications
- Anything involving alcohol serving
Categories, approval rates, and city availability can change at any time. Verify on the official site before investing in photos, permits, or supplies.
The economics
Revenue per session (illustrative, not guaranteed)
- Group size: 6–10 people
- Price per person: $50–$150
- Total revenue: $300–$1,500 per session
- Airbnb commission (~20%, historically reported): $60–$300
- Net to host (before costs): $240–$1,200 per session
Verify the current commission rate on the official Airbnb host page before quoting prices to clients.
Costs
Most costs are upfront, not per session:
- Marketing photos: $200–$500
- Permits or licenses (if required): $50–$500
- Supplies per session: $20–$100
- Transportation to/from the meeting point: $20–$50
- Your time (2–3 hours for the session + 1–2 hours prep): 4–5 hours
Monthly income (reported ranges, not guarantees)
Reported ranges from host community surveys, with caveats:
- 4 sessions/month at an average of $700 net per session ≈ $2,800/month gross
- Top-decile hosts commonly report $5K–$15K/month, but this depends on city traffic, Airbnb's recommendation algorithm, group size, season, and costs for food, materials, venue, insurance, and assistants.
Time to first booking (reported)
- After approval: typically 1–4 weeks
- First 90 days: 1–3 bookings per week (reported by hosts)
- After 6 months with good reviews: 3–8 bookings per week (reported by hosts)
The first 3 months are slow. The first 10 reviews are the hardest to get. After 20+ positive reviews, the algorithm and search reportedly favor you.
How to write a strong application
Title: Specific, benefit-driven. "Hands-On Italian Pasta Making in Brooklyn" beats "Cooking Class in NYC."
Description: 200–400 words. Cover:
- What guests will do (step by step)
- What they'll take away (skill, knowledge, memory)
- Why you're qualified
- What's included (drinks, materials, etc.)
- Meeting point and accessibility
- Group size and language
Photos: 5+ high-quality photos showing:
- You in action (leading the experience)
- The location (appealing)
- Guests engaged (not staged)
- Close-ups of what they'll make/see/taste
- The atmosphere (lighting, vibe)
Pricing: Research your category and city. Don't price too low (signals low quality) or too high (signals unrealistic).
Schedule: Offer multiple time slots. Weekday evenings and weekend mornings are commonly reported as most popular.
Common mistakes
- Treating it as a one-time gig. Airbnb reportedly penalizes hosts who don't run regular sessions.
- Underpricing. $30 tours signal low quality. $80+ is more credible.
- Vague descriptions. "I'll show you my favorite spots" doesn't work. Be specific.
- Ignoring your reviews. The first 10 reviews are the hardest. Reply to every review, even critical ones.
- Not reinvesting. Use the first 6 months of income to improve photos, add new experiences, expand your schedule.
FAQ
Do I need a permit or business license? Depends on your city and activity. Food handling permits, tour guide licenses, and alcohol serving permits are common. Check with your local government.
How much can I realistically make? Reported ranges from host communities: $500–$2,000/month at 1–2 sessions per week; $2,000–$5,000/month at 3–4 sessions; $5K–$15K/month at 5–8 sessions. Top-decile hosts may earn more. Actual earnings vary widely by city, category, and reviews.
Do I need to speak the local language? Airbnb Experiences support multiple languages. Being bilingual expands your audience but isn't required.
Can I run multiple experiences? Yes. Many hosts run 2–4 different experiences in their city, which can diversify income.
How long does approval take? Review time varies; many hosts report several weeks.
What if my application is rejected? Airbnb gives feedback. Address the feedback and reapply, subject to Airbnb's current rules on resubmission.
Can I host outside my home city? Generally no. Airbnb wants locally rooted hosts. You can host in your home city and any nearby areas you genuinely know well.
Income ranges in this article are estimates based on Airbnb's public host materials, host community reports, and creator anecdotes. Actual earnings vary widely by city, niche, experience quality, reviews, season, and platform policy changes. Always verify current platform terms on airbnb.com/host/experiences before investing money.