Airbnb is onboarding new hosts in 2026

Turn What You Already Have Into Income

A spare room, a local passion, a professional skill — Airbnb has three ways to start earning. We'll walk you through each one.

Explore Your Options Is This For Me?
Three Ways to Host

Choose Your Path on Airbnb

Whether you have a property, a passion, or a profession — there's a hosting track built for you.

List a Stay

Share your home, apartment, spare room, or unique property with travelers worldwide.

What Airbnb guests can book

🏠
Entire homes & apartmentsFull privacy — houses, condos, lofts, cabins
🛏️
Private roomsA dedicated room inside your home with shared common areas
⛺
Unique spacesTreehouses, yurts, barns, tiny homes, boats, A-frames
🏨
Boutique & B&B roomsSmall hotels and bed-and-breakfasts now welcome on the platform
Start Hosting a Stay →

Host an Experience

Lead activities, tours, classes, or cultural events — share your knowledge with curious travelers and locals.

Popular experience categories

🍳
Food & DrinkCooking classes, food tours, wine tastings, cocktail workshops
🎨
Art & CulturePhotography walks, pottery, painting, street art tours
🧘
Wellness & OutdoorsYoga, forest bathing, hiking, meditation, surf lessons
🏛️
Tours & HistoryNeighborhood walks, hidden gems, historical deep-dives
Start Hosting Experiences →

Offer a Service

Bring your professional expertise to guests — or anyone — directly through the Airbnb app.

The 10 launch categories

👨‍🍳
Chefs & CateringIn-home gourmet meals, prepared dishes, event catering
📸
PhotographyOn-demand photo sessions by experienced photographers
💆
Massage, Spa & WellnessLicensed therapists — Swedish, deep tissue, facials, personal training
💇
Hair, Makeup & NailsOn-location beauty services for events, vacations, or everyday
Start Offering Services →
Is This For You?

People Who Thrive as Airbnb Hosts

You don't need a hotel empire. Some of the best hosts started with exactly what they already had.

🏡

The Empty Nester

Kids moved out and you've got rooms sitting empty? A spare bedroom can bring in $800–$2,000+/month in the right market — and you set the schedule.

Stay
🌍

The Frequent Traveler

If you're away for weeks or months at a time, your apartment is just sitting there. List it while you're gone and let your home pay for your next trip.

Stay
🏔️

The Cabin / Vacation Property Owner

Own a lake house, mountain cabin, or beach condo you only use part of the year? That's peak Airbnb inventory — seasonal demand does the work.

Stay
🧑‍🍳

The Professional Chef

Cook in-home dinners for guests on your schedule. Airbnb Services vets for quality — your Michelin training or catering chops finally have a dedicated marketplace.

Service
📷

The Freelance Photographer

Shoot portrait sessions, couples, families, or travel content — on demand, booked through the app. No more chasing invoices.

Service
🧑‍🏫

The Local Expert

Know your city's hidden murals, best street food, or secret viewpoints? Experiences let you build a small tour business with zero startup cost.

Experience
🏋️

The Certified Trainer

Personal trainers and yoga instructors can offer 1-on-1 sessions through Airbnb Services — reach travelers who want to keep their routine on the road.

Service
🍷

The Hobbyist With a Passion

Make pottery? Brew beer? Forage mushrooms? Bake croissants? The most-booked Experiences on Airbnb are the ones that feel personal and hands-on.

Experience
💼

The Side Hustle Builder

Licensed massage therapist, hair stylist, or makeup artist? Airbnb Services gives you a booking engine, vetting badge, and access to millions of guests — no website needed.

Service

2B+

Guest arrivals on Airbnb

650+

Cities with Experiences

260

Cities with Services

19

Experience categories

Platform Breakdown

What You Can Actually Offer

Airbnb has evolved well beyond home-sharing. Here's what each track looks like in practice.

Stays

Share your space with the world

From a spare room to a sprawling villa — if people can sleep there, you can list it. Airbnb handles payments, insurance, and guest communication tools. You set prices, availability, and house rules.

  • Entire homes, apartments, condos, lofts
  • Private rooms within your home
  • Unique stays — treehouses, yurts, cabins, A-frames, boats
  • Boutique hotels and B&Bs (new in 2025–26)
  • Host-only fee structure — guests see transparent pricing
List Your Space →
A stunning A-frame cabin on a lake at sunrise
Entire home Private room Treehouse Cabin A-frame Boutique
Experiences

Lead activities people will remember

Airbnb Experiences are curated activities hosted by locals. You don't need a property — just expertise, passion, and a plan. Guests book standalone or alongside a stay.

  • Cooking classes, food tours, wine tastings
  • Photography walks and art workshops
  • Guided hikes, surf lessons, nature excursions
  • Historical tours and neighborhood deep-dives
  • Wellness — yoga, meditation, forest bathing
  • Available in 650+ cities across 19 categories
Create an Experience →
A local guide leading travelers through a colorful street market
Food & drink Art & culture Wellness Sports Nature History
Services

Bring your profession to the platform

Launched in 2025, Airbnb Services connects vetted professionals directly with guests. You don't need to be connected to a listing — anyone can book you, even locals at home. Providers average 10+ years of experience.

  • Chefs — in-home gourmet meals, custom menus
  • Photography — portraits, couples, events
  • Massage & spa — Swedish, deep tissue, facials
  • Personal training — yoga, HIIT, strength coaching
  • Hair, makeup & nails — on-location beauty
  • Prepared meals & catering for events
Apply as a Service Provider →
A professional chef plating an elegant dish for guests in a beautifully lit kitchen
Chefs Photography Massage Training Hair & makeup Catering
Getting Started

Three Steps to Your First Booking

Airbnb has streamlined the onboarding process. Most new hosts go live in under an hour.

1

Choose Your Track

Decide if you want to list a stay, host an experience, or offer a professional service. Each has its own setup flow on Airbnb.

2

Create Your Listing

Add photos, write your description, set your price and availability. Airbnb walks you through every field — no guessing.

3

Welcome Your First Guest

Once verified and live, guests can find and book you. Airbnb handles payments, reviews, and support.

Ready to Start Hosting?

Pick the track that fits your life. Airbnb handles the platform — you bring the space, the skill, or the story.

List a Stay Host an Experience Offer a Service