Set different cancellation policies for specific check-in days

[Airbnb]

You asked, Airbnb answered! Soon you’ll be able to set different cancellation policies for specific check-in days—like holidays or off-peak seasons. For example, you might offer a more flexible cancellation policy during slower months to help attract guests, while keeping your standard policy during peak season. 

Dynamic cancellation policies will be available to a limited number of home hosts starting in November, with broader availability expected in early 2026. 

Are you planning to vary your cancellation policy? How will you use dynamic cancellation? 

To learn more about the latest Airbnb upgrades to help you manage and grow your business—including video messages and an updated earnings dashboard—visit the Resource Center.

[Dave52]

Look forward to it!

[Emilie]

It's lovely to see your enthusiasm, @Dave52!

Do you already have an idea of how you will use this feature? 

[Dave52]

Yes @Emilie .

[Emilie]

Super! If you want to tell us a little more about how what you have in mind, please don't hesitate to do so @Dave52 as it might inspire other hosts who are still thinking about how bets to leverage this upcoming feature 🙂

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Airbnb what an excellent update. Hopefully Airbnb will also allow different smart pricing limits by season as well.

[Mark6211]

This would be really helpful, its a feature I searched for when I first tried smart pricing. Hopefully they do implement it sometime soon

[Emilie]

@Mike-And-Jane0 @Mark6211 I've passed this idea on to the team, and if either of you would like to you can also pop it over to them directly as well via our feedback form 🙂

[Joan2709]

@Airbnb 

YESSSSS.....Been asking for this for awhile and will definitely be using and suggesting to my clients.

[Emilie]

I hope they'll be as excited as you are, @Joan2709 😊 What do you think it will get used for most?

[Joan2709]

@Emilie 

As most Hosts mentioned...they are happy to relax their cancellation policies for off season, non holiday times, but many listings profitability are strictly  tied to seasonal bookings and can't afford to have bookings cancelled, as they may not be able to rebook the dates.

This is especially true for larger properties where reservations are made well in advance (1yr or more). These are difficult to re-book if cancelled (under Airbnb's recent changes in relaxed cancellation policies and partial payment plans), as large groups book far in advance and trying to fill a last minute cancellation for popular seasonal dates is almost impossible.

[Keri182]

Great! Been wanting this for a long time to set stricter cancellation policies for football weekends and graduation in my college town. I would like to access this functionality asap!

[Emilie]

I bet the area gets really busy during those times, @Keri182!

Do you plan on leveraging dynamic cancellation policies for those peak times only, or might it be handy for quieter periods as well in your opinion?

[Dr-Jayanthi1]

Of course a cool feature on the Host front. However, I have always worked on full refunds when the guests express inability to hold their bookings, haven't probed much into the reasons. I wish to give them their money back if they aren't staying with me.

My geography isn't a tourist location and hence I'm not influenced by seasonal flux. I tend to have a standard 30-40% occupancy rate for business travellers, medical tourism and educational purposes. I empathise with the purpose and kind of cancellation causes and go for full refunds unless it's a "no response/No show". Hence I am not overwhelmed with the new feature, however could try it out to keep the curiosity cat alive. 

Great to know that many of our hosts are excited to have it rolled out. Best Wishes and Happy Hosting 😎

[Greystone0]

This is a really great and meaningful update. Thank you. We would use this very strategically and have had great success using various cancellation policies on another platform. Our July & August 2026 is now fully booked but we are unable to market via AIRBNB as there isn't a cancellation program that works for us. If the policies match our needs we would happily make available via this platform.