To describe someone "gripped by wanderlust" in 2026, the most popular and evocative synonym is having "itchy feet," which implies a restless, physical urge to move and explore. Other strong synonyms include being "travel-bitten" or having caught the "travel bug." In a more formal or literary context, you might say someone is "peregrination-prone" or experiencing a "yearning for the horizon." If the desire is particularly intense and almost obsessive, the term "dromomania"—a psychological term for an uncontrollable impulse to wander—can be used. For a more modern, social-media-friendly vibe, phrases like being "globetrotting-obsessed" or "consumed by the urge to roam" effectively convey that deep-seated, persistent desire to leave one's home and seek out new cultures and landscapes across the world.