Our list of the Best Places to Go in 2026 is a reminder of the paradox that our world is at once very big, and very small. Every year, we manage to unearth intel on places that many readers have yet to consider visiting; and yet, at the same time, rebirth and reinvention are recurring themes from well-known destinations that always seem to have something new to offer.
So, in crafting this annual list, which we hope will be a handy guide for choosing where you travel over the next 12 months, you’ll notice that we were excited by places that already feel familiar and yet are being imbued with fresh life, like Hong Kong, which has an exciting new cultural centre of gravity; we also shine the spotlight on the 16th-century lake city of Udaipur, where a flurry of luxury-hotel openings is ushering in a new era. There are also under-the-radar gems gaining footing on the global stage, like Canada’s Prince Edward County, where a wave of indie wineries, new restaurants, and boutique hotels is redefining the weekend escape; or Fès, Marrakech’s understated sibling, which is set to shine in 2026 with the historic reopening of its medina following a remarkable 15-year restoration.
These are the corners of the continent and its dazzling islands experiencing a renaissance in the coming year
As for surprises? There are plenty, even after over a decade of compiling this list. In Bolivia, great expanses of shimmering salt pans have long been a draw, but zoom out on the region of Potosí and you’ll find a geological bonanza of lagoons, hot springs, and snowcapped volcanoes that are finally home to some of South America’s buzziest hotel openings. And if Rwanda’s primates have captured your imagination, then, like us, you’ll be excited to read about Gabon, where new eco-lodges open up access to untouched forests that are home to western lowland gorillas and sweeping savannas. If you’ve been waiting for that once-in-a-lifetime safari trip, this is it. But perhaps few places on earth evoke life’s vastness quite like Uluru, the massive sandstone monolith that rises from the heart of the Australian Outback. As the region marks the 40th anniversary of a historic hand-back program, a new chapter of purpose-driven tourism is evolving. In 2026, visitors, guided by Aṉangu storytellers, can journey along a 33-mile trail, then spend the night in luxurious glamping camps, where the desert sky unfurls like an ancient manuscript – perfect for reflecting on our place in the ever-unfolding story of the universe. These are just some of the places we celebrate below.
This list is for travellers and dreamers alike. So please, use it – along with the companion lists we created for six continents – to jump-start your travel plans or simply indulge your sense of wonder. In the year ahead, our global team of editors will be exploring many of these places, and we can’t wait to share the stories we discover on the ground and, perhaps, even cross paths with some of you along the way. Here’s a fantastic year of eye-opening travel. Arati Menon & Megan Spurrell
Every year, we tap our network of writers and editors based all around the globe for their intel on the destinations that are, to use editorial speak, having a moment. These tapped-in experts tell us about the food and beverage scenes just coming into their own; they share industry tips on hotel and resort openings that haven’t been announced to the public yet; they read and translate local news in countless countries to determine when new museums and national parks and airports will unveil themselves in the year ahead.
Our teams in Spain, Germany, and the UK tell us about the underrated European cities and cool neighbourhoods that our colleagues stateside don’t yet know about; our editors in India and the Middle East share tips on both mountain getaways and dreamy beach vacations, while our team in China keeps us up-to-date on the city breaks that haven’t hit everyone else’s social feeds. We spend many months parsing this intel, while also considering travel trends – say, if outdoors adventures and adrenaline-pumping sports are speaking to our readers at the moment, or if the cultural dial has swung more firmly in the direction of rest and relaxation. With an eye for every continent, we whittle down the many great options of places to go into a final list of just 26 destinations, while also keeping in mind that our readers have many interests and favourite corners of the world. We then task our thorough stable of writers, both on-staff and freelance, to summarise the latest and greatest of the places we’ve chosen to feature. The final result is a forward-looking guide to the places that will be making noise in the year ahead, so you can use your vacation days wisely – and get to trending destinations, hopefully, before everyone else does.
How should I plan a 2026 trip using this list?
Consider our list of The 26 Best Places to Go in 2026 your jumping off point for a full network of intel. To start? Read through and see why destinations get under your skin, in that exciting, can’t-stop-thinking-about-you kind of way.
At the end of each entry on this page, you’ll find a section titled “How to Plan It” which will give you pointers on the best time to visit each place, where to stay, or even tour operators who can create an unforgettable itinerary for experiencing the destination. We even mention new airports, airline routes, cruise itineraries, and more, for easy booking. If there is anything new and forthcoming that you are eager to experience, pay attention to the opening dates we’ve included, so you can book a trip once said hotel or attraction has opened (but be prepared for potential delays, as is always possible with splashy launches). In rare cases where opening dates aren’t confirmed, consider planning a trip for later in the year (though in every destination, we can promise there are multiple reasons to visit).
And, because we know many of you like to plan multi-trip stops, we suggest reading our expanded continent lists, which are linked under each destination. For example: If you’re intrigued by Arusha, Tanzania, featured below, follow the link at the end of the writeup to our longer list of The Best Places to Go in Africa in 2026, which has an extended guide to 10 destinations across the continent. If you’re looking for even more inspiration, consider revisiting our list of The 25 Best Places to Visit in 2025 or years prior. And most importantly, keep an eye on our social feeds, where we will be sharing photo and video dispatches from our editors’ travels to these destinations, to further inspire your own.
Where can I read more about these destinations throughout the year?
We will be publishing stories – including guides, long-form narrative pieces, hotel reviews, and packing lists – about these destinations throughout 2026, in both our print magazine and online at cntraveller.com. Keep an eye on this page, where we’ll be adding links to those stories throughout the year; you can also find more inspiration on the Best Places to Go home page.
Arusha, Tanzania
Go for: a beloved icon’s opening in the city, and a new camp’s take on safari in the forest
