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Marguzor Lake, Tajikistan.

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Top destinations for 2026

Where on Earth are you going? Next year, that is. Our annual guide brings you the places that will matter for travellers in 2026. There’s a lot happening, starting with the always-spectacular Winter Olympics, held in Milano-Cortina, Italy. An even bigger global event, the FIFA World Cup of football, kicks off across former best friends US, Canada and Mexico in June, followed by Glasgow’s attempt to resuscitate an ailing Commonwealth Games. While such events are becoming significant drivers of tourism, there is a host of nations as diverse as Tunisia and Tajikistan also vying for our attention. Then there are cities such as Cairo, bursting with pride over its finally opened Grand Egyptian Museum, and the aforementioned Milan with its staging of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony. – Anthony Dennis

7 stories
Ecuador

The 20 countries to put on your travel list for 2026

Find new charm in the familiar, or forge a fresh trail. Here are the under-the-radar nations and re-emerging classics set to define travel in 2026.

  • Ute Junker
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The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade, connecting Milan’s famous opera house and cathedral.

These cities and towns should be on your travel radar

From grand openings to sporting spectacles, Traveller’s experts name the global destinations set to burst with energy and celebration.

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Side dish jackpot… Korean banchan.

The world’s top 10 destinations for foodie travellers next year

We’ve singled out the places and countries setting the pace for gastronomy, from Seoul’s banchan to an Aussie state excelling in its culinary pursuits.

  • Ben Groundwater
Hiking through Purnululu National Park.

The top 10 destinations for adventurous travellers in 2026

If your ideal trip involves epic views and pristine nature, try these great escapes.

  • Andrew Bain
Overwater bungalows along the coast of the Raja Ampat Islands.

The 14 beach and island escapes to try before they go mainstream

From the French Riviera to Asian and Pacific hideaways, these slices of paradise won’t be under the radar for much longer.

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Norwegian Sky sailing past Mount Fuji in Japan.

The 15 coolest ports and places to visit by ship

New cruising options and trends are popping up in every corner of the globe.

  • Brian Johnston
The Independence Monument in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

The places experts are tipping for a breakthrough year

Travel specialists spill the secrets on the hottest destinations, must-do adventures, personal wish-lists and biggest trends shaping travel in 2026.

  • Sue Williams

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