The 26 Best Trips For 2026 According To Travel Experts Forbes

Leo Migdal

-Dec 3, 2025, 8:00 AM

the 26 best trips for 2026 according to travel experts forbes

What are the best places to travel in 2026? When the world’s top luxury travel advisors gather in one place, the conversations often foreshadow where travelers will be heading next. That’s definitely the case at ILTM North America, held each fall at Baha Mar in the Bahamas. Now in its 13th year, the luxury travel conference has become a barometer for what’s trending and where the future is headed. “International hoteliers are coming from around the globe—Tasmania, Queenstown, Japan, the Philippines—to one little beach resort in the Bahamas to sit together for four days and have conversations about how we can make travel... With the event aimed at the U.S.

outbound market—the market that drives global trends, according to Mayle—it’s no surprise that ILTM is where new hotel openings, cultural shifts and once-in-a-lifetime journeys come into focus. Ahead of the conference, which will take place in October, I caught up with Mayle and three other notable travel advisors to see what places they have on their radars for 2026—and beyond. From Brazil’s growing safari scene to the shores of Albania, their picks reveal not just where to go, but how travel itself is evolving. According to Mayle, today’s travelers are looking for more than five-star service—they want meaning. He points to two themes shaping what’s next: a renewed interest in slow transport and an appetite for destinations that combine nature, culture and family connection. When it comes to the best places to travel, 2026 is less about opulence and more about originality—places that blend culture, beauty and authenticity.

That's according to a new list of trending destinations by luxury travel experts at OvationNetwork. “The desire for meaningful travel has never been stronger,” says Zane Bohrer, vice president of OvationNetwork. “As we look ahead to 2026, our luxury travel advisors are seeing remarkable interest in destinations that balance discovery with distinction." Bohrer says clients are gravitating toward places like Nikko and Versailles, which offer rich cultural and historical experiences just steps away from city life. Others are venturing far off the beaten path to Antarctica or the wild coasts of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Exotic locales such as Kona, Hawaii and Marrakech, Morocco also rank highly on the list for their mix of authenticity, sophistication and immersive experiences.

OvationNetwork shared its exclusive list with me. Here are the six best places to travel in 2026. Why visit? A few hours north of Tokyo, Nikko is a tranquil mountain retreat known for its sacred forests, waterfalls, temples and hot springs. This UNESCO World Heritage area embodies Japan’s balance of spirituality and natural beauty, revealing the country’s quieter, more contemplative side. The ancient pilgrimage routes once traveled by monks and samurai invite a slower exploration, rich with Edo-period architecture and seasonal splendor.

"The area transforms with each season and especially stands out in the fall with its vibrant foliage," says Jessica Levy Gonias, a travel advisor with OvationNetwork. Since 1971, Travel + Leisure editors have followed one mission: to inform, inspire, and guide travelers to have deeper, more meaningful experiences. T+L's editors have traveled to countries all over the world, having flown, sailed, road tripped, and taken the train countless miles. They've visited small towns and big cities, hidden gems and popular destinations, beaches and mountains, and everything in between. With a breadth of knowledge about destinations around the globe, air travel, cruises, hotels, food and drinks, outdoor adventure, and more, they are able to take their real-world experience and provide readers with tried-and-tested... Where should I go next?

If there’s one question we hear more than any other at Travel + Leisure, it’s this enduring ask. Thankfully, our staff is constantly on the move, exploring the world on assignment and on personal adventures, so we have more than a few opinions on the best places to travel now. That first-person expertise informs many of the picks on T+L’s annual list of the best places to travel. For this edition, our staff vetted more than 100 nominees, with an eye to what makes a place worth visiting in the year ahead. Many of our 50 winners are places that were once difficult to reach but are becoming more accessible thanks to ambitious new infrastructure projects or increased service from airlines. We also tapped the expertise of travel-world insiders and many members of the T+L A-List to find out which big cities are the most resonant right now—and which underrated spots are serving up culinary...

Of course major cultural events including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Winter Olympics, and America250 also factor into our picks. Whatever the motivation for your trips in the year ahead—an adrenaline rush, some blissed-out beach vibes, or full-on cultural immersion—we trust our latest list will help with more than a few answers to that... So, where will the new year take you? —Edited by Paul Brady and Alisha Prakash “The culinary scene in Carlsbad has really changed,” says Emily Brubaker, winner of NBC’s Yes! Chef and executive chef at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, a property previously known more for golf and tennis than food.

She now hosts a thriving “Chefs and Friends” dinner series and oversees eight dining outlets with ingredients sourced from on-property herb gardens and beehives. “When I grew up here, it was fish tacos, burritos, sandwich shops, but there was no 'dining,'" Brubaker notes. Now she’s able to rattle off the names of Michelin-star destinations in her own backyard. Many of those stars are linked to restaurateur John Resnick and Eric Bost, executive chef at Jeune et Jolie, a modern French bistro, which has maintained its Michelin star since 2021, and the intimate... Equally noteworthy are the rustic live-fire restaurant Campfire and the buzzing all-day café and bar Wildland. Each venue has its own personality, but Bost says they have one thing in common: “They’re all California restaurants: outdoor dining, local farms, vibrant food.” To make fine dining work in a casual SoCal...

California wines are also easily explored in the area, particularly at Little Victory Wine Bar, which Jeremy Simpson of L.A.’s Bestia opened earlier this year with a focus on natural wines. Autograph Collection’s Hotel Solea is slated to open its doors in spring 2026, adding a new alfresco Italian restaurant, Verise, to the mix.—Nina Ruggiero Breakfast in Malaysia is more than just a meal—it’s a shared ritual that binds the country together. If that sounds like hyperbole, consider that UNESCO recently recognized the country’s morning spread as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Made up of such dishes and beverages as nasi lemak, roti canai, and teh tarik, it is “a distinctive element of culture and identity that connects diverse ethnic groups within Malaysia,” according to UNESCO. The country’s food scene is getting elevated in other ways, too.

The world’s second-tallest skyscraper, Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, is home to a Park Hyatt, which has a 75th-floor restaurant doing wood-fired cuisine. The building is also slated to add both an al fresco “Eat Street” and a Malaysian Artisan District that will spotlight the nation’s culinary heritage. Other soon-to-open hotels, from the likes of Conrad and Waldorf Astoria, will lend high-end dining options to the city’s scene. Meanwhile, Malaysia as a whole has become a go-to destination, thanks to the return of Belmond’s Eastern & Oriental Express, which knits the country together and enables visitors to savor it slowly.—Denny Lee The rich history is still there, but Philly these days is all about the innovative, award-winning chefs from around the globe who are making the city a must-experience food destination. “There’s a constant stream of things to be excited about,” says Amanda Shulman, co-founder of Libbie Loup Hospitality and executive chef of Her Place Supper Club in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood.

“There are more and more spots bringing different flavors and vibes—a lot of people are just going for it and trying new models and new styles and seeing what happens.” Among the hottest venues... (She also likes Emei, Osteria, and Ocean Harbor.) Global tastemakers are certainly taking note: Philadelphia just got its own section in the new “Michelin Guide Northeast Cities,” recognition that will shine a spotlight on... As electric as the food scene may be, there are plenty of other draws in the year ahead, including America250 celebrations. Then there’s the soccer: Six FIFA World Cup matches will take place at Lincoln Financial Field in June and July.—Jess Feldman Travelers want trips that feel exciting again. They want places with big events, smoother access, and a sense of anticipation.

And 2026 lines up well with that mood. Some destinations are rising fast because of new attractions and strong travel buzz. Others stay popular because they continue to deliver memorable experiences. This list brings both kinds together, using insights from travel analysts and major publications. It highlights the places people are already talking about for next year. Celebrating its 100th anniversary with nationwide events in 2026.

Route 66 is considered one of the biggest travel stories of the year. Communities along the highway are planning festivals, parades, and neon sign restorations that bring the centennial to life. Crafting a list of the best places to go in the world, in any given year, is a reminder of travel’s most beautiful paradox: that our planet can feel both intimately small and incredibly... Brimming with more wonders than you can fit into one lifetime—yet increasingly connected—the places to travel to in the world are endless. Which is exactly what makes curating this list not only a great joy but also a challenge. Our Best Places to Go in 2026 are underpinned with that very sense of magnitude.

There are places that already feel familiar and yet are being imbued with fresh life, like Hong Kong, which has an exciting new cultural center of gravity, and the 16th-century lake city of Udaipur,... There are also under-the-radar gems that are stepping into the spotlight, like Canada’s Prince Edward County, where a wave of indie wineries, new restaurants, and boutique hotels is redefining the weekend escape, and Fès,... Candidly, even after 12 years of pinning down the destinations we're most excited about for this annual list, we’re just as wide-eyed as you when we stumble onto something totally unexpected. 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. And if Rwanda’s primates have captured your imagination, what about Gabon, where new eco-lodges are opening up access to untouched forests that are home to western lowland gorillas and sweeping savannas? 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... This list is for travelers and dreamers alike. Use it—along with the companion lists 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... —Arati Menon

This is part of our global guide to the Best Places to Go in 2026—find more travel inspiration here. Where are travelers most excited to go in the year ahead? American Express Travel has unveiled its annual trending destinations list, highlighting must-visit destinations around the world. This year's list features fresh new destinations and highlights that 89% of card members feel more excited to travel when they are going to a hotel or destination they've never visited. Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel, tells me about this year's selection, "Travelers are seeking hotels that reflect the destinations they’re exploring, with meaningful local touches, unique activities, and memorable culinary experiences.” Travelers' priorities are also changing.

Many are now searching for trips that feel special, unique stays, memorable locations, and properties with a hidden gem vibe rather than traditional resort options. Dining is also becoming a major deciding factor, with local restaurants and social activities playing a big role in choosing where to go, alongside entertainment and sporting events. For Millennial and Gen Z travelers, especially, family-friendly places and amenities are among the most essential features when selecting a hotel. Here are the best travel destinations and hotels for 2026, as selected by American Express cardholder bookings. With incredible views of towering peaks and vast, lush valleys, Snow-capped mountains, tranquil villages, and mystical monasteries, the Indian Himalayas offer both natural beauty and spiritual traditions to explore.

The 26 Best Trips For 2026 According To Travel Experts Forbes

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