WHERE TO GO IN 2026

2026 promises a year of unforgettable journeys, from the cutting-edge creativity of South Korea to the timeless landscapes of Ireland and the UK. Sun-drenched escapes in Malta and Paros call to beach lovers, while Mexico’s vibrant cities continue to inspire curious travellers. Join us as we explore the destinations set to define travel in 2026 – and why they deserve a spot on your list.

MEXICO

Frida Kahlo is one of a handful of artists who have truly achieved icon status, remembered not only for her powerful artwork, but also for her lasting visual legacy. 2026 is a significant year for Mexico’s famed artist as it marks the opening of a phenomenal exhibition devoted to her life and work: Frida: The Making of an Icon will make its debut at The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston from 18 January-17 May 2026 and will then be on view in London’s Tate Modern from 25 June 2026 - 3 January 2027. The exhibition will showcase some of Frida’s most famous works, as well as some rarely seen treasures.

In Mexico, a new Frida Kahlo museum – Museo Casa Kahlo – is due to open its doors in September 2025 complementing the Casa Azul (aka Museo Frida Kahlo) where Frida lived and created many of her works. Museo Casa Kahlo (already referred to as Casa Rojo), is the artist’s family home in the colourful streets of Coyoacan, and the first museum operated by Frida’s descendants. The museum will be dedicated to the artist’s childhood with objects ranging from her dolls, clothing and jewellery to personal letters and photographs. Visit In The Footsteps of Frida Kahlo for a suggested journey exploring key sites associated with this iconic artist.

PHILIPPINES

Fuelled by the trend for people to seek more off-grid destinations, Philippines is calling to travellers looking for ‘Thailand 30 years ago’. For luxury travellers, Nay Palad Hideaway brings unparalleled style to the tropical surroundings of Siargao Island, with stellar all-inclusive experience and powder white sand to rival the best in Southeast Asia. The rural areas are tuned in to community level cleanliness and sustainability initiatives, and so visitors will notice a pristine environment. New flights will further make the Philippines more accessible:

• Philippine Airlines is launching new route from Seattle to Manila in Q4 2025 and now offers a direct flight from Heathrow to Manila five times a week.
• United Airlines is expanding its network with new routes to Manila from the USA. Currently there is one direct flight a day from San Francisco, but this will be increased to two direct daily flights in Q4 2025.
• Air France has resumed direct flights from Paris to Manila, 3 times a week, after a 20-year hiatus.

SOUTH KOREA

Enquiries for South Korea have more than doubled in the last year. At international visitor level, South Korea has seen a 22% increase in visitors from both the US and the UK from 2023 to 2024 (Wikipedia). We attribute greater recent interest to:

• Korean Wave” (K-Pop, K-cinema/drama, K-beauty cosmetics) has pushed South Korean culture into the west, much like Japanese culture did in the 1990s/2000s. For example, we now take sushi/Japanese restaurants etc as part of our everyday life, whereas Korean food and culture still have an element of curiosity and novelty value. The Oscar-winning film, Parasite and hit TV series Squid Game, also helped to propel South Korea into mainstream interest.
• It’s a great (value) cherry blossom season alternative to Japan, where visitors to Tokyo and Kyoto during Sakura have reached saturation point.
• Big hotel brands are opening in the next few years, further raising interest: Seoul will see Rosewood and Janu (Aman’s sister brand) opening in 2027 and Mandarin Oriental plans for 2030.

Each of our brand new suggested journey combines classic sights – including Seoul’s Gyeongbokgung Palace, the ancient capital of Gyeongju, and the colourful coastal city of Busan – with immersive experiences, designed to offer a deeper understanding of the country’s culture and rich traditions. Highlights include meeting a North Korean defector, discovering South Korea’s exceptional cuisine via street food tours, and bibimbap and kimchi classes, learning the creative skills of calligraphy, and visiting the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ). There will also be opportunities to uncover the country’s understated natural beauty, from the ancient forests and bamboo groves near Busan to the spectacular volcanic island of Jeju, home to Haenyeo female free-divers.

RWANDA & ZANZIBAR

Newly launched flights between Kigali and Zanzibar from November 2025 connect some of Africa’s most exciting safaris with blissful beaches of the Indian Ocean. Rwanda has been a Big Five destination since the translocation of lions to Akagera National Park ten years ago, and with chimpanzee experiences in Nyungwe Forest and, of course, opportunities for gorilla tracking in the Volcanoes National Park, the country delivers exceptional wildlife experiences. Now, it’s possible to add a little downtime to the end of a Rwandan safari with new flights connecting to Zanzibar’s UNESCO-listed Stone Town, renowned spice plantations and divine white sand beaches.

BARCELONA, SPAIN

2026 marks the centenary of Antoni Gaudí’s death – coinciding with the long-awaited completion of the main building of the Sagrada Familia, his most iconic work. One of the longest-running architectural projects in history, the basilica has been under construction since 1882 and will finally be completed in time to honour Gaudí’s visionary legacy.

Our specialists can arrange early access to another of his masterpieces – Casa Batlló – before doors open to the general public. Guests enjoy exclusive entry at 8:45am, allowing them to experience the striking interiors and whimsical details of the building in peace, as morning light filters through the stained glass. With limited capacity, it’s a rare opportunity for photography and uninterrupted appreciation of one of Gaudí’s most poetic creations.

LONDON & SOUTHERN ENGLAND

A wave of significant cultural anniversaries and exhibitions will draw international attention to London and Southern England in 2026. Among them is the centenary of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s birth, commemorated with the unveiling of an official memorial near Buckingham Palace and a newly designed garden in Regent’s Park. From spring, a further commemoration will take place at The King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace, which will debut Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style. The largest ever display of the late Queen’s fashion will feature around 200 items from off-duty to royal occasion wear from all stages of her life, including childhood pieces, her wedding dress and Coronation attire.

London has seen a swathe of new openings recently, including Six Senses London in the Bayswater district, and the all-suite The Chancery Rosewood, housed in the former US Embassy on Grosvenor Square.

At the Victoria & Albert Museum, a landmark exhibition on Marie Antoinette opens from 20th September 2025 and runs into March 2026 – offering the perfect opportunity for a dual-centre journey between London and Paris in the footsteps of the iconic Queen of Fashion.

Meanwhile, our ‘In the Footsteps of Winston Churchill’ journey pairs perfectly with the Wallace Collection’s first major Churchill exhibition in over 30 years, opening in late May. Beyond the capital, 2026 also marks the 50th anniversary of Agatha Christie’s death. Our ‘In the Footsteps of the Great Detectives’ offers a fitting tribute – visiting key locations from her life and novels across Southern England and exploring the literary legacy of one of the world’s most enduring storytellers.

THE COTSWOLDS, ENGLAND

Recent years have seen a migration of celebrities to the chocolate-box villages and honey-hued cottages of the Cotswolds. Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi made the move following the latest US election, Beyoncé and Jay-Z are rumoured to be viewing properties in the northeast Cotswolds, JD Vance recently caused a stir on his trip to the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, and Steve Jobs’ daughter, Eve, recently married Olympic equestrian Harry Charles in a star-studded wedding at Estelle Manor.

2026 marks the 60th anniversary of the Cotswolds being recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with various festivals taking place to celebrate the Cotswolds’ renowned landscapes and cultural heritage. The Cotswolds Living Landscape Festival will take place near Sherbourne in September, with rural craft demonstrations, as well as local food and drink stalls, live music and walking tours. The Cotswolds also celebrates the 80th anniversary of Cheltenham Festivals in 2026. The roster of events includes the Jazz Festival from 29th April – 4th May, which is expected to attract over 20,000 music fans, and the always-popular Literature Festival in October which showcases topical interviews with leading international writers. The Music and Science Festivals complement the season.

For those seeking the full Cotswolds experience, rent a Cotswolds manor or farmhouse.

YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND

Yorkshire provides an evocative and fitting setting for provocative film director, Emerald Fennell’s latest adaptation of Wuthering Heights. The wild, untamed beauty of the Yorkshire moors perfectly mirrors the passion, turbulence, and isolation that define Emily Brontë’s story. Sweeping heather-clad hills, dramatic skies, and hauntingly open landscapes create a natural backdrop that accentuates the film’s themes of love, revenge, and obsession. The valleys of Arkengarthdale and Swaledale, including the village of Low Moor served as sets for the latest adaptation.

Visitors drawn by the film would find much to explore in Yorkshire. The village of Haworth, where the Brontë sisters lived and wrote, remains a literary pilgrimage site, complete with the Brontë Parsonage Museum and cobbled streets steeped in atmosphere. The nearby Top Withens ruins – said to have inspired the Earnshaw home in Wuthering Heights – offer panoramic views and a sense of wild isolation.

Yorkshire features in an eight-day Great Northern Journey, along with equally beautiful regions of the Peak District and the Lake District, each of which claims literary and film associations.

BURGUNDY, FRANCE

Burgundy’s reputation as a world-class destination for wine and wellness is set to deepen in 2026, as a new wave of luxury openings arrives in time for the summer season. Following the successful opening of COMO Le Montrachet in 2024, two notable additions are set to elevate the region’s appeal even further.

At Clos Vougeot, the team behind Les Sources de Cheverny and Les Sources de Caudalie will open a new property focused on oenothérapie and holistic wellness – blending vineyard surroundings with spa-led restoration. Meanwhile, Château de la Commaraine, a historic estate surrounded by its own Premier Cru vineyard, will open as a five-star hotel, offering guests an immersive stay at the heart of Burgundy’s wine country. For travellers seeking the intersection of viticulture, heritage and wellbeing, Burgundy is poised to be a key destination in 2026. Our France specialist (and Conde Nast Traveller Top Travel Specialist), Camilla Davidson, can arrange custom wine-themed tours throughout the region.

MALTA

Malta continues its quiet evolution into one of Europe’s most intriguing luxury destinations, and 2026 will see the arrival of two notable boutique hotels that reflect the island’s growing cultural cachet.

Opening in May, Casa Bonavita is the five-year restoration project of Christopher and Suzanne Sharp, co-founders of The Rug Company. Housed in an 18th-century palazzo in the village of Attard – just 15 minutes from Valletta and the ancient, fortified city of Mdina – the 17-room property promises a serene counterpoint to the energy of the island. Surrounded by orange blossom, jasmine and palms, it’s designed as a restorative retreat, where local and Italian artisans have layered Sicilian tiles, de Gournay wallpapers, inherited family antiques and contemporary craftsmanship to extraordinary effect.

In the capital, Romègas will bring a similarly thoughtful approach to Valletta’s historic core. Housed in a 16th-century palazzo, the 23-room hotel will feature interiors by Camilleri Paris Mode and Maltese cuisine by celebrated local chef Marvin Gauci. Original stonework, historic carvings and the rich façade have been carefully preserved throughout. The hotel will also act as a gallery space, with rotating exhibitions curated by Maria Galea showcasing the work of both established and emerging Maltese artists.

Delta will offer a new non-stop service to Malta from JFK from summer 2026 following its Route Race vote which invited destination suggestions from Skymile Members and Delta employees.

As Malta continues to evolve as a cultural and culinary destination, launches reflect a broader shift toward slow, stylish, heritage-rich travel in 2026. Our Europe specialist, Clare Watkins, can arrange a bespoke journey exploring the island.

PUGLIA & BASILICATA, ITALY

Italy’s popular trinity of Venice, Florence and Rome need no introduction, but as people increasingly seek simpler, off-the-beaten-track destinations, they are venturing south to the sparsely populated regions of Puglia and Basilicata, where rich landscapes of olive groves and dramatic cliffs, farm-to-table cuisine, and ancient towns and villages provide genuine cultural immersion. Basilicata’s Matera – the oldest city in Italy – boasts ancient Sassi cave dwellings, some of which have been restored and converted into charming hotels, such as Vetera Matera (opened in 2025). Neighbouring Puglia is noted for its iconic white domed trulli, some now reborn as luxury villas, such as Trulli Pomona, Masseria Pietra and Trulli Lucia.

The long, warm season in Italy’s south fits the brief for the increasing number of shoulder season travellers who enjoy greater choice, fewer queues and excellent value from April to October.

SARDINIA, ITALY

2026 will see a roster of new openings and rebrands in one of the planet’s five Blue Zones. Mandarin Oriental will debut an 83 key property with private beach and five restaurants at Porto Cervo on the Costa Smeralda. LVMH will launch their first Mediterranean island property, with the rebrand and renovation of Hotel Pitrizza to Cheval Blanc Pitrizza in late 2026. The hotel has 65 rooms, suites and villas, with a saltwater pool, kid’s club, spa and restaurant. Rocco Forte Hotels is set to take over Hotel Le Palme in the Costa Smeralda with its two acres of prime seafront in the north-east of the island with powder white sands. The hotel will feature 64 rooms and suites, three restaurants, a rooftop bar with views over the Costa Smeralda and a state-of-the-art spa.

Delta Air Lines will launch a new direct service from New York to Olbia in May 2026, making the Costa Smeralda even more accessible.

As a Blue Zone destination (i.e. a place with a high concentration of people who live beyond 100 years), Sardinia is noted for healthy lifestyle and diet, strong family and community ties, low stress and spiritual wellbeing – all perfect ingredients for a rejuvenating retreat. There is still plenty of fun to be had with boat trips, designer shopping and world-renowned cuisine.

DUBLIN, IRELAND

2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Lord of the Dance – the electrifying stage show that brought Irish dance to a global audience and cemented Michael Flatley as a cultural icon. To celebrate the milestone, a special anniversary performance will take place in Dublin in January, offering a rare opportunity to experience the original spectacle in the city where its story began.

Flatley’s revolutionary choreography – fusing traditional Irish dance with dramatic stagecraft and global showmanship – will be brought to life once more by a new generation of dancers, making it both a nostalgic revival and a showcase of Ireland’s enduring creative spirit. Our Ireland specialist, Camilla Davidson (a graduate of Dublin’s Trinity College), can arrange Gaelic dance classes in Dublin as part of a custom tour of Ireland. For those wishing to deepen their dance experience or delve further into Irish culture, Camilla can also arrange an introduction to ‘Sean-nós’ dance, a form of Irish dance still actively practiced in Western Ireland.

PAROS, GREECE

Long regarded as one of the Cyclades’ most enchanting yet under-the-radar islands, Paros is set to become significantly more accessible in 2026. A $45 million revamp of the island’s airport is currently underway, and by summer, a newly extended runway will allow Paros to receive direct international flights for the first time – transforming travel to the island without compromising its low-key charm. With its sugar-cube villages, bougainvillea-lined alleyways and crystalline beaches, Paros has long drawn travellers seeking a quieter alternative to neighbouring Mykonos. The island’s emerging food scene, growing collection of boutique stays, and serene sister island of Antiparos are all part of its discreet appeal.

Our selection of villas in Paros reflects this gentle beauty: low‑rise stone architecture, light‑filled interiors, private pools and dedicated villa concierge. Whether perched above secluded southern beaches or hidden in olive grove lined hills, these villas offer the ideal base for a new era of Cycladic discovery. Villa Asteria is a highlight – uniquely styled, just 10 minutes from the seafront tavernas and boutiques of Aliki, the villa boasts several outdoor lounge areas and a delightful dining terrace with sea views.