These are the best places to go in 2026, including three Asian destinations to bookmark

Every year, Condé Nast Traveller (CNT) releases its Best Places To Go list – a snapshot of destinations that feel timely, exciting, and on the brink of something bigger. The 2026 edition is described as “a reminder of the paradox that our world is at once very big, and very small”, shaped by intel from writers and editors around the globe tracking everything from emerging food scenes to museum openings and major infrastructure projects. Out of the global list, three Asian destinations stood out: Hong Kong, Udaipur, and Naoshima.

Hong Kong earns its spot as a growing cultural hub. In 2026, the West Kowloon Cultural District will expand further with the opening of the WestK Performing Arts Centre, adding three major dance and theatre venues to the precinct. Travel is also getting smoother, with Hong Kong International Airport rolling out upgrades under its three-runway expansion, including improvements to Terminal 2 by mid-2026. Beyond the city, enhanced facilities at hiking favourites like The Peak, Lantau Peak and Tai Mo Shan make it easier to enjoy Hong Kong’s greener side. Read our guide on Hong Kong’s top 10 most photographed hiking trails. 

Over in Japan, Naoshima – often dubbed the art island – continues its evolution into an open-air gallery where contemporary art, architecture and nature intertwine. The Naoshima New Museum of Art, designed by Tadao Ando and opened in 2025, signals a renewed focus on Asian artists, while upcoming cruise itineraries and future hotel openings like Mandarin Oriental, Setouchi at Naoshima suggest now’s the moment to visit before footfall ramps up.

In Udaipur, that renewed buzz is being fuelled in part by a new wave of luxury hotel openings. Tucked into the forested hills near the 19th-century Monsoon Palace, Fairmont Udaipur Palace channels old-world Rajput grandeur across its sprawling 327-key property, complete with ornate chattris, marble courtyards and Pichwai-inspired art. Down by Fateh Sagar Lake, the newly opened Udaipur Marriott Hotel adds a more contemporary counterpoint, with stone-carved jharokas and hill-framed lake views. These openings are proof that the “City of Lakes” continues to evolve while staying rooted in its royal past.

Here’s CNT’s list of the best places to travel to in 2026: 

• Arusha, Tanzania
• Brussels, Belgium
• Chiriquí Province, Panama
• Deer Valley, USA
• East Coast, Barbados
• Fès, Morocco
• Gabon
• Guadalajara, Mexico
• Hong Kong
• Margaret River, Australia
• Medellín, Colombia
• Minas Gerais, Brazil
• Naoshima, Japan
• Northern Chilean Patagonia
• Northern Namibia
• Oulu, Finland
• The Peloponnese, Greece
• Potosí, Bolivia
• Prince Edward County, Canada
• Route 66, USA
• Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
• Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, France
• Udaipur, India
• Uluru, Australia
• Upper Carniola (Gorenjska), Slovenia
• Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

For the full list, read CNT’s Best Places To Go In 2026.