Once Christmas is out of the way, the winter blues well and truly settle in. Short days, long nights and a lack of vitamin D can only mean one thing – it’s time to book your next getaway for 2026.
We’ve got plenty of guides to help you plan your travels next year, from a roundup of exciting new train journeys launching in 2026 to our annual calendar of the best new things to do in the world. But if you’re in need of even more inspo, the trusted explorers at BBC Travel have travelled far and wide to pick the top 20 holiday destinations to visit next year.
Some familiar favourites appear on the BBC’s list, including Abu Dhabi, which Time Out spotlighted as a go-to for a culture-packed city break next year. The emirate boasts a slew of new openings, like the Zayed National Museum and the soon-to-open Guggenheim.
Elsewhere on BBC Travel’s list is Uluru in Australia, where travellers can soon embark on a five-day walking expedition through previously unexplored dunes and spinifex plains.
The guide also spotlights Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, which Time Out named the world’s most underrated destination earlier this year. The Central American country is a haven of exotic wildlife, home to more than half a million species. Described by the BBC as a ‘rare convergence of wilderness and wellness’, expect to wake up to the sound of howler monkeys and an accompanying symphony of tropical birds. New domestic flights are launching from San Jose to this remote corner of the country, home to the biologically diverse Corcovado National Park, plus a handful of surfing and yoga retreats.
If you like your culture bold, buzzy, and a little bit north of normal, then Oulu in Finland might be for you. Along with Trenčín in Slovakia, the city is one of the official European Capitals of Culture for next year. There’s a year-long programme guaranteed to keep you busy: think pop-up performances, art exhibitions and installations. Foodies will be drawn to the Arctic Food Lab – a celebration of full-on Nordic flavours via special dinners and tastings. Plus, the Climate Clock plans to turn the city into an open-air gallery, with Finnish artists teaming up with scientists to create thought-provoking works about climate, nature and time.
Over in the US, the Oregon Coast has landed on the BBC’s 2026 travel guide for its striking scenery, whale watching and lighthouses, while Philadelphia got a shout-out for its sporting events and 250th anniversary celebrations. Other highlights include Samburu in Kenya, the perfect place for a secluded off-the-beaten track safari experience; and Montenegro, with its stunning sea views of the Adriatic coastline. Scroll on for the full list.
These are the 20 best places to travel in 2026, according to the BBC
- Abu Dhabi
- Algeria
- Colchagua Valley, Chile
- Cook Islands
- Costa Rica
- Hebrides, Scotland
- Ishikawa, Japan
- Komodo Islands, Indonesia
- Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico
- Montenegro
- Oregon Coast, US
- Oulu, Finland
- Philadelphia, US
- Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Guimarães, Portugal
- Samburu, Kenya
- Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
- The Slocan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
- Uluru, Australia
- Uruguay
ICYMI: The best ‘set-jetting’ destinations for 2026 travel have been named.
Plus: The most exciting new flight routes launching in 2026.
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