Planning your 2026 adventures? You’re in luck. CN Traveller has just revealed its annual list of the best places to visit next year, from an overlooked European capital about to become a creative powerhouse to an Indian city straight out of a Bond film (literally).
Often overshadowed by the canals of Bruges or the cool creative energy of Antwerp, one of CN Traveller’s picks is Brussels. The Belgian capital is too often written off as a bureaucratic hub or a stopover on the Eurostar, but that reputation is fast changing. In 2026, Brussels will take its place among Europe’s cultural heavyweights with the opening of the Kanal-Centre Pompidou. Once an abandoned factory, the enormous site is being transformed into a cutting-edge centre for modern art, with live performances, film screenings, music and creative workshops.
Over in India, Udaipur - known as the ‘Venice of the East’ for its shimmering lakes and ornate bridges - is experiencing a renaissance. The enchanting city, which famously appeared in the 1983 Bond film Octopussy, is welcoming a wave of new luxury hotels that bring what CN Traveller calls a ‘welcome sense of renewal’. Visitors can spend their days meandering around the lakes, shopping for local crafts and sampling Rajasthani cuisine at the city’s elegant rooftop restaurants.
Meanwhile, Medellín in Colombia, a city long hailed as a master of reinvention, has earned its place on the 2026 list too. Set amid the dramatic Andes mountains, Medellín buzzes with restaurants, cable cars and parks. But the fun really starts after dark when Medellín’s world-class bars and nightclubs come to life. It’s not for no reason the city earned a spot on Time Out’s best cities in the world for nightlife in 2025.
Other standout destinations on CN Traveller’s list include Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, Fès in Morocco, Hong Kong, and Prince Edward County in Canada. Still not sure where to book for your next trip? Check out the full list of 2026’s hottest destinations according to CN Traveller below.
The best travel destinations in 2026, according to CN Traveller
- Arusha, Tanzania
- East Coast, Barbados
- Brussels, Belgium
- Chiriquí Province, Panama
- Deer Valley, Utah
- Fès, Morocco
- Gabon
- Upper Carniola (Gorenjska), Slovenia
- 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
- Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Did you see the best affordable travel destinations for 2026 have been revealed?
Plus, London is officially the world’s hottest-trending travel destination to visit in 2026.
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