The 26 best new things to do in the world in 2026

Paris, France

The Pont Neuf is Paris’s oldest bridge, the first of its kind to be built in that distinctive ‘Paris stone’ (which is actually Lutetian limestone). Despite being an iconic landmark in its own right, the bridge will undergo a dramatic transformation for just a few weeks in 2026. In honour of the 40th anniversary of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s Pont Neuf Wrapped, which saw the bridge draped in thousands of metres of fabric back in 1985, artist JR will be putting his own temporary stamp on the bridge with a raw and untamed makeover. Inspired by the quarries from which the bridge’s original stones were extracted, La Caverne du Pont Neuf will see the bridge encased in huge rock formations, forming a cave-like walkway. It’ll be free to view (and walk across) from June 6 to 28.

📍 Discover the best things to do in Paris

Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Iceland

Eclipses are a rare phenomenon, so why not embrace them in all their magical, celestial glory by joining a massive celebratory party? From August 12-15, Iceland Eclipse festival will be taking place in the country’s jaw-droppingly beautiful Snæfellsnes Peninsula and Hellissandur, with a programme of music, art, science and tech all curated around the 2 minutes of total darkness that’ll take place on the first day. With only 3,333 tickets up for grabs, it’ll be a mystical, intimate celebration. Oh, and your last chance to see an eclipse until 2196 – go on. 

📍 Discover the best things to do in Iceland

Mexico City, Mexico

When we say ‘Frida Kahlo museum’, you probably think of Casa Azul, the brilliant blue home-turned-exhibition-and-archive where the artist was born. However, at the end of 2025, the first-ever museum run by Kahlo’s own descendants opened in Casa Roja. It used to be owned by her parents and is now home to an intimate collection of Kahlo’s belongings like dolls, clothing, jewellery, photos and letters, as well as space for rotating exhibitions from Mexican, Latin American and women artists. It’s called Museo Casa Kahlo, and it’s a five-minute walk from Casa Azul. 

📍 Discover the best things to do in Mexico City

Queensland, Australia

Queensland’s sprawling Lamington National Park, with its lush subtropical forests and ancient trees, is perhaps best observed from one of the almost 40 different hiking trails that meander through the landscape. Or is it? Well, thanks to the opening of the world-first Happitat Adventure Park, which sits on a cliff edge in the UNESCO World Heritage site, you can see for yourself. Towering 400 metres above the valley floor, the adventure park will be home to Australia’s highest zip lines, which are set to begin welcoming visitors in late 2025. Opt for either the one-hour ride or the two-hour option, which includes three different ziplines as well as the park’s Via Ferrata mountaineering course. 

📍 Discover the best things to do in Australia

Thailand

Kicking off in 2026, Thailand will host the Asian debut of Tomorrowland, one of the world’s biggest electronic music festivals, for the next five years. With hopes of drawing nearly one million festival goers (369,000 locals, plus 553,500 international travellers, to be specific) it will be one hell of a party. 2025’s edition in Belgium saw more than 600 artists including Steve Aoki, Lost Frequencies, and Swedish House Mafia on the line-up, so stay tuned for more information as acts are announced.

📍 Discover the best things to do in Thailand

Canada

Luxury train routes are one hell of a glamorous way to get around, but few are as synonymous not only with opulence but also draw-dropping scenery as the Rocky Mountaineer, and in 2026, a limited edition new route will launch. Opt for one, five, seven, or nine-night experiences and you’ll trundle off the train’s typical tracks and venture through the landscapes of Alberta and British Columbia, stopping off in Edmonton, Banff, Jasper, Calgary, Kamloops and Lake Louise. It’s called ‘Passage to the Peaks’ and tours will operate throughout June and July. 

📍 Discover the best things to do in Canada

Dominica

You might well have been whale watching at some point, but have you ever swum alongside the magnificent creatures? Head to Dominica in 2026, and you might be in with a chance of doing so. Around 200 sperm whales live in the sea near the island, and Dominica is about to create the world’s first sperm whale reserve, an 800-square-kilometre area off its west coast. While this project’s core commitment is marine conservation, visitors will also have the chance to swim alongside the whales. Sounds pretty incredible, right?

📍 Discover the best beaches in the world

Chicago, USA

Mystic or sceptic, it’ll be hard not to feel a little spellbound by Chicago’s opulent new magic venue, set to open in the historic McCormick Mansion in the spring. The Gilded Age building has had a $50 million facelift, with the Rockwell Group – who are behind some of Broadway’s most imaginative sets – transforming it into an illusion-filled playground called The Hand & The Eye. It will become the home of all things ‘modern magic’, with shapeshifting lounges, magical parlours and theatres, plenty of hidden doors and much, much more.

📍 Discover the best attractions in Chicago

England, UK

The English coastline is a thing of flat-out beauty, nostalgic charm and rugged power, and in 2026 it’ll be easier to visit than ever. That’s because next year – finally – the King Charles III Coastal Path will be finished. The trail, which has been in the works since way back 2009, will follow the entire coastline of England, spanning 2,674 miles (4,303 km) of cliffs, beaches, cities, national parks and more. Once complete, it’ll be the longest (managed) coastal trail in the entire world. More than just a few signposts, the King Charles III Coastal Path will link up legendary seaside spots with stretches of coast that have never before been properly accessible. 

📍 Discover the best things to do in the UK

Aarhus, Denmark

The ‘light and space’ art movement first began taking shape in the 1960s, and more than 60 years later, James Turrell has emerged as one of the movement’s most lauded and recognised creators. Known as the ‘master of light’, Turrell’s work includes his ‘Skyspaces’ – huge architectural works featuring an opening to frame the sky – which he’s been building since 1974. In 2026, the ‘largest and most ambitious’ of these is slated to open in a brand-new 40-metre-wide domed space next to ARoS Aarhus Art Museum on June 19, 2026. 

📍 Discover our favourite Nordic city breaks

Rabat, Morocco

Calling all bookworms – on World Book Day (April 23), the brilliant city of Rabat on Morocco’s Atlantic coast will have the baton passed from Rio de Janeiro to become Unesco’s World Book Capital for 2026. The city is home to 54 publishing houses and Africa’s third-largest international book and publishing fair, which will be bigger than ever in 2026. There’s a host of literary events going on in the city next year, including a grand opening ceremony featuring international authors, masterclasses and workshops for both visitors and locals, and public reading marathons (which might not actually be a race, but can be treated competitively at your own volition). Other cultural additions to Morocco’s capital slated for next year include the Théâtre Royal de Rabat, a stunning new 1,800-seat theatre and 7,000-capacity amphitheatre, designed by Zaha Hadid.

📍 Discover the best cities to visit in Morocco (that aren’t Marrakech)

USA

There are iconic highways, and then there’s Route 66. Once dubbed the ‘mother road’ by novelist John Steinbeck, this rolling US route (which stretches almost 4,000km from Chicago to Santa Monica) will mark its centenary in 2026, so what better time is there to pack up into a car and get out on the open road? Expect road rallies, festivals of family-friendly activities and vintage cars, and plenty more events, which all kicks off with a celebratory concert in Springfield, Missouri (the road’s birthplace) on April 30. 

📍 Discover the most epic road trips in the US

Egypt

You might be used to copping an e-bike to zip around your city – but how about using one to explore the world’s longest river? In 2026, a new tour of the Nile will launch, courtesy of Boat Bike Tours. The bike bit will see travellers cruising through farmlands, villages and to none other than the Great Pyramids, while the boat bit involves a stay on a fancy all-suite ship. Organisers have secured government permission to use quieter roads instead of well-trodden tourist routes, so this tour really will show you a new side of one of the world’s oldest countries. The two departures will be on February 5 and 19 from the Red Sea resort of El Gouna, and tickets start at €5,299. Not cheap, but it’s a pretty innovative way to explore if you’ve got the cash to do so. 

📍 Discover the world’s most beautiful buildings

Kyoto, Japan

Sure, immersive installations can transport you into weirdly wonderful digital art universes, but head to Uzumasa Kyoto Village and you’ll journey all the way back to Japan’s Tokugawa era (which ran from 1603-1868, and is also known as the Edo period). This interactive village has been operating as a movie set since 1975, with more than 200 movies a year filmed there at its peak. Its reopening as an immersive theme park will begin with a soft opening on March 28. Guests can wander around the open sets, enjoy live shows, attend a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, shop and dine.

📍 Discover the best things to do in Kyoto

Sydney, Australia

A fully interactive ‘art park’ will take residence at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, welcoming visitors for free until October 2026. Artist and professional disruptor Mike Newson’s brainchild The Key’s Under The Mat has taken over the usually pitch-black Tank under the Sydney arts space, and it’s one hell of a wacky experience. Visitors can sweat it out in a steam room, run through waterfalls, hit up the recording studio, swing on monkey bars and – yes – get their clothes wash done in vintage washing machines. Oh, and don’t forget to bring sausages for the barbecue. 

📍 Discover the best things to do in Sydney

Cape Town, South Africa

Since launching in 2019, Afro Nation has become the world’s biggest and best festival dedicated to the music of the African diaspora. And next year, it’s getting even bigger, with a brand-new edition dedicated solely to R&B. WAV festival, described as honouring the original sound of R&B ‘while boldly reinterpreting its future’, will debut on January 2 in Cape Town, and the line-up includes names such as Mariah The Scientist and Kelvin Momo, plus more. At time of writing, there are still tickets available.

📍 Discover the best things to do in Cape Town

Istanbul, Türkiye

Train stations tend to be little more than the beginning or end of your journey, but two in Türkiye’s vibrant capital city are about to become destinations in their own right. Why? Because soon they’ll feature exhibitions, gardens, museums and libraries (as well as trains, obviously). Haydarpaşa Station will host a brand-new ‘archaeopark’, showcasing an entire ancient city discovered during recent renovations, with a section for a museum, arts centre and library. Sirkeci Station, on the other side of the Bosporus, will house an exhibition all about Turkish migration. Stay tuned for their official opening dates. 

📍 Discover the best attractions in Istanbul

Tokyo, Japan

If you were addicted to playing Pokémon on the Gameboy in the ’00s, or dashing about the place to collect creatures via Pokémon Go in 2016, this one’s for you. The world’s first-ever permanent Pokémon theme park will land in Tokyo’s Tama Hills in 2026. Across the 26,000 square metre site, you’ll have the chance to meet more than 600 Pokémon (yes, really). It’s called PokéPark KANTO and will feature two zones: Pokémon Forest and Sedge Town. The former will be a multi-terrain wilderness to train your Pokémon spotting skills, while the latter will be a space to socialise. 

📍 Discover the best things to do in Tokyo

Brumadinho, Brazil

If you love delving into the wonderfully wacky world of modern art but the Inhotim Institute wasn’t already on your radar, it should be. It’s the largest contemporary art museum in Latin America, home to more than 1,860 artworks from 43 different countries, and one of the world’s most expansive centres for outdoor art on the planet. And, as of this year, it’s home to Clara Arte, a chic, 46-room hotel. Yes – you can actually stay overnight in the museum grounds, in one of the ultra-luxe, ridiculously tasteful rooms (if you have the cash to splash, that is). 

📍 Discover the best art galleries and museums in the world

Los Angeles, USA

If you’ve walked past Exposition Park in southern LA over the last few years, you might have wondered when that spaceship-esque building will ever be open (or take off). Well, we’ve got some exciting news – said building is actually the long-awaited Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, finally earmarked to open in 2026. Behind the project is Star Wars creator George Lucas, who recently told the crowd at Comic Con that while he has spent his career working with talented illustrators, they rarely receive the recognition they deserve. This museum will be a ‘temple to the people’s art’, showcasing work from Frida Kahlo, Beatrix Potter, Normal Rockwell and more – alongside, of course, a Lucas Archive, featuring everything from props to concept drawings from the filmmaker’s illustrious career. 

📍 Discover the best things to do in LA

South Korea

The world is full of some seriously stunning hikes, but if you’re after a fresh track and a multi-day challenge to stretch those legs, you should head to South Korea next year. The Dongseo Trail, set to be an 850km path connecting the country’s east and west coasts through 55 different sections, should be complete by the end of 2026. It’ll venture all the way from Anmyeon Island to the Uljin Trailhead through little rural communities, dense forests and glorious mountains. The hike can be done in sections, but if you opt to tackle the whole thing, you’ll need to set aside between 40 to 50 days.  

📍 Discover the best things to do in South Korea

Abu Dhabi, UAE

When it comes to design and architecture, Guggenheim is already a name loaded with prestige, but chuck Frank Gehry into the mix and that is one exciting combo – and it’s these two heavyweight names which are behind one of Abu Dhabi’s most exciting new art museums. However, while we await the opening of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, slated for later in 2026, the Zayed National Museum, a stunning new space also in the city’s Saadiyat Cultural District (which is home to more than 1,500 artefacts detailing the UAE’s history from the dawn of civilisation) opened its doors on December 3 – be sure to check the calendar of performances scheduled.

📍 Discover the best things to do in Abu Dhabi

Hamburg, Germany

You might think that the whole immersive art thing is a bit ‘been there, done that’ by now, but hold your judgement until you’ve visited teamLab’s newest outpost, which is set to open in Hamburg’s HafenCity district in early 2026. The Tokyo-based collective’s work attracted a staggering 2.5 million visitors in the year up to March 2024, and when the UBS Digital Art Museum opens – slated to be the largest dedication to immersive art in Europe – it’ll utilise hundreds of projectors to create ‘living canvases’.

📍 Discover the best attractions in Hamburg

Stockholm, Sweden

Sweden’s capital is already pretty solid when it comes to places to eat, drink, and generally hang out and look cool, but for 2026 there’s a new kid on the block. House of Q is located inside an old industrial site in Värtahamnen, and will feature not just any bars, restaurants and event spaces, but ones specifically designed to act as meeting spots for the queer and LGBTQ+ community. Spread over 3,400 square metres, this is set to be the city’s coolest new cultural social hub. Don’t miss it.

📍 Discover the best attractions in Stockholm

Dubai, UAE

While it might sound like we’re talking about floating cars, Dubai’s swish new ‘aerial taxis’, which are set to launch in 2026, are actually fully electric eVTOL aircrafts, which feature six propellers and look a whole lot more like futuristic helicopters. They carry up to four passengers and can reach speeds of up to 320km per hour, and the city’s first ‘vertiport’ is in development at Dubai International Airport. While we don’t know their exact launch date, it’s certainly a decent way to get from A to B, all while taking in a birdseye view of the city – who needs the metro, anyway?

📍 Discover the best things to do in Dubai

Vancouver and Abu Dhabi

2025 was a huge year for Time Out Market openings, with new venues welcoming diners and drinkers in Budapest and New York. And in 2026, two brand-new markets will swing open their doors: one in Vancouver, which will become Canada’s second market, and one in Abu Dhabi, on Saadiyat Island. So what can you expect? Only the best of the city under one roof, of course. Time Out Market Vancouver will house a whopping 18 kitchens, while Time Out Market Abu Dhabi will host 15, plus a cultural and entertainment space.

📍 Discover the best attractions in Vancouver