What will be the top tourist destinations of 2026? There are several countries that are candidates to become the trendiest destination among travelers

It often happens that, at a certain point, some tourist destinations achieve enormous popularity, becoming the focus of countless pieces of content on social networks. Over the past year, this role has undoubtedly been played by Japan, which has established itself as one of the most sought-after destinations in the West; previously, in Europe, it was Iceland (thanks to its nature-based tourism) and Albania (especially among those who love seaside travel). But which other countries will attract the attention of travelers in 2026?

Cambodia is the 2026 «place to be»

An effective way to predict which destinations will be the most popular of the year is to analyze the destinations trending on search engines dedicated to air travel. According to the aggregator Skyscanner, the destination that recorded the greatest increase in interest over the past year was Cambodia. Confirming this trend, Emirates launched a new route from Dubai to Siem Reap, a city in the north-west of the country that allows visitors to explore the famous ruins of the Angkor temples, one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. Turkish Airlines has also opened a new route to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.

The Cambodian government has been working on the development of the tourism sector since before 2020, and the results did not take long to appear: between 2023 and 2024, tourism in the country grew by over 20 percentage points, with more than 6 million international visitors and an economic impact exceeding 3 billion dollars. Among the top ten countries of origin for tourists are also France and the United Kingdom.

Where to travel in Asia in 2026?

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in interest in China, also thanks to new measures facilitating tourist entry. In the final months of 2025, six new routes were inaugurated from Milan and Venice to major Chinese cities, with direct connections also to important cities in the central part of the country, such as Chengdu and Chongqing.

Another destination that is increasingly appearing in social media content is Uzbekistan – a Central Asian country that until recently was little visited due to its authoritarian regime. The destination is particularly popular for organized group travel, both by large online agencies and by smaller tour operators.

Africa and the Caucasus: where to go in 2026

A destination that until recently was little known but is beginning to be increasingly visited is Namibia, a country north of South Africa, highly sought after because it is one of the safest countries in the region and because it offers particularly breathtaking landscapes. However, it remains overall a fairly expensive trip to undertake.

A destination closer to Europe that is quite popular, relatively affordable, and considered excessively underrated is Georgia, whose tourism sector has grown significantly in recent years – numerous influencers and European travel content creators have been invited to visit the country directly by the national tourism board. In this case as well, in 2025 a direct connection from Milan Malpensa to Tbilisi, the country’s capital, was added, which will most likely further increase Georgia’s appeal.