10 Locations Everybody Will Be Speaking About in 2026

Every year brings a brand new wave of journey locations that quietly rise earlier than exploding onto everybody’s bucket listing.

Skyscanner’s 2026 Journey Traits report highlights this 12 months’s greatest climbers, and the information tells a transparent story. The theme? Authenticity, affordability, and entry to nature.

Vacationers, significantly youthful vacationers and distant employees, are increasing their horizons, buying and selling overcrowded capitals for coastal cities, mountain getaways, and culturally wealthy small cities that provide deeper connections and higher worth.

Listed here are the ten locations seeing important spikes in flight searches and world curiosity heading into subsequent 12 months.

10. St. George’s, Grenada (+56%)

Curiosity in St. George’s climbed 56 p.c this 12 months, placing Grenada on the radar. The “Spice Island” is thought for its nutmeg-scented markets, jungle hikes to hidden waterfalls, and a few of the Caribbean’s most stunning reefs.

St. George’s harbor is among the prettiest within the Caribbean, with 18th-century buildings and pastel houses. Past the seaside, vacationers are discovering community-run excursions and farm-to-table eating that add authenticity to this tropical trip.

9. St. John’s, Canada (+58%)

On the fringe of North America, St. John’s has all the time been an outlier, however its 58% leap in curiosity exhibits that one thing has caught vacationers’ consideration.

Rainbow row homes and sea cliffs make this Newfoundland metropolis a photographer’s dream. You possibly can watch icebergs drift previous in spring, spot puffins from the coast, and hearken to reside people music in pubs downtown.

8. Kaunas, Lithuania (+59%)

Kaunas is Lithuania’s second metropolis, however first in artistic spirit. Curiosity is up 59% as vacationers rediscover Baltic allure following its 2022 recognition as a European Capital of Tradition.

Colourful road murals stretch throughout Previous City, espresso retailers full of college students, and riverside trails provide inexperienced parks and much more public artwork. Inexpensive and compact, Kaunas feels refreshingly unpolished and sudden.

7. Rijeka, Croatia (+75%)

Rijeka’s time is right here. A working port, this northern Croatian metropolis is reworking into an alternate coastal vacation spot for individuals who favor authenticity over polish. With 75% development in searches, Rijeka presents all the pieces from Austro-Hungarian structure to native seafood taverns tucked beside the marina.

Its cultural scene, fueled by youthful residents and college vitality, feels artistic and unpretentious. The choice for day journeys to close by islands and peninsula have additionally added to its reputation.

6. Akureyri, Iceland (+83%)

Akureyri has quietly emerged as a house base for exploring a few of Iceland’s most eye-catching surroundings. Searches are up 83%, thanks partially to new flight routes and a rising repute for genuine Arctic journey.

Summer season brings practically countless daylight and whale watching in close by fjords, whereas winter presents northern lights. It’s smaller and friendlier than Reykjavik however simply as charming.

5. Rabat, Morocco (+87%)

Rabat, Morocco’s capital, usually hides within the shadow of Marrakech and Casablanca, however not for for much longer. Curiosity on this coastal metropolis jumped 87%, fueled by vacationers fascinated with Moroccan magnificence with fewer crowds.

Elegant boulevards lined with palm timber result in a blue-and-white medina overlooking the Atlantic. Town’s Kasbah of the Udayas presents views at sundown that rival any in North Africa. Rabat combines custom with calm.

4. Bilbao, Spain (+97%)

Bilbao’s transformation from gritty port to cultural powerhouse continues to repay. With a 97% rise in searches, Spain’s Basque Nation is being acknowledged as one among Europe’s most rewarding metropolis breaks.

The titanium curves of the Guggenheim Museum stay a high attraction, however there’s extra right here than simply fashionable artwork. Right here you’ll be able to expertise pintxo bars, benefit from the metropolis’s artistic vitality, or see the inexperienced hills of northern Spain simply minutes away.

3. Kochi, Japan (+106%)

Kochi is quietly entering into Japan’s journey highlight with a 106% enhance in curiosity. Situated on Shikoku Island’s southern coast, it’s presents river valleys, shoreline, and centuries-old tradition.

You possibly can wander Kochi Citadel, discover the 300-year-old Sunday Market, or pattern katsuo no tataki, a flippantly seared bonito served with citrus and sea salt. For many who’ve already carried out Tokyo and Kyoto, Kochi seems like discovering Japan yet again.

2. Koror, Palau (+156%)

Within the western Pacific, Koror is changing into a dream vacation spot for divers and eco-travelers. The island noticed a 156% leap in searches as vacationers look to distant, environmentally wealthy locations.

Palau is among the world’s most progressive nations for ocean conservation, and Koror is the bottom for exploring lagoons and coral gardens. Past diving, you’ll find Micronesian and Western influences, native crafts, and a deep respect for the ocean.

1. Salerno, Italy (+211%)

Salerno, a coastal vacation spot in Southern Italy, tops the listing with a 211% surge in traveler curiosity. Whereas the close by Amalfi Coast has lengthy been a journey favourite, Salerno presents the identical allure however with extra room to breathe.

Pastel buildings spill into the ocean, and the medieval previous city presents cathedrals, cafés, and sea-view terraces. From Salerno, ferries will take you to Amalfi, Positano, and Capri, however you simply could end up wanting to remain put.

This 12 months’s trending locations level to a transparent shift. Vacationers need significant experiences in locations that also really feel actual. The world’s hottest spots could also be crowded, however simply past them lie cities and islands that provide magnificence, affordability, and cultural connection with out the chaos.