Where to travel in 2026: 10 standout destinations | Canada Voices

Travel is about rejuvenation. And globetrotters chase destinations where something fresh is unfolding – places on the brink of a big reveal or hosting a milestone event. Locations where they can proudly say, “I was there when …”

Carolyn Werry, director of travel at Canadian-owned luxury tour company Gray & Co., says today’s travellers are increasingly “purpose-driven,” meaning they will design a trip around one irresistible hook – a concert, new hotel, museum opening or challenging hiking trail.

“In a world where there’s so many choices – which can make it really hard to figure out where to go – some people like to have a focal point, like a music festival or a major sporting event, and then build a holiday around it.”

For 2026, we asked travel experts to pinpoint 10 destinations poised for a standout moment. The resulting list is an eclectic mix.

Maybe this is the year you cheer on the world’s best at Italy’s Winter Olympics, venture into the untamed beauty of a new national park in northern Quebec or check into a new hotel in Scotland’s whisky heartland. Wherever your curiosity takes you, here are some picks that will spark that delicious feeling of anticipation.

Islay, Scotland

Islay, the southernmost island in the Inner Hebrides archipelago, has long lured Scotch lovers with its famously peaty single malts.

This windswept corner of Scotland is set to entice more whisky pilgrims to its shores when two new distilleries open later in 2026 – Laggan Bay, near Big Strand, the island’s longest sandy beach, and Portintruan, just outside Port Ellen. Their debuts will bring Islay’s total to 13 distilleries, reinforcing the island’s status as a must-see for those with a discerning taste for Scotland’s national drink.

Only 500 square kilometres in size, Islay is a small but mighty player that is redefining whisky tourism, says Gray & Co.’s Werry. Alongside tastings at world-class favourites such as Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Ardbeg and Bowmore, to name a few, she says the island also offers great hiking (with stunning coastal views), both sea and fly-fishing, and luxury accommodation infused with Scottish charm.

One of the island’s newest boutique hotels is Ardbeg House, a 12-room property from French purveyor LVMH that is getting rave reviews for its surreal decor, standout service and cozy Islay Bar, where cocktail-hour tastings are a daily ritual. The luxury retreat in Port Ellen, designed with Russell Sage Studio, showcases the work of more than 20 Scottish artisans – including a bed crafted from a deconstructed piano, copper wall art made from retired stills and bespoke boat chandeliers.

If the Ardbeg House is booked, Werry suggests Islay House or the Port Charlotte Hotel, both “lovely, four-star alternatives.” For the freshest oysters, she points to the Oyster Shed and for hearty pub fare, Bowmore Hotel Restaurant. Time your trip for May and you will catch Fèis Ìle, a whisky-centric festival with live music, good eats and plenty of wee drams to keep your spirits high.

Cairo, Egypt

After two decades of construction, Egypt has finally unveiled the Grand Egyptian Museum. The 490,000-square-metre structure, home to 100,000 artifacts representing 7,000 years of history, is being billed as the world’s largest museum devoted to a single civilization.

As The Globe and Mail’s Eric Reguly wrote in a recent story, the GEM cost more than US$1-billion to build and took about the same time to construct as the Great Pyramid, which was constructed from 2.3 million stone blocks weighing about 2.5 tonnes each.

“We used to be ashamed of the visitor experience here,” said Amr Gazarin, chief executive of Orascom Pyramids Entertainment, the company behind the US$30-million improvement of the experience at the Giza Pyramids Plateau, including the sound and light show.

He told The Globe that the revamped Giza Plateau is already triggering a surge in tourism, with the GEM expected to draw around 15,000 visitors daily, roughly five million annually, making “this the capital for archeological visits in the world.”

Cari Gray, founder of Gray & Co., agrees that Egypt’s star is on the rise. Cairo, which is just 30 minutes from the pyramids, is a vivid blend of old and new. “It is stimulating and vibrant, but also chaotic,” says Gray.

Egypt counts on a new tourism dynasty as museum joins a revamped Giza

There are bustling souks, contemporary art galleries in the Zamalek district, the 22 royal mummies at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and great shopping at Madu, a store that supports female artisans. “The street food is amazing,” Gray says. For a splurge, she suggests Khufu’s, recently named the region’s best restaurant by 50 Best Restaurants. For a stay with iconic pyramid views, try the Marriott Mena House (its gardens are beautiful, too).

Visitors to Egypt can drift down the Nile aboard a private dahabiya (a twin-masted sailboat). Gray recommends the 100-year-old Set Nefru, built for a scion of the Egyptian royal family and recently restored. Cruises end in Aswan (home to the storied Sofitel Legend Old Cataract hotel, where Agatha Christie used to sip cocktails) or in Luxor (try the Al Moudira Hotel, near the valleys of the Kings and the Queens).

Oulu, Finland

This under-the-radar Nordic city, located just south of the Arctic Circle, usually yields the spotlight to Helsinki (the capital) or Rovaniemi (the reputed hometown of Santa Claus). But now it is Oulu’s time to shine. Named a 2026 European Capital of Culture by the European Commission, Oulu has earned the spotlight because of its blend of high-tech innovation (it’s the pioneer of wireless 6G tech), natural beauty and eclectic, boundary-pushing cultural programs.

Next June will bring Climate Clock, a new eco-art trail created by artists and scientists. Later in the summer, dive into the Arctic Food Lab, celebrating raw Nordic mainstays such as reindeer, salmon and sea buckthorn (golden berries), a celebrated local superfood. Long-time favourites are set to return, too: The Frozen People Festival, an electronic music celebration held on the icy Gulf of Bothnia in February, and August’s Air Guitar World Championships, which draws enthusiastic competitors from around the globe.

In November, the Lumo Art & Tech festival will feature a symphony concert paired with astral photography. And year-round, visitors can try Oulu’s floating saunas, anchored on rafts in the Oulujoki river. Morten Stausholm, with Intrepid Travel in North Europe, notes Finns like their saunas scorching. He said that some people go further and add Koskenkorva (local alcohol) to the sauna-oven to “enhance the experience.”

When it comes to cuisine, his picks are Villa Hannala, known for its homemade pastries, bread and local dishes such lohikeitto (salmon soup) and shrimp toast; and Bootti, a floating seafood restaurant on a boat, docked in the Oulu harbour.

Places to stay include the recently renovated Lapland Hotels Oulu and the Scandic Go hotel, opening late 2026. But Stausholm often steers travellers toward traditional mokkis, cozy cottages located near lakes, forests and the region’s 965 kilometres of walking and cycling paths.

Uluru, Australia

In the heart of the Australian outback, a towering sandstone monolith rises nearly as tall as the Empire State Building. Formed more than 500 million years ago, Uluru holds profound meaning for the Aboriginal Anangu peoples. Its caves – etched with ancient rock art – reflect tens of thousands of years of Anangu law, stories and ceremony.

October marked the 40th anniversary of the historic hand-back of the title deeds for Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to the Anangu, a milestone that helped usher in a new era of Aboriginal tourism.

Starting in April, 2026, visitors will for the first time be able to stay overnight inside the World Heritage-listed park and join a five-day Uluru-Kata Tjutu signature walk, developed jointly by the Anangu Traditional Owners and the Tasmanian Walking Company.

The 54-kilometre trek begins beneath Kata Tjuta’s massive domes before arcing east across remote desert terrain, red dunes, mulga woodlands, eventually reaching Uluru itself. Brett Godfrey, co-owner of Tasmanian Walking Co., says hikers will walk “in full view of the two rock formations … guided by knowledge of those who have walked the land for tens of thousands of years before them.” Along the way, there will be art workshops, lessons in land management and other activities, giving visitors a rare chance to experience one of the world’s most sacred landscapes through the eyes of its traditional custodians.

Nights are spent in ecofriendly lodges or glamping setups, perfect for stargazing by a campfire and hearing stories of the Outback – its magic, resilience and the profound connection the Anangu have maintained with this land for centuries.

Basque Country, Spain

Astro-tourism is booming, particularly among umbraphiles, the die-hard eclipse-chasers who globe-trot with protective glasses to witness what many describe as a life-changing experience. On Aug. 12, 2026, parts of mainland Europe will witness its first total solar eclipse in almost 30 years.

One of the prime viewing zones is in Spain’s Basque region, celebrated for its unique culture and language, world-class gastronomy and striking architecture, including Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. (Spain, in fact, will enjoy near-perfect views of two consecutive solar eclipses in 2026 and 2027).

Travel companies such as New Scientist Discovery Tours are offering expert-led eclipse trips guided by astrophysicists and archaeologists. Kevin Currie, the company’s director, says viewers will have many options to see the cosmic wonder across central and northern Spain, in towns and cities such as Oviedo, Santander, León, Bilbao, Valencia and Palma.

Currie is leading a tour based in Burgos, a medieval city which borders the Basque Country, known for the UNESCO-listed Burgos Cathedral, the Museum of Human Evolution and surrounding wineries that offer tours, tastings and stellar cuisine, including the modern Norman Foster-designed Bodegas Portia.

Tours are selling out – Burgos included – so Currie recommends booking quickly. He has another piece of advice. After the solar eclipse, don’t rush off. “The Perseid meteor of 2026 will be near its peak, offering a spectacular show once darkness falls.”

Peloponnese, Greece

“Set-jetting” – travelling to destinations made famous by films and TV – has exploded in recent years. In July, 2026, the spotlight will shift to Greece’s myth-soaked Peloponnese when Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey opens in theatres.

This beach-fringed peninsula, scattered with UNESCO-protected ruins, has shaped Greek culture for millennia. Homer’s mythical heroes were inspired by the Bronze Age Mycenaeans, whose presence still echoes across the landscape.

You’ll be able to channel your inner Odysseus by hiking to oceanside Nestor’s Cave, where Matt Damon’s hero outwits the Cyclops in the film. Swim in Poseidon’s realm at the horseshoe-shaped Voidokilia Beach or wander Methoni Castle and nearby Pylos – a town where Odysseus’s son once sought wisdom from King Nestor.

Gray & Co.’s Werry calls the Peloponnese an “incredible, but lesser-known destination” than the Mamma Mia! islands of Skopelos and Skiathos. “The region has both mountains and coastline, world-class historical sights, charming, authentic towns and restaurants and plenty of outdoor adventures.”

Greece’s Euphoria Retreat pampers as much as it pushes you

In spring 2026, a network of 1,730 kilometres of trails will be complete, with options for all levels of hikers. The footpaths wind through olive groves, deep gorges, river valleys, forests, mountains and archeological gems such as Mystras, near Euphoria Retreat, which will host a Wellbeing Festival in June focused on makrozoia, the Greek word for the art of longevity.

“The Peloponnese opens up a lesser-known Greece to the traveller,” says Werry, who often sends clients to stay at Amanzoe, part of five-star Aman Resorts, which overlooks the turquoise Aegean Sea.

The Eeyou Istchee James Bay region, Quebec

Quebec’s newest and second-largest national park is the first to be managed by a First Nation.

Nibiischii, meaning “Land of Water,” is the Cree word for a landscape where the great natural waters of the North are born. With the recent creation of Nibiischii National Park, the Cree Nation of Mistissini has protected a pristine sweep of northern Quebec. The new park encompasses more than 12,000 square kilometres of lakes, rivers and boreal forest. One of the province’s largest wildlife sanctuaries is next door.

Visitors can stay in waterfront cabins and floating chalets on Waconichi Lake, or at a new year-round lodge that offers immersive Indigenous-led experiences such as fireside storytelling, moccasin-making, trapping, mushroom-foraging and wilderness skills.

Conrad Mianscum, the park’s deputy director, says his community is proud to be “in the driver’s seat” managing the park. “It’s a park that is inhabited by our people who are still out there on the land, as they have been for generations,” Mianscum says. “It gives us an opportunity to protect the environment, tell our stories and protect our culture.”

For nature lovers, it’s an untouched paradise. Hundreds of lakes and clear, cold rivers are filled with walleye, lake trout, brook trout and northern pike. The park is pursuing official Dark-Sky certification and is still a work in progress with new activities being added, including winter snowshoeing on woodland trails.

Access is via Chibougamau, a mining and forestry hub that is a 90-minute flight from Montreal on Air Creebec. Or, you also can rent a car and drive. Park director Mireille Gravel says the nine-hour road trip is worth it with picturesque towns to stop at along the way in the Mauricie and Lake Saint-Jean regions.

When you finally arrive at the park, Gravel says the effect is almost “dizzying. Everything is so vast. You feel like a tiny little person in a gigantic all-natural world.”

Milan and the Dolomites, Italy

The 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in February and March will be the most geographically dispersed games ever, spanning 22,000 square kilometres between the fashion design capital of Milan and the Alpine resort town of Cortina d’Ampezzo, called the “Queen of the Dolomites” because of its breathtaking scenery.

With 18 colossal peaks, the Dolomites are a geological marvel with spires dramatic enough to earn UNESCO World Heritage status.

Most Olympic events will unfold in the Alps, where Cortina d’Ampezzo anchors Dolomiti Superski, one of the world’s largest ski areas, with 12 resorts and nearly 30,000 acres of runs. Travel expert Gray has been there many times and says it “feels like a ski safari. It’s mind-boggling, the amount of terrain you can access.”

Equally superb, Gray adds, is the food. “The northern Italian risotto, the cured meat and the speck. You also have the German influence, so the strudel is amazing. In other words, there’s lots of good, hearty cuisine – which you need after skiing these hills.”

A standout hotel is Aman Rosa Alpina in San Cassiano, now reimagined with timber and stone rooms, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the surrounding peaks. “The hotel was perfection before the Aman renovations, but now it will be truly mind-blowing,” Gray says.

When the Winter Games are over, here’s what to see in Italy’s spectacular Dolomites

She’s also thrilled that Milan is in the spotlight, rather than the usual tourist meccas of Florence, Rome or Venice. Long underestimated, Gray says the Lombardy capital offers layered culture, inventive dining, fabulous shopping and stylish accommodations. Rosewood Milan opens soon in two 19th-century palazzi in the fashion district, while Six Senses Milan will debut later in 2026, in the heart of the city’s artistic quarter.

Île de Bendor, France

In 1950, Marseille-born pastis-liquor pioneer Paul Ricard purchased a six-hectare island in the French Riviera, just off the coast from the charming town of Bandol. An entrepreneur, industrialist and artist, Ricard transformed Île de Bendor into a chic Mediterranean playground with hotels, restaurants, an artist’s village, museums and even a small zoo.

It became a glamorous, hedonistic hub for creativity, attracting the likes of Spanish painter Salvador Dalí and French novelist Marcel Pagnol.

But decades of mistral winds and salt spray took its toll, leaving the Provençal buildings faded. The island stayed in the family’s hands but it closed in 2021. Since then, Picard’s descendants have been dreaming of its renaissance. In May, 2026, the famed island retreat will reopen, led by luxury hospitality group Zannier Hotels, which has spent five years restoring Bendor to its former glory.

Guests will reach the island by boat from Bandol, arriving to a 93-room resort with a curated artisan village, beach club, wellness spa, diving centre, children’s club and eight dining venues overseen by renown French chef Lionel Levy.

Marie Bouthier, communications manager at Zannier Bendor, says the goal was “to recreate the dream of Paul Ricard once again, a place where conviviality, pleasure and creativity are at the centre of the experience.”

Rather than reinvent, she says the family and hotel group are refurbishing the existing buildings. Accommodations include Delos, a hotel with 1960s Riviera glamour; Soukana, a health and wellness retreat; and the island’s Madrague Houses – former fishermen’s homes perfect for families.

Zannier Bendor is designed for those who want to relax and indulge in art de vivre, à la Provence.

Toronto, Ontario

In June, Toronto and Vancouver will co-host the FIFA World Cup, alongside Mexico and the U.S. – the first time Canada has taken the global stage for the world’s biggest sporting event.

We’ve chosen Toronto over Vancouver because it’s proudly known as “the world in a city.” BMO Field will host six matches, welcoming teams from Croatia, Belgium, Ghana, Panama and Germany, among others. With 158 distinct neighbourhoods, the city’s cultural groups are gearing up to celebrate.

“Toronto is a world-class sports town filled with passionate fans,” says Ashley Rochefort, at Destination Toronto. “Soccer fans will feel that same electric energy next summer in Toronto, one of the most diverse cities in the world, where everyone can find community both on and off the pitch.”

Toronto does global comfort food better than almost anywhere and fans will find familiar flavours in countless locales: Italian espresso and patios in Little Italy (Café Diplomatico, Sicilian Sidewalk Café); Croatian favourites at eclectic Joso’s or Drom Taberna; German bites at Wvrst Union Station or Otto’s Berlin Döner; and West African dishes at Afrobeat Kitchen or Instant du Palais.

Canada’s biggest and most-visited city offers more than great eats. There’s the bohemian Kensington Market, bustling Chinatown, Koreatown, Little Portugal and Roncesvalles Village – each packed with independent shops, bars and street life.

For those seeking reprieve from soccer mania, head to Toronto Islands or explore the city’s many museums. The Gardiner Museum of ceramics is showing off a new $15.5-million renovation, or you could see what’s new at the Aga Khan Museum of Islamic art. Next year, a new art-focused walk opens down by the waterfront. The Lassonde Art Trail will be just over four-kilometres long, located inside an open-air art park with works by Cree artist Kent Monkman, Berlin-based Monira Al Qadiri and Britain’s Tracey Emin.

Big, bold and proudly multicultural, Toronto is the perfect backdrop for a sport that Brazilian soccer legend Pelé nicknamed “the beautiful game.”