If your travel bucket list is feeling a little light, CN Traveller has just given you 25 new reasons to grab your passport. The magazine’s highly anticipated “Best Places to Go in 2026” list spans every corner of the globe, from desert oases to design capitals, spotlighting destinations set to shine in the coming year.
Among the standouts is Brussels, Belgium, an often-overlooked capital that’s finally stepping into the spotlight. Long overshadowed by Bruges and Antwerp, Brussels is fast becoming a creative powerhouse thanks to the upcoming opening of the Kanal-Centre Pompidou, a massive modern art space housed in a former Citroën factory. The city’s food scene is also booming, offering both traditional Belgian favorites and bold new concepts.
Over in Tanzania, Arusha makes the list as a gateway to some of Africa’s most spectacular adventures. Sitting at the foot of Mount Meru, it’s the perfect jumping-off point for safaris through the Serengeti or a trek up Kilimanjaro, with new luxury lodges and community-led conservation experiences making the region more accessible than ever.
On the other side of the world, Naoshima, Japan, continues to redefine what an island getaway can be. Known as Japan’s “art island,” it’s home to world-class museums and installations, including works by Yayoi Kusama and Tadao Ando.
Rounding out the list are sunny escapes like Barbados’s East Coast, foodie havens like Guadalajara, Mexico, and natural wonders like Northern Chilean Patagonia and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
The best places to go in 2026
Chiriquí Province, Panama
Upper Carniola (Gorenjska), Slovenia
Margaret River, Australia
Northern Chilean Patagonia
Prince Edward County, Canada
Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, France
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