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Searching for your next great escape or inspiration for an upcoming adventure? National Geographic today revealed its top picks for BEST OF THE WORLD, the brand’s annual list of the most awe-inspiring, meaningful and immersive travel experiences for the upcoming year.

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Sports fans heading to the 2026 Winter Olympics, hosted primarily in Italy’s Dolomite Mountains, should consider exploring beyond the venues to take in picturesque scenery such as Lago di Braies (Lake Braies) in the Tyrol. (Photo by Chris Burkard, Verb Photo)

Drawing on the expertise of its editors, travel contributors and international partners, National Geographic’s BEST OF THE WORLD 2026 is the definitive guide to the top destinations to visit in 2026. From Rwandan safaris to Pittsburgh museums, this year’s edition encourages readers to rethink how they travel, embracing deeper connections with nature, culture and communities. The selections span the globe — from the Philippines to Finland — and include four U.S. locations.

Designed as a curated selection of options to inspire travelers, BEST OF THE WORLD 2026 includes something for everyone: families, foodies, animal lovers, adventurers and more. This year’s list stands apart by featuring destinations that celebrate distinctive cultural moments, one-of-a-kind events and experiences, awe-inspiring natural wonders and sustainable travel. Whether exploring the Badlands or touring the “snow monsters” of the Zao mountains in Japan, this year’s selections offer a diverse range of options that cater to both seasoned explorers and first-time adventurers.

“At Nat Geo, we know that travel has the power to inspire and transform us,” said Nathan Lump, editor-in-chief of National Geographic. “In this year’s BEST OF THE WORLD, we especially wanted to highlight unexpected destinations that the algorithms are probably not serving you — for instance, Uzbekistan’s Khiva or Rwanda’s Akagera National Park. Of course, we know that not every trip can be an off-the-beaten-path adventure, so we were mindful to include some surprisingly compelling places that are also more easily accessible. Whatever kind of traveler you are, our goal is to ensure we’re sharing fresh ideas that help you connect with that feeling of discovery and joy that comes from a great travel experience.”

National Geographic also celebrated the launch on social media with a “Readers’ Choice” campaign in the weeks leading up to this year’s BEST OF THE WORLD announcement. @NatGeoTravel invited audiences to share their favorite travel destination recommendations in the lead-up to the full list reveal. Over the last few weeks, @NatGeoTravel followers have nominated hundreds of destinations and ultimately voted for Cinque Terre, Banff, Taipei and the Atacama Desert in Chile as the four finalists. Audiences officially named Banff, Canada, as the Readers’ Choice winner, which is highlighted on this year’s list at NatGeo.com/BestOfTheWorld.

BEST OF THE WORLD 2026 can be found online now at NatGeo.com/BestOfTheWorld, where readers can be transported to each destination through striking photography and immersive reporting.

Visuals are available here. To follow the conversation on social, use #BestoftheWorld.

About National Geographic Content

Representing the largest brand on social media with over 780 million followers and 1.1 billion impressions each month, National Geographic Content's award-winning and critically acclaimed storytelling inspires fans of all ages to connect with, explore and care about the world through factual storytelling. National Geographic Content, part of a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society, reaches over 532 million people worldwide in 172 countries and 33 languages as a digital, social and print publisher and across the global National Geographic channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO), National Geographic Documentary Films, and direct-to-consumer platforms Disney+ and Hulu. Its diverse content includes Oscar®- and BAFTA award-winning film Free Solo, Oscar-nominated films Sugarcane, Fire of Love and Bobi Wine: The People's President, Emmy® Award-winning franchise 9/11: One Day in America and JFK: One Day in America, Emmy® Award-winning series Animals Up Close, series Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller, Life Below Zero and Secrets of the Whales, in addition to multiple National Magazine Awards, Pulitzer Prize Finalists and Webby wins. Visit nationalgeographic.com and natgeotv.com or explore Instagram, Threads, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok and Reddit.

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