Expedia’s 2026 Destinations of the Year list – powered by real-time data from millions of daily visitors to the Expedia site and app – highlights where global interest is rising fast, even in destinations that haven’t yet gone viral.

This year’s list was unveiled this week by Unpack ’26, the annual global travel insights report from Expedia Group, which offers a look at the future of travel.

Hobart, Tasmania, is the only Australian destination on the list.

Visitors arrive at MONA, one of Hobart’s top attractions, chosen to unveil Expedia’s Unpack ’26 report.

Six of the latest hotspots also meet Expedia’s new Smart Travel Health Check criteria—a first-in-travel framework inspired by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The Smart Travel Health Check recognises destinations that offer meaningful travel experiences and proactively manage tourism sustainably, helping ease the strain on the world’s most overvisited cities.

Ariane Gorin, chief executive of Expedia Group, added, “Some of my most unforgettable travel moments come from immersing myself in local cultures, supporting local economies, and exploring less-travelled destinations. With 1 billion average monthly travel searches, Expedia Group isn’t just a travel marketplace — we’re a catalyst for positive change. We have a responsibility to shape the future of travel: one that’s smarter, more sustainable, and deeply respectful of the places we go.

“Expedia responded to WTTC’s Call to Action on Destination Stewardship with the launch of the Smart Travel Health Check. This innovative initiative reflects the urgent need to embrace responsible growth models that safeguard communities, protect cultural and natural heritage, and ensure the long-term resilience of destinations,” added Christopher Imbsen, Vice President Policy at WTTC.

“By applying WTTC’s framework, Expedia is celebrating destinations that work collaboratively to empower residents, strengthen stewardship, and deliver richer, more meaningful travel experiences.”

Peter Needham of EGT Media on the MONA ferry. MONA, one of Hobart’s top attractions, was chosen to unveil Expedia’s Unpack ’26 report.

Built on years of trend forecasting and traveller behaviour analysis, Unpack ’26 draws on first-party data from Expedia, Wotif, and Stayz and insights from 24,000 travellers across 18 countries. This makes it one of the industry’s most comprehensive travel trend reports.

This year’s top destinations shouldn’t be confused with currently popular whole-country destinations, which include China. From Expedia and the Australian Bureau of Statistics, data for travel to China show a strong rebound this year, with more Aussies heading to China than in recent years.

Darren Karshagen, Senior Director Market Management, APAC at Expedia, said the latest data on China reflects that country’s efforts in re-establishing itself as a global tourism hub, with visa-free entry from 74 countries. China also has growing air capacity, with 10 Chinese carriers operating out of Australia by the end of this year. Local Chinese governments continue to invest heavily in infrastructure and cultural experiences.

And here they are, the Top Ten destinations from the 2026 international list:

 Explore each Destination of the Year here.

 Written by Peter Needham

BIO

With more than 35 years in travel journalism, Peter Needham has filed stories from Fleet Street to Fiji and almost everywhere. As Managing Editor (Australasia) for Global Travel Media, he shapes the site’s industry coverage while continuing to write with the flair and authority honed over decades.

Since turning freelance in 1993, Peter’s byline has graced mastheads ranging from the Sydney Morning Herald and Australian Financial Review to Reader’s Digest and Qantas’ inflight magazines. He edited Inside Tourism for seven years, contributed a long-running “Travel Tales” column to Vacations & Travel, and even penned copy for Tourism Australia ahead of the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Peter has travelled widely, a Reuters, Guardian, and AAP veteran, from South American backpacking trails to a Saudi Arabian military hospital, collecting stories as only a true newspaperman can.

=======================================