National Geographic’s top destinations annual list is back for “Best of the World 2026.”

Twenty-five locations, from all around the world, have been selected as the top picks for the most unique travel experiences next year. Travel editors, contributors and international partners, alongside the Nat Geo team, consulted on the world’s best food, beaches, architecture and more to visit in the upcoming year.

National Geographic’s “Best Of The World 2026” features unique destinations, from giraffes and zebras in an East African national park, to snorkeling with manta rays in Fiji, and Maui’s famous black sand beach in Hawaii. The list has incredible suggestions to satisfy any “travel bug.”

Nathan Lump, editor-in-chief of National Geographic, explained how “travel has the power to inspire and transform us.”

“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, “Lump said in a press release. “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.”

Whether touring the “snow monsters” of the Zao Mountains in Japan, or exploring Spain’s Basque Country beyond a total solar eclipse, the curated selection will spark an interest with all adventurers.

Full list of National Geographic’s “Best of the World 2026”:

• Akagera National Park, Rwanda, East Africa




• Basque Country, Spain




• Beijing, China




• Black Sea Coast, Türkiye




• Coastal Oaxaca (Costa Chica), Mexico




• Dominica




• Fiji




• Guimarães, Portugal




• Hull, Yorkshire, England




• Khiva, Uzbekistan




• Manila, Philippines




• Maui, Hawaii, U.S.




• Medellín, Colombia




• North Dakota Badlands, U.S.




• Oulu, Finland




• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.




• Québec, Canada




• Rabat, Morocco




• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil




• Route 66: Oklahoma, U.S.




• South Korea (Dongseo Trail)




• The Dolomites, Milan, Italy




• Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia




• Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada




• Yamagata Prefecture, Japan

For more of Nat Geo’s “Best Of The World 2026” list, visit: natgeo.com/bestoftheworld.

The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of National Geographic and this ABC station.