National Geographic has unveiled its eagerly anticipated annual compilation, the “Best of the World 2026.”

This year, the list spotlights 25 extraordinary destinations across the globe, each promising unparalleled travel experiences. The selection process involved a collaboration between travel editors, contributors, and international partners, alongside the National Geographic team, who evaluated the planet’s finest culinary delights, beaches, architectural marvels, and more for the coming year.

Included in the “Best of the World 2026” are mesmerizing locales such as an East African national park brimming with giraffes and zebras, the enchanting waters of Fiji where you can snorkel alongside manta rays, and Maui’s renowned black sand beach in Hawaii. This collection of destinations is sure to ignite the wanderlust in any avid traveler.

National Geographic’s editor-in-chief, Nathan Lump, emphasized the transformative power of travel.

“With this year’s ‘Best of the World,’ we aimed to spotlight destinations that might not typically appear in your social media feeds,” Lump shared in a press release. “Among these are Uzbekistan’s Khiva and Rwanda’s Akagera National Park. We also wanted to include destinations that, while still intriguing, are more accessible. Our mission is to offer fresh ideas that reignite the thrill of discovery and joy inherent in memorable travel experiences, regardless of the type of traveler you are.”

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.