What’s Hot in Travel for 2026
As global travellers plan their next transformational journeys, 2026 is already shaping up to be one of the most exciting years in modern travel - and The PC Agency’s clients are leading the charge. From the Spice Isle’s new sustainability revolution to cutting-edge Arctic innovation, cinematic set-jetting in Scotland and bold hospitality openings across North America, this year’s trends spotlight destinations and brands that are rewriting the future of luxury exploration.
These are the stories, innovations and destinations defining the year ahead. Here’s what’s hot in travel for 2026...
Grenada’s Rising Profile: Sustainable Travel and *New* Roots-to-Reef Retreats
Grenada, the Spice Isle of the Caribbean, continues to make waves as a stand-out and sustainably minded destination heading into 2026. St. George’s, the island’s capital, ranks tenth worldwide in Skyscanner’s 2026 travel trends report, with a 56% year-on-year surge in searches, an indication of growing international interest and Grenada’s rising status as a must-visit destination. Aquanauts Grenada's new Roots-to-Reef Retreats are adding to this evolution. Designed as a week-long, customizable framework and a new model for sustainable travel, the program guides visitors through Grenada’s seven interconnected ecosystems – from mountain and forest to coastline and reef.
Roots-to-Reef connects travelers directly with Grenada’s sustainability efforts through hands-on conservation and cultural experiences. Developed in partnership with local farmers and community organizations, the retreats include opportunities to dive with reef scientists, participate in lionfish removal, explore mangrove and seagrass restoration, learn about Ital and herbal wellness practices, and cook the national dish, Oil Down, alongside regenerative farmers.
The initiative has already contributed to the removal of thousands of invasive lionfish and trained local youth in scientific diving and marine stewardship, creating a replicable model for Small Island Developing States. Proceeds also fund the Aqua Rangers Youth Development Scholarship, supporting the next generation of blue-economy professionals. The introduction of Roots-to-Reef signals a bold, long-term commitment to safeguarding marine ecosystems and empowering communities at the heart of sustainable development.
For more details on Grenada, visit puregrenada.com.
Guatemala: Central America’s Must Visit Destination for 2026
Guatemala is emerging as one of 2026’s must-visit destinations, now easier than ever to reach thanks to new and increased direct flights from Avianca, JetBlue and American Airlines connecting major U.S. cities like Miami, New York and Chicago to Guatemala City. With improved accessibility, travelers can discover a country that’s lesser-known than Costa Rica or Mexico, yet packed with experiences for every type of traveler.
From the ancient Mayan pyramids of Tikal rising above the rainforest to the volcano-ringed waters of Lake Atitlán, Guatemala blends history, adventure and relaxation. Antigua, with its cobblestone streets, pastel buildings and coffee culture, invites exploration, while thrill-seekers can hike Pacaya Volcano, where molten lava even bakes pizza, an experience found nowhere else. Semuc Champey offers turquoise limestone pools and hidden waterfalls, perfect for nature lovers and adventurers alike.
Cultural experiences are equally captivating. Semana Santa in Antigua (March 29 - April 5, 2026) is one of the most visually stunning Holy Week celebrations in the world. Visitors can witness elaborate processions through the streets, where participants create vividly colored sawdust carpets (alfombras) depicting religious and cultural scenes. The Giant Kite Festival in Sumpango (November 1, 2026) fills the sky with large, intricately designed kites honoring loved ones and the Rabin Ajaw Festival in Cobán (last Saturday of July) celebrates Maya heritage through traditional dances and ceremonies. Beyond festivals, travelers can join traditional weaving workshops, coffee farm tours and local markets for a truly authentic experience.
With its new accessibility, off-the-beaten-path charm and endless variety of offerings, from wellness retreats and adventure to history and gastronomy, Guatemala is ready to surprise and welcome travelers in 2026.
For more details on Guatemala, please visit visitguatemala.gt.
Namibia: New Journeys & New Openings
Southern African gem Namibia is a diverse landscape with the very best of what Africa has to offer. For those looking to experience multiple distinct aspects of this country (and perhaps a sneak peek of the newly discovered Southern giraffe) O&L Leisure is redefining how the world experiences Namibia in 2026. With bold growth moves - including the recent acquisitions of Le Mirage Resort & Spa in the Sossusvlei and Divava Okavango Resort & Spa on the Okavango River - O&L now boasts six distinctive properties, each offering a unique gateway into Namibia’s diverse landscapes. The portfolio spans Strand Hotel Swakopmund, a stylish coastal retreat on the Atlantic; Midgard, a lush farm-style haven in the Otjihavera Mountains; Chobe Water Villas, an exclusive sanctuary on the Chobe River; Mokuti Etosha, the perfect base for exploring Etosha National Park; and the newly added Le Mirage and Divava, capturing desert majesty and riverside serenity. Together, they form a seamless circuit of desert, river, mountain, coastal, and wildlife experiences, all infused with O&L’s signature world-class hospitality and authentic Namibian spirit.
At Mokuti Etosha, the SkyBoma - which debuted October 2025 - redefines bush dining as a starlit, open-air experience beneath Namibia’s famously dark skies, with its design inspired by Etosha’s anthills and a canvas roof that recalls the shape of Omayova mushrooms. With the recent addition of two private aircraft, guests can travel effortlessly between O&L’s destinations, transforming transfers into part of the journey. O&L Leisure is the ultimate way to explore Namibia’s beauty, biodiversity and unforgettable stories in 2026.
For more details on O&L Leisure, please visit www.ol-leisure.com.
Onni Hospitality Collection Strengthens Culinary Presence Ahead of the 2026 World Cup
Onni Hospitality Collection, the award-winning North American real estate and hospitality group, is cementing its position as a leader in experience-driven luxury with a bold culinary expansion ahead of 2026. Following the successful 2025 launch of its Chicago dining concepts — including the modern American Solette and the vibrant Dialtone — Onni has confirmed a West Coast debut for Solette in Seattle, opening early next year. The Seattle outpost will blend approachable sophistication with locally inspired dishes, an inventive cocktail program, and a lively pre- and post-game dining scene — perfectly timed with Seattle’s role as a 2026 FIFA World Cup host city.
The brand’s signature Level Hotels & Furnished Suites properties, including Level Seattle – South Lake Union, continue to draw attention as the go-to stays for sports tourism, offering residential-style accommodations and sports-themed suites for fans of the NHL Kraken, WNBA Storm, and soon, the global football stage.
For more information on Level Hotels, please visit www.onni.com/hospitality/level-hotels/.
Octola Becomes World’s First Travel Destination to Monitor Clean Air, and launches Octola II
Octola Private Wilderness, one of the world’s most exclusive ultra-luxury retreats located in the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland, has become the first destination globally to monitor ultrafine air particles using research-grade technology. Installed on its private estate, this advanced system offers guests a rare, measurable insight into the purity of Arctic air, long considered among the cleanest on Earth. The technology delivers continuous, research-grade air quality data, a standard typically reserved for academic and governmental monitoring stations.
This is an evolution of Octola’s founding mission to offer experiences deeply rooted in the healing powers of Lapland’s pristine air and untouched nature. By actively monitoring and reporting this data, Octola sets a new benchmark for environmental responsibility and guest care. Octola actively collaborates with leading researchers connected to its unique location, including Northern Lights scientists such as Dr. Esa Turunen.
This pioneering initiative will also extend across the new Octola II, opening in December 2025. Octola, already the ultimate off-grid destination with more than 1730 acres of private wilderness on the Arctic Circle and bespoke experiences, will see the addition of Octola II, offering near-constant silence, natural serenity, and some of the world’s most spectacular aurora borealis displays or, during summer, the surreal glow of the Midnight Sun.
The all-new Octola II Lodge houses five ensuite bedrooms, an in-house spa and three different saunas, in addition to a children’s playroom, a gym, staff rooms, and a Northern Lights-viewing area with glass ceilings and walls. The Octola II Supersuite Villa includes two large ensuite bedrooms, both with their own sauna, bath, and outdoor hot tub.
Octola is also launching a new health and wellness programme: Respiro Octola. Respiro Octola invites guests to connect deeply with themselves and their surroundings through a curated set of experiences rooted in the purity of the Arctic environment. Breathing in some of the cleanest air on Earth, guests are immersed in conditions that have been shown to contribute to a longer, healthier life.
The experience is bespoke and entirely shaped around each individual, and set to include a range of practices including guided breathwork, sauna experiences, yoga, ice swimming, and other natural treatments that awaken the senses, restore inner balance and support long-term wellbeing. Each element is carefully crafted to reflect Octola’s unique setting and philosophy, offering guests not only untouched nature, but the tools to truly absorb its healing energy.
For more details on Octola, please visit octola.com.
2026: The Best Year in over a Decade to Witness the Northern Lights in Norway
2026 will be the best year in over a decade to witness the Northern Lights - and Svalbard’s Basecamp Explorer (Norway) is offering front-row seats. Leading the way in pioneering Arctic adventure, Basecamp Explorer offers three intimate lodges around Spitsbergen in the Svalbard archipelago, one of the planet’s greatest wildernesses. In 2026, the sun is entering a solar maximum, a period of heightened solar activity, making the Aurora Borealis its brightest and most visible, creating more frequent, intense displays of Northern Lights across the Arctic Sky.
Positioned at 78 degrees North, Svalbard offers one of the planet's most reliable vantage points for this celestial spectacle, with its polar night season (October - February) providing the perfect canvas of uninterrupted darkness, displaying Northern Lights reflected off snow covered mountains and frozen fjords. Basecamp Explorer’s ‘Chasing the Northern Lights’ is a 4-day polar night adventure specifically designed to maximize aurora viewing opportunities. Based at Basecamp Hotel in Longyearbyen, the expedition combines the thrill of dog sledding, exploration of stunning ice caves and expert-guides Northern Light hunting across Svalbard’s pristine wilderness. Beyond the aurora, guests are immersed in authentic Arctic experiences: mushing through silent valleys with Alaskan huskies, discovering ice formations that glow ethereal blue, and warming up in traditional Trapper-style lodges.
For more details on Basecamp Explorer, please visit basecampexplorer.com or visit here for further information on Basecamp’s Northern Lights expeditions.
Kamba Africa to Unveil 100-Metre Canopy Walk Above the Congo Rainforest in Late 2026
Kamba African Rainforest Experiences will open a new 100-metre canopy walk connecting eight treetop platforms at Ngaga Lodge in late 2026 - offering travellers a completely new perspective of the Congo Basin rainforest, home to endangered Western Lowland Gorillas. The peaceful and welcoming Republic of the Congo (ROC) is home to the world’s second largest rainforest after the Amazon. Home to extraordinary biodiversity and endangered species, the Republic of the Congo remains a largely unexplored and exclusive destination for 2026, a pristine wilderness free from light and sound pollution, ideal for travellers seeking to truly reconnect with nature. With the growing trend of choosing responsible trips that give back to wildlife conservation and local communities on the rise for 2026, the ROC offers an experience that is not only unforgettable but also deeply meaningful. Kamba African Rainforest Experiences stands as the only private operator granted concessions in the ROC’s Odzala-Kokoua National Park, offering luxury lodges and adventurous rainforest expeditions. With 80% local Congolese staff, Kamba places significant emphasis on community empowerment, with studies via Booking.com finding 53% of travelers are conscious of tourism's impacts on local communities. A new 100-metre canopy walk, linking eight platforms to Ngaga Lodge’s main deck, is set to open in late 2026. Kamba Africa provides the perfect experience for those wanting to experience the unexplored and unforgettable sights of the Congo Basin’s rich biodiversity.
For more details on Kamba Africa, please visit https://kambaafrica.com/journeys/odzala-immersion.
Ellenborough Park: Celebrating 15 Years of Cotswold Elegance
2026 marks a milestone year for Ellenborough Park, the stunning Cotswold country house hotel, as it celebrates 15 years as one of the UK’s leading hotels. Set against the backdrop of Cheltenham’s rolling hills, this 15th-century manor has become synonymous with timeless heritage, elevated hospitality and restorative wellness escapes.
To make its anniversary year, Ellenborough Park will unveil a selection of celebratory guest experiences and exclusive offers throughout 2026. From elevated heritage dining moments to seasonal wellness retreats that capture the spirit of the Cotswolds. The hotel’s story continues to evolve, balancing old-world grandeur with a contemporary sense of wellbeing and connection to nature. With its newly enhanced spa and year round outdoor pool, plus direct access to the Cotswold Way, Ellenborough Park remains one of the UK’s most quintessential countryside getaways and one to watch in 2026.
For more details on Ellenborough Park, please visit https://ellenboroughpark.com/.
The Ultimate Set-Jetting Destination: Scotland in 2026
Scotland is set to be the ultimate destination for ‘set-jetting’ travelers in 2026. From iconic film locations to stunning cinematic landscapes, visitors can step into the worlds of their favorite characters - using these three standout properties as the perfect base.
Edinburgh has become a prime location for film and TV fans. The highly anticipated movie Frankenstein, recently released globally in November 2025, was filmed across Scotland, including Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. This historic part of the city is also home to luxury hotel The Witchery. An opulent gem, rich with gothic glamour and charm, The Witchery has just nine lavishly designed suites and is the perfect hotel fit for those looking to explore behind the scenes of this Hollywood horror adaptation.
The recent hit Netflix series One Day was also filmed across Edinburgh. The show features many of the city's most beloved landmarks, including the dormant volcano Arthur's Seat, the Vennel Steps and Edinburgh Castle. Guests can follow in the footsteps of Emma and Dexter with a stay at Prestonfield House, a unique 17th-century hotel offering the privacy and seclusion of a country estate right next to Arthur's Seat, and explore the hotel’s 20 acres of gardens before heading to the summit of the famous volcano for the most breathtaking views of Edinburgh.
Heading west, the TV phenomenon Outlander, partly filmed in the nearby coastal town of Dunure in Ayrshire, portrays a raw and untamed vision of Scotland; and Glenapp Castle, a 21-bedroom luxurious Relais & Châteaux hotel is nestled on the breath-taking Ayrshire Coast. Guests can explore the rugged shoreline, dotted with quaint towns and ancient ruins that evoke a bygone romance and mystery. With the final Downton Abbey film set for release in September 2025, the hotel invites guests to step back into the Edwardian era in 2026 with its Downton Abbey inspired escape, where guests can enjoy an immersive butler-led lesson in Edwardian etiquette. For a more modern escape, guests can channel the glamour of The Real Housewives of London (2025), perhaps staying in the largest penthouse suite in the whole of Scotland, or losing themselves in 110 acres of private estate, manicured gardens and local woodland.
For more details on The Witchery, Prestonfield House and Glenapp castle, please visit https://www.thewitchery.com/, https://www.prestonfield.com/ and www.glenappcastle.com.
An Artistic Escape: Rothko at Palazzo Strozzi and Florence’s Creative Legacy
In 2026, Florence will reaffirm its place as one of the world’s great capitals of art with Rothko in Florence, a landmark exhibition at Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi running from March 14 - July 26. This cultural moment is the perfect reason to experience the city’s rich artistic heritage, from Renaissance icons to contemporary visionaries. Positioned in the foothills and nearby neighbourhood of Fiesole with sweeping views overlooking the Duomo and 12 hectares of verdant Italian gardens, lies Il Salviatino, a 15th-century villa with a creative history past and present. Once lived in by famed poet Ugo Ojetti and often frequented by Salvador Dalí, the property is now under the vision of owner and creative director Alessandra Rovati Vitali, a visionary creative who has curated the eclectic interiors. Blending contemporary luxury with panoramic views, this family-owned property features 39 individually designed rooms and suites, three cascading infinity pools, and the newly launched 300-square-metre Aquae Vitali spa housed within the original greenhouse gardens.
For more details on Il Salviatino, please visit https://salviatino.com/.
Exclusivity in the Heart of the Amalfi Coast: A Retreat that Welcomes the Stars
Perched along the Amalfi Coast with its crystal-blue Tyrrhenian waters and dramatic cliffside architecture, Positano has long been one of the world’s most sought-after and exclusive destinations, attracting high-profile travelers from around the globe. With Delta Air Lines launching new direct routes from New York to Naples in 2026, discerning travelers can also choose to travel with Uber Helicopters, offering stylish transfers from Sorrento to Positano, the destination combines exclusivity with effortless accessibility. Situated within the heart of this haven is one of the world’s leading and most exclusive hotels, Treville Positano. As the former home of Italian film director Franco Zeffirelli, Treville Positano’s history of hosting stars such as Elizabeth Taylor and Laurence Olivier, continues to this day. With high profile clientele such as Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Jason Statham frequently visiting the luxury hotel, Treville Positano continues to stand as the destination to go to in 2026 for those looking for an exclusive oasis.
For more details on Treville Positano, please visit: https://villatreville.com.
Villa Torre Bianca, Puglia Italy: Authentic Italian Charm Meets Contemporary Luxury
Tucked within 50 acres of olive groves in Puglia, Villa Torre Bianca is an elegant 12-suite estate where authentic Italian charm meets contemporary luxury. Located in the village of Triggianello, part of the municipality of Polignano a Mare, this exquisite property offers guests a private villa feel combined with full-service hospitality. Villa Torre Bianca is proudly owned by the Onni Group, the award-winning North American real estate and hospitality company whose owners maintain deep ties to the Puglia region. The estate is ideal for exclusive buyouts, weddings, or serene individual stays, providing an unparalleled and deeply personal experience of Italian elegance. Originally built in the 19th century as a summer home, the 12 guest rooms and suites at Villa Torre Bianca seamlessly blend minimalist sophistication and charming regional touches. Guests staying in the signature Torre Bianca Suite can enjoy spectacular views of the countryside and the surrounding historic towns. The onsite restaurant, located in what was originally the villa’s stables, offers a blend of rustic charm and Apulian authenticity.
For more details on Villa Torre Bianca by Emily Hotels, please visit www.emilyhotel.com/villa-torre-bianca.
Finnair soars to new ‘Alta-tudes’ with new Norwegian destination
Leading Nordic airline, Finnair, is continuing its Arctic expansion in 2026, having unveiled its latest Norwegian destination, Alta, which is set to take to the skies next summer. Nicknamed the ‘City of Northern Lights’, Alta will join Finnair’s extensive Nordic network on 29 March 2026, when flights will launch from the airline’s home hub, Helsinki.
The new service will operate via Kittilä, in Finnish Lapland, allowing customers to travel to Alta directly from Helsinki or opt for a stopover in Lapland for those wanting to extend their trip above the Arctic Circle, before continuing on to Northern Norway. Flights will operate five times per week during the summer season, on the airline’s 68 seater ATR aircraft, with customers able to enjoy the service until 22 October 2026.
Known for its natural wonders, cultural richness and Arctic allure, Alta is one of Scandinavia’s up-and-coming destinations for adventurous travelers. Apart from being one of Europe’s best locations to catch the infamous Northern Lights, Alta is also home to Northern Europe’s largest canyon.
For more details on Finland, please visit https://www.visitfinland.com/en/.
