Where Will You Travel in 2026?

High Altitude Summers

With summer temperatures on the rise, more travellers are forgoing the uncomfortably hot Mediterranean beach holidays for high altitude adventure. Summer in the Alps, Dolomites and Pyrenees offers cooler days, perfect for view-laden hikes, and landscapes that are elemental, predominantly natural, rather than overrun. The shift is pragmatic: mountain regions remain easily accessible yet offer escape from the intensity synonymous with high-season coastlines across the Mediterranean.

In the Alps, breezy mornings begin with warm walks along wildflower-lined paths and glacier-fed lakes, afternoons drift into terraces overlooking sweeping valleys, while evenings are characterised by elegant dinners benefiting from excellent local produce. It’s a reframing rather than a real change. As hot, overcrowded summers become less inviting, the seasons are shifting, and beach trips are happening in the shoulder seasons, swapping scorching sand for pine forests and packed beach clubs for undisturbed nature.

Tip: The Dolomites are going to surge, driven by Aman’s takeover of the historic Rosa Alpina (now Rosa Alpina Aman), the Winter Olympics, and the extended summer seasons, with year-round openings becoming more common.

Social Holidays and Padel

What began as a niche racquet sport has risen to one of Europe’s most sociable summer obsessions. Padel is an energetic, communal doubles sport that blends elements of squash and tennis, and if we’re to believe what we’re seeing around the world — with resorts like One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives and Gleneagles, Scotland now offering padel courts — it’s here to stay. For many guests looking to keep moving and sociable, Padel delivers something classic tennis holidays never really managed: a genuinely accessible sport that’s fun and well-suited to multigenerational groups.

Retreats now integrate Padel as a cornerstone of their sports and wellness programming. Therefore, in 2026, we expect Padel to grow beyond a trend, becoming a social connector that shapes itineraries, just like golf and tennis, beaches, and restaurants.

The South of France is Back

After a decade shaped by islands like Mykonos and Ibiza, a realignment in the summer social calendar is underway. Travellers are returning to the South of France, in search of a chic French summer. While the Balearics are growing louder, busier and more crowded in the high season, the Riviera and Provence are comparatively calmer. But the appeal is multi-faceted: shaded lunches beneath trees, cliff-backed coves reached by discreet footpaths, rosé gardens glowing at dusk, and the timeless Riviera aesthetics: magnificent grand hotels, yacht-lined marinas, the understated elegance of Riviera fashion: flowing linen dresses, minimalist sandals and oversized sunhats.

The setting isn’t so much quiet as it is a touch more glamorous, and in places, understated, with the chic Riviera boltholes providing ideal access to fashionable events, local markets heavy with the scent of lavender, and well-heeled strolls between art galleries and classic seaside promenades.

See inside some of our favourite French Riviera luxury stays.

Long-Haul Summers

A growing number of 360 members are choosing to divert away from the traditional and, for some, overly familiar European summers, planning long-haul trips across the globe. The shift reflects a readjustment: with long-haul travel providing a smart alternative to the problems of crowded beaches, inflated rates and peak-season weather.

As a result, destinations once considered shoulder-season or winter only are now firmly part of the summer calendar. East Africa offers cool, dry weather and remarkable wildlife experiences. Indonesia and Malaysia combine dependable sunshine and delicious cuisine, with wildly varied (and beautiful!) landscapes and a growing selection of design-forward hotels. Japan’s northern regions, Hokkaido, in particular, offer wide-open spaces to breathe crisp mountain air along with exceptional cuisine and a depth of cultural experiences.

Authenticity in Sri Lanka

After living in the shadow of its slightly more commercial Southeast Asian neighbours, as well as years of rebuilding its tourist industry post-COVID, Sri Lanka is primed for its year in the sun in 2026. The island is extraordinarily diverse for its size: breathtaking tea country wrapped in mist, lush national parks home to elephants and leopards, surf-washed southern beaches, therapeutic Ayurvedic retreats, and innovative luxury hideaways.

But Sri Lanka’s real advantage is its small footfall, with stunning spots such as Jaffna and Batticaloa, still relatively under the radar, while classic destinations like Anuradhapura boast exceptional luxury offerings, in fabulous hotels like Uga Ulagalla.

Transformation in Saudi Arabia

Another country turning toward the limelight, Saudi Arabia, is very much a destination in the midst of transformation. Trips here reveal ancient Nabataean cities carved into desert stone, vast desert canyons reimagined with ultra-luxurious hotels, and the Red Sea’s barely touched islands slowly surfacing as sustainable, exclusive luxury escapes (ask your Travel Designer about our current favourite spots).

What stands out for many is the contrast: archaeological intrigues lending weight to hyper-modern architecture, raw landscapes paired with genuinely ambitious cultural projects, and an overall guest experience that becomes more polished each season. It’s a destination for travellers fatigued by the over-familiar, offering front-row access to something in formation, surprising, and, perhaps, quite like Sri Lanka, ideal for those who want a genuine experience of a place before the world catches on.

Japan: Sumo & Satoyama

In Japan, 360 members are no longer merely chasing cherry blossom or autumn leaves, but are seeking deeper immersion: the simplicity of ryokan living, the layers of Japan’s craftsmanship, the precision of regional cuisine… and for 2026: Sumo. Londoners, along with the rest of the world, were charmed by the wrestlers making their way across London on Lime bikes in 2025, with tickets for the Grand Sumo Tournament held at Royal Albert Hall selling out almost immediately. This, along with a general shift towards slower intentional travel (which Japan excels at) and a growing trend for cultural sports tourism, will make Japan a popular choice in 2026.

For travellers seeking pure cultural experiences, consider Kyoto’s temple districts at dawn before the crowds arrive, Hokkaido’s untouched national parks, the rural joys of Satoyama (intentional countryside living), or Okinawa’s subtropical islands with their languid, salt-washed beaches.

South Korea: Hallyu & Bulgogi

South Korea is rapidly confirming its place as one of the world’s most compelling destinations. Beyond hypermodern Seoul and Busan, people are drawn to traditional experiences that can, if done right, feel a little more surprising: hanok stays paired with private tea ceremonies, hidden temples in South Korea’s (many) mountains, and coastal islands where fishing villages feel untouched.

Fragrant, moreish, and eclectic, Korean food defines many South Korean journeys: from street-side delicacies to Michelin-starred reinterpretations of Korean classics (ask your Travel Designer where to find the best bulgogi in Busan). Meanwhile, immersive cultural activities like calligraphy, ceramics and Hallyu or “Korean wave” (the surge in popularity of K-pop, k-movies, k-drama) add layers of cultural context and family engagement to any holiday.