Messinia’s Voidokilia beach, with its unique horseshoe shape, is one of the filming locations of the upcoming Christopher Nolan movie “The Odyssey” on Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula. (iStock)
Where to go and what to do in 2026? At this time of the year, we find countless newspapers, magazines, websites and other travel-related publications waxing poetically over trending destinations and can’t-be-missed experiences. While the best vacation plans will always be tailored around one’s own personal interests, industry insider suggestions can acquaint us places previously beneath our radar or alert us to events that might otherwise pass us by. Here’s a look at what various experts deem best of Europe in the year to come:
One-off events
The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place in and around Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, from Feb. 6-22. For just over two weeks, some 2,900 of the world’s best winter sport athletes will gather to compete for 114 sets of medals in eight sports and 16 disciplines. New this year is Ski Mountaineering, combining uphill climbing and downhill skiing with the quick changing into gear most appropriate for tackling ever-changing alpine terrain. Tickets to a number of competitions, from snowboarding to ice hockey to figure skating, remain available on the official Olympics website. The Paralympic Winter Games are set to follow March 6-15. Online: olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026
On Aug. 12, a solar eclipse will briefly envelop a small part of Earth in darkness, with the moon projecting its shadow— the so-called path of totality — over Greenland, Iceland and Spain. Places where it might be possible to experience the first eclipse to reach Europe in the 21st century (cloudy skies will dampen the experience) include the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Iceland or Gijón, Palencia or Burgos, Spain.
Top experiences
The British media and hospitality company Time Out has compiled a roundup of the best new things happening in the world in 2026, seven of which will occur in Europe. From June 6-28, Paris’ Pont Neuf bridge will be covered by an immersive art installation, “La Caverne do Pont Neuf,” temporarily transforming the bridge into a stone grotto. Other suggestions include a trek along the soon-to-be-completed King Charles III Coastal Path, spanning the entire coast of England; studying the sky at the Skyspace installation in Aarhus, Denmark; or losing oneself inside the UBS Digital Art Museum, an immersive art installation in Hamburg, Germany. Online: tinyurl.com/mrxmbf6k
Lonely Planet writers have suggested a more generic lineup of activities, including attending a match between any of England’s Premier League football teams, whale and dolphin spotting on the islands of the Azores, Portugal; dancing the night away at a club in Belgrade, Serbia, exploring the street art of Bristol, England and visiting Eileen Gray’s E-1027 villa, an inspiration for modernist design, on the French Riviera between Menton and Monaco. Online: tinyurl.com/47thxnzt
Trending destinations
European entries on Condé Nast’s “The Best Places to Go in 2026” include Brussels, Belgium (an emerging hub for modern arts, particularly with the November 2026 opening of the Kanal-Centre Pompidou Museum); Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula (exploring the filming locations of Christopher Nolan’s film “The Odyssey,” set for release this July); Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, France (the Glaciorium glacier and climate center and a new fleet of energy efficient trains point toward a new era of sustainable Alpine tourism); and Upper Carniola (Gorenjska), Slovenia (the highland home of the Julian Alps, Lake Bled and Triglav National Park welcomes the opening of the Muzej Lah, a contemporary art museum on the slopes of Bled Castle). Online: tinyurl.com/4bacaj7s
Lonely Planet’s picks for best destinations include Finland (experiencing the great outdoors, from Baltic coasts to Arctic forests); Sardinia, Italy (sunbathing on pristine beaches, exploring Bronze Age archeological sites); Tipperary, Ireland (hiking, food, castles and pubs); Cádiz, Spain (celebrating carnival and sipping sherry) and Utrecht, Netherlands (bi-level canals, shopping in boutiques). Online: tinyurl.com/3sr7nncy
Finding its way onto National Geographic’s Best of the World List is Hull in Yorkshire, England, a city that’s undergone a huge transformation thanks to major investment. Hull celebrates 800 years of maritime heritage with the refurbishment of the Hull Maritime Museum, the launch of the North End Shipyard Visitor Centre, and the restoration of two ships — the Arctic Corsair and the Spurn Lightship, both permanently docked and open to the public. Online: tinyurl.com/4epvbz2k
Capitals of Culture
Each year, in order to showcase its shared heritage and cultural diversity, the European Union chooses two cities as its Capitals of Culture. Sharing the honors in 2026 are Oulu, Finland, and Trenčín, Slovakia. Oulu, Finland’s fifth-largest city, sits on the Gulf of Bothnia on the west coast of northern Finland, about 130 miles south of the Arctic Circle. This city known as a tech hub and winter cycling capital kicks off its reign with a festival Jan. 16-18 and celebrates throughout the year in line with the theme of “cultural climate change.” Events will shine a light on electronic music, photography, Sámi opera, street theater and more. The Arctic Food Lab focuses on foods made from locally grown ingredients and culminates with a Summer Night’s Dinner on Aug. 14. Online: oulu2026.eu/en
Trenčín, a city close to the Czech border in western Slovakia some 80 miles north of country capital Bratislava, celebrates its year in the spotlight with an opening party Feb. 13-15. “Awakening curiosity” is the overriding theme of events to follow, including a race between homemade vessels floating down the Váh River and a light art festival. Online: trencin2026.eu/en/home
