Up for some adventure in 2026? Find yours for every month of the year.
The first Saturday in January is optimistically termed “Sunshine Saturday” because, although the British weather is inevitably terrible, it’s the busiest day of the year for travel bookings.
Cold, damp, and with the excitement of Christmas and New Year already a distant memory, we start planning for summer holidays and weekends away to give us something to look forward to as we struggle through the most depressing of months.
Browsing articles, brochures, and Pinterest boards, all with enticing photos, you’ll be spoilt for choice about where to go. But how can you pick out the really remarkable destinations? When should you go to beat the crowds? And are there any special events you shouldn’t miss? We asked Maximum Exposure’s tourism experts for their travel tips for 2026.
January – La Plagne, France
La Plagne by night
There’s no business like snow business… and La Plagne is the place to start 2026 in style. This ever-popular French Alpine ski resort is celebrating its 65th anniversary ski season with a varied calendar of events which includes the Odyssea La Plagne snow race, live theatre and concerts, a film festival, exhibitions and art workshops.
VIP Ski’s Graciosa chalet suites are new for this winter, offering high-spec, ski-in, ski-out accommodation for those who want to be first on the piste. All the suites come with outdoor hot tubs, so round up a group of friends and a bottle of bubbles, jump in, and admire the mountain views.
February – Oulu, Finland
Oulu ,Photo by Janne Leimola on Unsplash
Oulu in Finland is one of two cities to be named European Capitals of Culture in 2026 (the other is Trenčín in Slovakia). Oulu is close to the Arctic Circle, so if you visit in February, you have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights.
What is more, there is a phenomenal events programme planned: February’s calendar includes the Kyiv Classic Ballet performing Swan Lake, adrenaline-pumped ice hockey matches, many concerts, and Magic Winter, a theatrical performance inspired by Finnish family favourite The Moomins.
March – Baku, Azerbaijan
Baku, Azerbaijan
The spring equinox is 21 March, and across the Persian and Turkic worlds, this day is Navruz, the traditional New Year. It dates back to at least the 6th century BCE, and has its roots in ancient Zoroastrian culture. Navruz remains the symbol of winter’s leaving and spring’s coming, and is one of the most popular holidays in Azerbaijan.
Celebrate the festival in style in Azerbaijan with street parties, fire jumping, and feasting. Base yourself in Azerbaijan’s quirky capital, Baku, where there’s an eclectic mix of historic sites and striking modern architecture.
April – Tashkent
Centre of Islamic Civilisation, Tashkent
Centrum Air is launching a brand new route from Manchester to Tashkent this month, with onward connections to South and Southeast Asia. Seize the opportunity for a stopover in this Central Asian capital, however: stay at the impressive new Swisshotel Tashkent and be amongst the first visitors to recently opened attractions like the Centre of Islamic Civilisation, the Centre for Contemporary Arts, and the Plov Museum.
Whilst in Tashkent, be sure to visit Teplo Store, the multi-brand fashion outlet that showcases Uzbekistan’s designers and was a hit at last summer’s London Design Biennial.
May – Pakistan
Katora Lake, Pakistan
PIA has resumed direct flights from Manchester to Islamabad, and you can also fly directly from London with British Airways. Therefore, Pakistan should be on your radar for 2026. The country’s tourism sector has made huge strides forward in recent years, with positive developments in infrastructure, improved security, and the introduction of a free tourist evisa.
Pakistan specialists Wild Frontiers have a large number of group tour departures in May because it’s the best month to explore the Hindu Kush Mountains in the north, and it’s also when the remarkable Chilam Joshi (Spring Festival) takes place in the Kalasha Valleys of Chitral.
June – Rwanda
Rhino released at Akagera National Park
African Parks has successfully completed the cross-continental relocation of 70 southern white rhino to the Akagera National Park in Rwanda, a huge conservation achievement which will benefit not only the rhino but also local communities.
The rhinos are settling in well to their new home, and they are pioneers: in total, the Rhino Rewild Initiative plans to rewild 2,200 rhinos in Africa’s protected areas.
Wildlife and wilderness specialists Journeysmiths organise tailor-made safaris in Akagera, which you can combine with chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park and gorilla watching in Volcanoes National Park.
July – Glasgow, Scotland
Tourists visiting Scotland often choose Edinburgh over Glasgow, but it’s a mistake: Glasgow is just as culture-rich, less crowded, and less hyped. Discover the city on a street art or music tour (Glasgow is a UNESCO City of Music), visit Kibble Palace at Glasgow Botanical Garden, and sample a dram of single malt whisky at the Clydeside Distillery.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games will start with the Opening Ceremony on 23 July in Glasgow. Take your pick of events ranging from artistic gymnastics to track cycling as a spectator, or get involved as a volunteer.
August – Cornwall
Cornwall harbour
Boardmasters, Falmouth Week, and Cornwall Folk Festival are just three of the reasons to choose Cornwall for your summer holiday in 2026. Although the individual towns are pretty, and you’ll find plenty to do, the real draw of the West Country are the coastal drives.
Southwest 660 divides the coastline into short, convenient sections, with local maps, travel inspiration, and recommendations for sightseeing, accommodation, and restaurants along the way. Don’t miss family-friendly highlights like Global Boarder’s surf school at Gwithian Beach, Geevor Tin Mine, and the island fortress of Tintagel, which is said to have inspired the legend of King Arthur.
September – Kyrgyztan
Kok boru match in Kyrgyzsta
The biennial World Nomad Games — described by the BBC as “what the Olympics might have looked like if Genghis Khan had been in charge” — is returning to Kyrgyzstan in September 2026. The spectacle, a Kok boru match, is a traditional Kyrgyz equestrian sport which attracts competitors and fans from around the world, is as much for culture vultures as sports enthusiasts, because each team shows off their traditional costumes, music and dance, and handicrafts as well as their sporting prowess. The photography opportunities are second to none. Travel the Unknown’s 12-day World Nomad Games tour will put you in the heart of the action.
October – Oman
Fort Nizwa, Oman
Oman has struck just the right balance between culture and adventure tourism, leveraging its history and natural beauty to create a tourism destination with broad appeal. In 2026, the events calendar includes Oman Desert Marathon, Ironman 70.30, and the Tour of Oman endurance cycling race, but for those of us who are a little less physically inclined, the Festival of Colours in Muscat is a vibrant, fun-filled spectacle. October is the best month to visit Oman weather-wise, and Yellowwood Adventures’ Undiscovered Oman: People & Landscapes tour offers an unforgettable combination of wild desert camping, swimming in the Daymaniyat Islands, and community-based tourism experiences with the Bedouin.
November – Portugal
Parque de Merendas da Praia da Marinha, Algarve
Every November, Portugal hosts the Walk & Art Fest in Barão de São João. This is the ideal time of year to be in the Algarve: it’s not hot, it’s not crowded, and the trees have turned orange and gold. There are five Algarve walking festivals throughout the year, but this one is our favourite, because of the scenery and the ease with which you can mix walking with cultural activities such as painting workshops, winery and olive orchard tours, and cookery classes and tastings. There are art exhibitions, talks, and mindfulness events scheduled, too.
December – Medellin, Columbia
We all love a good Christmas Market, but Europe doesn’t have a monopoly on the festivities. For something rather more exciting (and warmer!), head to Medellin, Colombia. The city’s annual Alumbrados Navideños has a strong claim to be the world’s most impressive light show, with around 730 km of mesmerising fairy lights. Each year this festival of Christmas lights has a different theme, and it typically begins on Día de las Velitas (Day of Candles). Colombia has its own traditional Christmas foods, too, so you can feast on buñuelo (fried cheese bread), torta negra (Colombian Christmas cake), and natilla (a firm milk pudding topped with cinnamon) whilst you enjoy the light show.
Still need a little more inspiration for your vacations in 2026? Then check out The Travel Magazine’s Instagram feed!
The post Up for some adventure in 2026? Find yours for every month of the year. appeared first on The Travel Magazine.
