As 2025 enters its final season, travelers around the world are wondering where they should be traveling in the new year. Between the Winter Olympics in Milan, the 250th Anniversary of the United States in Washington, D.C., to pop culture-inspired travel drawing guests to places like Newport or New York, travel is poised for a year of hot destinations worldwide.
Milan, Italy | The 2026 Winter Olympics
As the world turns its eyes to Northern Italy for the 2026 Winter Olympics, the city of Milan promises to combine the thrill of competition with its signature flair for fashion, design, and culture. At the heart of it all, Galleria Vik Milano offers a truly singular escape within the historic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, one of Italy’s most iconic landmarks and just steps away from the Duomo and La Scala. Art and design are at the center of the hotel experience, from Auguste Rodin’s monumental bronze The Thinker at reception to hand-painted murals and frescoed Venetian stucco walls. The hotel’s 89 rooms are all unique, with striking marbles and art-filled interiors that create a deeply personal connection to place. Milan’s cultural calendar is not to be missed - Palazzo Reale will host major exhibitions in 2026, including exhibitions of Cézanne & Renoir, Leonora Carrington, and Anselm Kiefer, offering visitors a rare chance toexperience international masterpieces. With the Olympics on the horizon, Milan is poised to be the must-visit destination of 2026.
Washington, D.C. | The Nation’s 250th
July 4th, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. While the entire eastern seaboard has reason to celebrate, there is no where better to commemorate the founding of the United States than in the heart of its capital. Washington, D.C. has long been a playground for political appointees and foreign dignitaries. Above all, D.C. is a rich city filled with incredible food and culture and brimming with history. Celebrating the storied heritage of the country, institutions like the National Park Service, Smithsonian, and National Archives are preparing a slew of celebrations, including fireworks, parades, and a month-long festival on the National Mall. Take a trip to the National Archives and see the actual Constitution and Declaration of Independence firsthand! A bike ride down the National Mall as the cherry blossoms bloom is a moment meant to be captured. Design and cocktail lovers will find a haven in Riggs Washington D.C. — housed in an iconic building (formerly Riggs National Bank aka “The Bank of Presidents”) and home to Mr Lyan’s award-winning bar Silver Lyan, a buzzy hangout in Penn Quarter recently named to World’s 50Best’s Best Bars in North America list. Neighboring the White House and just steps from Lafayette Square, The St. Regis Washington, D.C. enters an anniversary year of its own, as 2026 marks the hotel’s 100th anniversary as Washington’s best address.
Litchfield, Connecticut
A slow-paced retreat blending small town timelessness and modern luxury, Litchfield, Connecticut is cementing itself as an idyllic escape for luxe travelers. A quintessential New England haven dating back to 1715, Litchfield has a proudly local community plush in art galleries, shops, eateries, and stunning scenery. Litchfield has become an alternate vacation spot to the classic New York getaways — the Hamptons, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, etc. The town has an emphasis on local heritage, which has become more and more appealing to travelers seeking to connect with the regions they travel to. Many in the chic set already have homes in the area, like Diane von Furstenberg, Wes Gordon, Candice Bushnell, and more. In its modern era, Litchfield has seen an influx of new hotels and developments, including Belden House & Mews, a two-acre estate offering 31 guestrooms and suites, dining, wellness, a seasonal pool and lawn games, located just off the Litchfield Green. The property features rich interiors with a focus on community spaces.
London, England
London is always a must-visit destination, and 2026 promises even more reasons to go. Cambridge House, from the American hospitality group, Auberge Resorts Collection, will open in the heart of Mayfair, perfectly positioned between Green Park and Shepherd Market. Once the home of the Duke of Cambridge and later the In & Out Military Club, the property has been brilliantly reimagined as a 102-room hotel, with Jean-Louis Denote overseeing the transformation, and private members club, designed by Laura Gonzalez. Classic English design that draws on the electric influences and charm of Great Britain, makes this property destined to define the new pulse of modern London life. The V&A’s Spring 2026 exhibition Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art is yet another reason to plan a visit. The first UK exhibition on Elsa Schiaparelli will span the 1920s to today, celebrating the designer’s innovation and enduring influence. The groundbreaking legacy and history of the fashion house, and its continued evolution, will be an exhibition and collaboration not to miss.
Dallas, Texas
Knox Street, a growing and vibrant neighborhood in the heart of Dallas, is set to be an incredible destination to visit in 2026. With the forthcoming Grand Prix in Arlington and the expansion of American Airlines international routes to Dallas Fort Worth, Texas continues to evolve and captivate. The upcoming debut of The Knox, Auberge Resorts Collection will bring contemporary luxury while honoring the area’s historic roots. The property will feature 140 rooms and suites designed by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio and 48 private, luxury residences, designed by Dallas-based interior designer Chad Dorsey, and is just steps from the Katy Trail. Just down the street, Sant Ambroeus will debut its first Texas location in 2026. The best-in-class restaurant will bring its acclaimed Italian dining to Knox Street, a perfect addition to the neighborhood.
Newport, Rhode Island
Between the growing success of HBO’s The Gilded Age to the high-demand for celebrity celebrations (see Oliva Culpo and Christian McCaffery’s recent nuptials; Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s rumored destination to tie the knot), Newport, RI is having a renaissance. While luxe New Yorker’s today have second homes in The Hamptons, Gilded Age ladies and gentlemen took to Newport as their city escape. Travelers today can experience the magic of the Gilded Age with Gardiner House, a boutique waterfront hotel that is an ode to the fabric of the city’s artful history. Designed feel and flow like a seaside house full of playful design, Gardiner House boasts 21 guest rooms and suites, drawing much of its design story and creative roots from co-owner Howard Cushing’s great-grandfather, American artist Howard Gardiner Cushing, and his nearby family home, The Ledges (est. 1867), which itself served as backdrop for characters in The Gilded Age who took to Newport. Guests will recognize the lobby’s two-story mural wrapped around a spectacular staircase – a masterful recreation of an original Cushing mural painted circa 1905. The heartbeat of the hotel is found in the Studio Bar, a warm, inviting and timelessly chic lounge featuring a menu of cocktails and flavorful bites. The hotel’s signature restaurant, Flora, is a 110-seat restaurant with an expansive waterfront terrace serving up a menu of coastal Mediterranean cuisine with a distinctly Newport.
New York, NY
One of the biggest travel trends of the moment is experience-driven tourism — where travelers choose destinations based on entertainment and unforgettable moments. New York City is poised to be a top destination for this kind of travel in 2026. Next year, the FIFA World Cup comes to the city, drawing soccer fans from around the world. At the same time, New York City will be celebrating a major milestone: its 400th anniversary since its founding. For art lovers, The Whitney Museum of American Art will present a major retrospective on pop art icon Roy Lichtenstein, alongside its 82nd Whitney Biennial — a cornerstone of the contemporary art world. The most recent addition to New York’s skyline is Faena New York, a new hotel conceived by visionary Alan Faena. Located at 500 West 18th Street overlooking the High Line, the iconic Bjarke Ingels Group–designed building features 120 guest rooms and suites alongside immersive spaces for gathering, dining, and restoration, including The Living Room, El Secreto, La Boca and an open-air plaza that invites the city in. The interiors, conceived by the Faena Design Team in collaboration with Peter Mikic, embody Faena’s creative ethos through richly layered spaces, where bold patterns and iconic symbolism meet the theatrical elegance of old New York glamour. Internationally renowned chef Francis Mallmann helms the property’s signature restaurant, La Boca— anchoring the culinary experience with his elemental approach to fire, flavor, and performance. In 2026, Faena New York will also debut the Faena Theater and Tierra Santa Healing House. The 12,000-square-foot sanctuary will feature a hammam, treatment rooms, fitness studios, and South American healing therapies, while the gilded theater will host bold productions and Faena’s highly acclaimed cabaret.
