Drawing on 12 months of review data from its global travel community, Tripadvisor has revealed the destinations that travellers think are worth the hype in 2026.

The global travel advice and booking platform’s annual Travellers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Destinations recognise destinations that earn the highest numbers of exceptional reviews and opinions from Tripadvisor users over a 12-month period – shining a light on places travellers love visiting and are most excited about.

The 2026 awards have just been announced, celebrating 270 destinations across 60 countries.

As one of the seven award categories, Tripadvisor’s top Trending Destinations in the World reveal emerging places that travellers are getting keen about. The top result for 2026? A small island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

The island is known for its dramatic coastline. Photo: Pixabay

Madeira on the rise

The Portuguese island of Madeira has been crowned the No.1 trending destination in the world by Tripadvisor for this year.

Often referred to as the “Hawaii of Europe”, the island is an autonomous region of Portugal.

Its striking topography is an obvious drawcard: Volcanic coastal cliffs, natural pools, black sand beaches, dramatic ravines and wild waterfalls laced by jungle all invite exploration. Hiking is one of Madeira’s most popular activities.

Off the coast of North Africa in the Atlantic Ocean, Madeira also offers a year-round warm, subtropical climate, making it an excellent destination to visit in low and shoulder seasons.

Beyond its lush natural flora, the island’s vibrant architecture reflects its diverse heritage – from monasteries and Baroque churches to colonial Portuguese military forts and traditional thatched-roof houses.

Food-focused travellers are also spoilt for choice. The island has fresh seafood by the coast and hearty meat dishes inland, with specialties including limpets grilled in garlic, butter and lemon, and espetada, bay leaf-marinated beef skewers. Sprawling organic farms harvesting exotic fruits are another highlight.

Second on Tripadvisor’s list is Tbilisi – the capital of Georgia, a former Soviet state on the eastern coast of the Black Sea.

Dramatic valleys meet the cobbled streets of the old town, where Georgian Orthodox churches and domed 17th-century baths attest to its fascinating history.

Other trending travel destinations for 2026 include the coastal Vietnamese city of Quy Nhon, which is renowned for its excellent seafood and relaxed beaches, and the vibrant Mexican port town of Puerto Escondido, where surf grommets flock for top-notch combers.

Italian fashion capital Milan (host city of this year’s Winter Olympics) and Scottish cultural hotspot Glasgow – with its legacy of Victorian heritage – also feature on the list, along with Argentina’s jaw-dropping alpine town of San Carlos de Bariloche.

Tbilisi is the vibrant capital of Georgia. Photo: Unsplash

Where else is popular in 2026

Along with its trending destinations, Tripadvisor has also revealed its top destinations for the year, showcasing users’ most loved spots across the world.

And the results aren’t exactly surprising. Bali, the tropical Indonesian hotspot Aussies know and love, takes the top spot, followed by the cosmopolitan cities of London and Dubai.

Republished from International Traveller