Where to Go in 2026: 13 Great Places to Visit

From cultural powerhouses stepping into the spotlight to wilderness escapes offering profound connection, A&K's experts forecast the destinations to visit in 2026.

After a period of shifting global priorities and renewed appreciation for meaningful travel, 2026 is emerging as a defining year for exploration. Travellers are venturing farther with a heightened interest in destinations that provide not only escape but also cultural exploration, immersion in nature and personal renewal. The demand for transformative experiences is at its strongest, as travellers seek journeys that foster authentic connections with place, people, and purpose.

The Heritage of the Barossa Valley || Colin Thiele

The Barossa is not just a place. For over a hundred years, it has been more than that – a way of life, an attitude of mind, a quality of spirit. It has been labour and music, church festival and vintage, worship, and the ringing of bells. 

Nobody born within earshot of that deep-toned tolling can ever forget the sound; it wrings the air, a sweet-sad note of joy and sorrow, a pain-joy, birth-marriage-death note as mellow as autumn sunlight. Out of the past, out of Silesian history, out of Lutheran conviction, it wells and flows over the Sunday valley.

The Story of Sydney's Famous Pubs – Then and Now

Step right up, ladies and gents, and raise a glass to one of Australia’s proudest social institutions—the humble pub! No other place tells the story of our changing ways quite like the local hotel. From the rough grog shanties of the gold rush days to today’s sleek city bars with their gleaming chrome fittings and cocktails that sound like something out of a Hollywood script, the Australian pub has seen it all.

When Ernest Hemingway visited Rick's Cafe in Casablanca

I stepped into Rick's Cafe, the smoke-filled air clinging to my skin like a damp shroud. The sounds of clinking glasses and muted conversations enveloped me, transporting me to a bygone era. I took a seat at the bar, ordering a whiskey as I gazed around the room. The walls were adorned with memorabilia from the iconic film, and the staff moved with the precision of seasoned performers.

The bartender, a gruff but kind-eyed man, slid a glass in front of me. "Sour Jdid," he said, his voice low and gravelly. I took a sip, the tangy flavours mingling with the smoky atmosphere.

I spotted her then, a woman sitting alone at a table, her eyes fixed on some distant point. She was a vision in red, her hair dark and luxurious, her skin like alabaster. I watched her, mesmerized, as she sipped her drink, her eyes never leaving the spot.

Visiting Historic Wallaroo in South Australia

The third point of the copper town triangle of 'Little Cornwall' at the top of the Yorke Peninsula was the first, in 1861, to be surveyed and served as the port for the export of ore and later for the grain produce of the area. 

Historic Echunga in the Adelaide Hills

Jacob Hagen, a "wealthy Quaker merchant and landed proprietor" who came to South Australia in 1839, was first to own the land which was to become Echunga. Soon after his arrival, he divided his Special Survey into township blocks, so even if he was not the first settler at Echunga, it is fair enough that the first inn there, built beside what was to become the main road, should be called the "Hagen Arms." He may even have built it, though the first official licensee was A. Adamson in 1853-59-preceded, in local tradition, by one Joe Fry.

Visiting the El Alamein War Cemetery and Museum in Egypt: A Guide

Located in the Egyptian desert, the El Alamein War Cemetery and Museum is a poignant tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives during World War II. This sacred site is a must-visit for history buffs, war enthusiasts, and anyone looking to pay their respects to the fallen.