Iconic monuments and famous attractions mean some destinations have perennial appeal.
But with overtourism as problematic as ever, 2026 is a good year to consider places you might have previously overlooked.
An easy way to put these places on your radar is to look for new openings, attractions and happenings around Europe.
From cultural institutions to food festivals, here are some of the things worth travelling for in 2026.
Travel to Finland and Slovakia for the European Capitals of Culture
Two cities have been named Europe’s Capitals of Culture for 2026: Oulu in Finland and Trenčín in Slovakia.
Oulu’s opening festival will take place from 16 to 18 January, with a programme including concerts, car tuning, and the Finnish national sport of ice hockey.
The city’s theme for the year is ‘Cultural Climate Change’, focusing on how heritage and art can reconnect people with their natural environment.
Trenčín’s ceremonial opening will take place from 13 to 15 February, and will see the Slovakian city’s old town transform into an outdoor cultural stage for music, art and social gatherings.
The chosen theme for the year is ‘Cultivating Curiosity’, aiming to use cultural projects to revitalise the city and bolster social cohesion.
Visit Brussels for the Belgian Pompidou Centre
A city foremost associated with business and bureaucracy, Brussels is launching a cultural renaissance in 2026.
Late November will see the opening of the KANAL-Centre Pompidou inside a 90-year-old modernist building, which once housed the Citroën garage and car showroom.
The structure is being renovated to become the Belgian capital’s first museum of contemporary and modern art, the result of a partnership between the KANAL Foundation and Paris’ Centre Pompidou.
As well as showing works from the Parisian institution along with its own collection, the KANAL-Centre Pompidou aims to be an arts and cultural hub and stage music, dance and theatre performances.
There will also be a restaurant overlooking the exhibition rooms and a rooftop bar.
Head to Helsinki for Moomin-mania
Helsinki Art Museum is giving beloved Finnish artist Tove Jansson, the creator of the Moomins, her own dedicated space this year.
Spanning three exhibition halls built around her frescoes “Party in the Countryside” and “Party in the City”, the gallery positions Jansson as both a Helsinki-based and an international artist.
The inaugural exhibition (13 February 2026 – 24 January 2027) explores the artistic output of the entire Jansson family, their portrayals of one another, and their joint creations.
View new artworks on display in Valencia
The region of Valencia has become a leader in sustainable tourism, becoming the first in Spain to be certified by AENOR – Spain’s national standards and certification body – for its Tourism Sustainability Strategy 2024–2028.
This year will also see the unveiling of two landmark cultural openings in the city of Valencia.
Espai Manolo Valdés, dedicated to the eponymous living artist born in Valencia, will open in late 2026 and showcase new and previously unseen sculptures.
The Sorolla Museum will honour another Valencia artist, Joaquín Sorolla, with 220 works going on display in the Palacio de las Comunicaciones.
Eat your way around the European Regions of Gastronomy
Epicurean travellers have a choice of three food-loving destinations in 2026, which have been designated European Regions of Gastronomy.
The title recognises places where diets are more than just tasty, they are focused on health, wellbeing and improving life quality and the environment.
Crete, the Greek island where olive oil is considered medicinal, will celebrate by holding a week-long Cretan Diet festival in the Venetian-fortress-crowned town of Rethymnon in July 2026.
Gozo, sister island to Malta and another Mediterranean culinary powerhouse, was recognised for its farm-to-fork traditions and ethical tourism model.
Enjoy speciality products like ġbejniet (traditional sheep milk cheeselets), Gozitan ftira (a sourdough pizza-like bread), fig pie, and sundried tomatoes.
Kvarner in Croatia completes the trio. The transitional region where Mediterranean and pre-Alpine climates meet sees its extensive biodiversity mirrored in a wealth of local ingredients and a diversity of seasonal dishes.
In one day, you can start with the famed Kvarner langoustines and end with mountain-dwelling wild game, mushrooms and forest berries.
Walk the entire coastline of England along a new trail
Wild and windswept, the English coastline is one of the world’s most sublime walking destinations.
And in 2026, an epic trail – the King Charles III Coastal Path – will (probably) finally be finished.
The route winds round the entire coastline of England; 4,303 km of cliffs, headlands, beaches, seaside towns, national parks and more.
The majority of sections are already open. Once complete, it’ll be the longest managed coastal trail in the world.
