The 10 Best Islands to Visit in 2026

The 10 Best Islands to Visit in 2026 Photo: Gail Johnson/Shutterstock

There’s never a bad time to visit most of the world’s most amazing islands, but 2026 is an especially good year to visit the selections below.

Take Mallorca, for example. On August 12, a total solar eclipse will sweep across the Mediterranean and go dark over the island at 8:31 PM, with the sun two degrees above the horizon. It’ll be the first totality visible from the island in 101 years. It’s the kind of thing you’d definitely plan a trip around (as if you needed another reason for an island vacation).

But it’s not just Mallorca. Nine other islands have their own major draws this year, all of which go beyond the standard reasons people spend their vacations on a strip of land surrounded by water. Below, you’ll find an island celebrating a one-year-only culinary designation, a national park about to get a lot more crowded once a cable car opens, a recovering Pacific archipelago you can reach again, and a place where you can (for now) legally swim with whales.

These are the best islands to add to your 2026 travel plans, especially if you’re up for a little adventure.

All listed hotels are chosen by Matador Network’s editors and writers. Matador Network may receive compensation if you book a stay through these links. Prices are accurate as of publication.

• Mallorca, Spain
• Tonga
• Svalbard, Norway
• Dominica
• Vanuatu
• New Caledonia, French overseas territory
• Crete, Greece
• Azores, Portugal
• Curaçao
• Islas Marietas National Park, Mexico

Mallorca, Spain

Photos: Rafael Balaguer / AETIB and Txema Garcia / AETIB

The Balearic Islands are as beautiful as anywhere on Earth. But they’ll get even more appealing for roughly a minute and 36 seconds on August 12, when Mallorca will sit inside the moon’s shadow. Totality begins at 8:31 PM in Palma and ends at 8:33 PM, with the sun about two degrees above the western horizon — low enough that the corona will appear framed against the Mediterranean before the eclipsed sun slips below the water. It’s the first total solar eclipse visible from Spain since August 30, 1905.

Other spots, like Iceland, are also favorably located to view this phenomenon, but Mallorca’s Mediterranean climate and ample sunshine give you far better odds of clear weather. Historically, August cloud cover on the Balearics’ western coast runs around 25 percent, and meteorologists tracking the path have said Mallorca will be the most reliable land-based viewing site on Earth that day.

he best setup is a west-facing viewpoint with a completely open sightline to the sea or distant horizon, such as the west coast around Andratx, Estellencs, Banyalbufar, Deià, or Sóller, or any cliff top, beach, terrace, or boat with nothing blocking your view of sunset. Arrive at your viewing spot well before 7:30 PM, bring certified eclipse glasses, and pack water and layers.

Where to stay: Check out Matador Network‘s guide to the best hotels in Mallorca, or dream about jaw-dropping properties like the Grand Hotel Son Net inside a 17th-century mansion. If that’s a bit above your budget, Hostal Sa Baronia is a much more affordable stay with beach views in Estellencs.

Tonga

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Tonga has always been one of a few places in the world where you can do something extremely rare: swim in the open ocean alongside humpback whales. And in 2026, that experience still exists, but it’s becoming more tightly controlled, and could potentially go away completely in future years.

For years, swimming with whales in Tonga has been defined by strict limits designed to protect both people and animals. You’ll spend a maximum of 90 minutes in the water, taking turns in small, guided groups of no more than four. Currently, the season runs from July 1 to October 30, and the experience depends on the whales. You may be floating in silence as a 40-ton whale glides past beneath you, or just bobbing at the surface, listening for whale song nearby. Boats need to stay at least 300 meters from the whales and can only get closer at very slow speeds to drop swimmers into the water.

It makes encounters feel personalized, quiet, and genuinely wild, rather than crowded or staged.

But those rules may soon be getting even tighter. In recent years, authorities and conservation groups have pushed for even stricter enforcement and additional regulations, responding to growing concerns about pressures on whale populations and inconsistent operator behavior. The direction it’s going in is clear: fewer boats, fewer swimmers, and more limits on how and whether people can enter the water at all.

We fully support any new laws that protect wildlife, and that’s what makes 2026 feel so critical. It’s increasingly likely that opportunities to swim with whales will be scaled back, possibly in favor of observation-only boat trips, as you’ll find in most other places around the world. If you want to go, now is your chance — because once new rules are in place, we don’t want to hear about a single Matador Network reader trying to break them.

Where to stay: Tongan Beach Resort is a super laid-back beach resort with an open-air bar and restaurant, while Tanoa International Dateline Hotel is a more western-style resort with high-end amenities.

Svalbard

Photos: Suzie Dundas

A destination like Svalbard is the stuff Arctic dreams are made of, but the Norwegian island is warming about six to seven times faster than the global average. Glaciers are retreating, permafrost is thawing, and the polar bears that draw most visitors here are concentrating closer to fewer remaining ice edges. That’s the climate argument for going soon. The regulatory argument is more specific: the rules on tourism access have recently become even more controlled, and likely will change again.

Nearly all visitors to Svalbard travel via cruise or boat tour, and last year, the island introduced tighter regulations on where visitors can go ashore. As of 2025, there are just 43 approved sites across the entire 24,000-square-mile island where guests can go ashore, as well as a host of new limitations while visitors are on foot. There are already plans for additional restrictions to go into effect in July 2027, and with Svalbard’s strong track record on environmental protections, it’s likely that restrictions could continue to tighten in the coming years.

That makes summer 2026 an ideal year to go, especially if you visit after July 1, when the polar bear viewing distance is 300 meters. You can visit at a more budget level by doing day trips from Longyearbyen (and visiting the northernmost brewery in the world), or opt for a higher-end expedition cruise with a company like Hurtigruten or National Geographic–Lindblad Expeditions. The latter operates an icebreaker ship that can go farther offshore, allowing guests to walk on the solid (for now) ice shelf.

Where to stay: Nearly all visitors to Svalbard do so via expedition cruise. However, there are a few hotels in Longyearbyen, including Base Camp (which also runs adventure tours) and The Vault Hotel, with included breakfast and an on-site bar.

Dominica

Photos: Discover Dominica and Kristian Muthugalage/Shutterstock

Dominica is one of the best islands in the Caribbean for outdoor adventure, but one signature experience is about to change. Summer 2026 is the last summer that the only way to Boiling Lake will be on your own two feet. Dominica is about to open a 4-mile-long cable car (which will be the longest of its kind in the world), scheduled to begin service in late fall 2026. It will take riders from the Roseau Valley to a top station near well-known Boiling Lake in roughly 20 minutes. Right now, getting to Boiling Lake means a 6-to-8-hour roundtrip hike through Morne Trois Pitons National Park, past sulfur springs and the Valley of Desolation, to reach the world’s second-largest hot lake (after Frying Pan Lake in New Zealand’s Waimangu Valley).

Tourism Minister Denise Charles has said the project could triple visitor numbers to the lake. For travelers who’d rather earn their views than ride to them, and who don’t want to deal with bigger crowds, this is the year.

Where to stay: InterContinental Dominica Cabrits Resort & Spa is a relatively new resort for travelers who appreciate a high-end resort feel, Coulibri Ridge is a sustainable resort on a jungle ridgeline with ocean views, and Dominica Tree House Village offers lofted treehouse suites that feel straight out of a modern-day Swiss Family Robinson.

Vanuatu

Photos: Katie Dundas

In 2026, Vanuatu is emerging from a series of disruptions that reshaped its tourism industry. In 2024 alone, Vanuatu was hit by a devastating earthquake that damaged roads, buildings, and core infrastructure. That year, Air Vanuatu ceased operations, which severely limited international access. The result was a sharp slowdown in tourism, which was already slow due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

But in 2026, it’s turned around. Infrastructure is being rebuilt, tourism capacity is normalizing, and international connectivity is expanding again. Flights are a major part of that, with expanded routes from Australia. Qantas is now running daily Brisbane to Port Vila flights, while Solomon Airlines added more daily flights from Auckland, New Zealand.

To support that, a host of new and rebuilt hotels are coming online in 2026. The Grand Hotel & Casino in Port Vila, one of the country’s most recognizable waterfront properties, is reopening in 2026 after a major restoration, and the Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu is expected to open by mid-2026 for an affordable, amenity-rich escape on the beach. There’s also the newly opened Turtle Cove Villas on Efate’s northern coast, with a house reef ideal for snorkeling.

All that makes 2026 a prime travel window. Visitor numbers are rebounding, and the country recorded more than 69,000 air arrivals in the first nine months of 2025 alone. It’s significant growth, but still a ways from pre-COVID levels, when 120,000-130,000 arrivals per year were common. The country is also in the middle of a growing conversation about how tourism will develop. Plans for larger-scale projects, including cruise infrastructure, have already sparked debate about how growth may change the island’s landscapes and visitor culture — suggesting that the Vanuatu of today may not look the same in a few years.

Where to stay: Most travelers base themselves on Efate (near Port Vila) or Espiritu Santo, where you’ll find everything from full-service resorts to relaxed beachfront bungalows. Efate has a mix of your typical island choices, while Espiritu Santo has mostly smaller, more laid-back stays closer to top snorkeling sites. Check out Erakor Resort if you’re looking for affordable private villas (or a private island rental).

New Caledonia

Photo: New Caledonia Tourism/Eric Aubry

New Caledonia isn’t an obvious choice for 2026, which is exactly why it may be one of the best options.

In 2024, violent unrest shut down the capital, halted flights, and triggered a collapse in tourism, with visitor numbers falling by more than 50 percent in a single year. Airports closed, and the South Pacific islands were effectively cut off from the rest of the world.

What makes New Caledonia interesting now is what’s happened since. Recovery has been deliberate, with the government launching an ambitious tourism reset plan focused on higher-quality tourism, better infrastructure, and sustainable growth, with a goal of reaching 250,000 visitors by 2032. Neighboring islands like Fiji already see significantly more visitors than that, counting 986,367 visitors in 2025 alone.

Of course, this is not Fiji. New Caledonia feels like France dropped into the Pacific, because essentially, it is. The tourism pitch is less “resort escape” and more “beautiful place that happens to have excellent diving and snorkeling around a protected marine park, a fascinating cultural mix, and a very specific atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else.” The lagoon is UNESCO-listed and genuinely one of the largest coral reefs in the world, and tourism services are less developed than in Fiji. English isn’t spoken much at all, though major resorts will usually have English-speaking concierge staff.

Most trips revolve around the water: takin boat trips to tiny islands, snorkeling with turtles and reef sharks, and staying at over-the-water bungalows. But there are draws inland, such as colorful hiking trails, rainforest parks, and cultural sites like the Tjibaou Cultural Centre.

Where to stay: DoubleTree by Hilton Noumea Ilot Maitre Resort has overwater bungalows and beachfront options, while affordable guesthouses, called gîtes, are available across the island. There’s a wide range of accommodation in Nouméa, and many small villages offer “tribal stays” that welcome visitors into their homes and inns.

Crete, Greece

Photos: Incredible Crete

Crete has been on global food media’s radar for decades. In fact, the Cretan diet has its own peer-reviewed literature, its own Wikipedia entry, and a permanent place on every “Mediterranean longevity” listicle. And in 2026, that decades-long reputation gets a formal capstone: the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism (IGCAT) named Crete a European Region of Gastronomy for 2026, an honor it shares with Gozo (Malta) and Kvarner (Croatia). The designation comes with a year-long, island-wide programming calendar tying restaurants to farmers, winemakers, and producers — and that programming is what makes 2026 genuinely different from any other year you might visit.

Visitors will find one-of-a-kind food festivals, open winery days, harvest celebrations, and cooking events designed to connect travelers with local producers and makers. The flagship Cretan Diet Festival in Rethymno will be expanded with everything from live cooking demos to cheese showcases, and local events like a chestnut harvest festival in the mountains and street food festivals will provide the chance for visitors to celebrate shoulder-to-shoulder with locals. The celebration includes not just restaurants but also farmers, winemakers, and tourism operators, so it’s about more than just eating the island’s best food: travelers can be involved at almost every step of the process, whether they’re in cities or way out in the countryside.

The designation brings more attention, more events, and more infrastructure, but Crete still isn’t a mainstream food destination — yet. That’s why 2026 is the perfect time to go, while experiences are still affordable and uncrowded. Mass culinary tourism hasn’t yet hit the island, but Crete’s fantastic culinary draws mean that could soon change.

Where to stay: Rosewood Blue Palace is one of the most exciting new hotel openings of 2026, set near the charming fishing village of Plaka, and Stella Island Resort and Spa is a beloved adults-only all-inclusive.

Azores, Portugal

Photo: Danita Delimont/Shutterstock

The Azores have long been one of Europe’s most unique destinations, but there’s an especially timely reason to go in 2026: it’s the 50th anniversary of its own self-government, and officials have announced the islands will be celebrating all year. Official events celebrating the defining 1976 event include ceremonies, concerts, parades, public events, exhibitions, and more, nearly all of it open to tourists.

Most of the celebrations will amplify what are already lively annual events. In June, the Sanjoaninas Festival on Terceira will be the centerpiece of the celebrations, with a theme of “Azoreanity,” (the distinct cultural identity of the Azores). The event always has parades, concerts, traditional dance performances, street food stalls, and the island’s signature “bulls on a rope” events, but in 2026, it’ll be expanded with themed parades and performances tied specifically to the island’s history and culture, along with related programming and additional events throughout the city.

Through autumn, visitors can expect expanded versions of the Holy Spirit festivals, held in villages across all nine islands from spring through early autumn. Though they have religious origins, they’re not formal or limited to believers. Instead, they’re community-wide celebrations in which visitors are very welcome, with shared meals, live music, parades, and public gatherings that take over entire towns. One of the defining traditions is the bodo, a communal feast where traditional foods are prepared and shared with anyone in the town, local or not.

But in addition to all the extra 2026 celebrations, you also get what makes the Azores so appealing every year: smaller crowds than most of Europe, dramatic landscapes, and a slow way of life that lends itself well to exploring on foot and leisurely wine tastings. But visit in 2026, and you’ll get that, plus so much more.

Where to stay: Affordable (and not so affordable) luxury hotels abound on the Azores. If you’re all about whale watching, check out Hotel Caravelas, offering whale watching and lodging combo packages throughout the year.

Curaçao

Photos: Curaçao Tourist Board

Curaçao has long been a solid Caribbean option offering more of a European feel than other more popular Caribbean countries, with the colorful streets of Willemstad and some of the best scuba diving in the world. But the case for visiting this particular island in the summer is even more straightforward: it sits below the hurricane belt — the last direct hurricane to hit was a storm called Tecla in 1877. While the rest of the Caribbean is subject to the massive storms from roughly June to October, Curaçao runs on dependable trade winds and stable weather, which is also why dive operators across the island stay open through peak Atlantic storm months when other destinations close.

In 2025, Curaçao recorded 788,427 overnight visitors, setting a new record and representing nine percent growth over the prior year. Even more notable is who is coming. Growth has been driven mostly by travelers from the US, with visits from Americans up about 17 percent on average each month. It means Curaçao is no longer just a Dutch-Caribbean destination, but is becoming a mainstream island pick for American travelers looking for a change from the usual chain hotels and all-inclusives on better-known islands. In recent years, Curaçao has seen more direct flights and a host of new accommodations tailored not just to Dutch visitors, who represent the traditional bulk of the island’s tourists, but to visitors from North America.

Curaçao already has infrastructure like dive shops, beach clubs, restored historic districts, and both boutique and high-end resorts, but it still lacks the crowds of neighboring Aruba or places like the Bahamas. This means it’s easy to access the island’s most popular destinations, whether that’s shore diving sites, walking through the pastel-colored capital, or hopping between small beaches like Playa Lagun and Cas Abao.

But tourism officials are actively targeting growth in the US market, and the increase in arrivals in 2025 suggests it’s working. In 2026, you’ll still find that many people can’t point to Curaçao on a map, and it rarely feels overcrowded or overpriced. Go now, before that changes.

Where to stay: Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort is a polished, beachfront resort just outside Willemstad, while LionsDive Beach Resort caters to snorkelers and divers.

Islas Marietas, Mexico

Photo: Joshua Serrano Crisosto/Shutterstock

We’re all about proper conservation of our planet’s beautiful ecosystems. We’re also proponents of the idea that it’s difficult to support protection of things you don’t understand, and this is why the concept of national parks is so important. Mexico’s Islas Marietas National Park epitomizes this, and though it’s an easy-to-reach day trip by boat from Punta de Mita, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, or the tourism hub of Puerto Vallarta, it’s remote enough that it still feels like an adventure. Islas Marietas sits about six miles off the Nayarit coast and includes two islands, small islets, caves, beaches, coral areas, and one of the most recognizable beach formations: Playa del Amor. The park’s government-run website notes that you can snorkel, dive, kayak, whale watch, or gaze at birds, so whatever you’re into, there’s no good excuse not to visit.

But here’s where it gets tricky. The Mexican government has closed access before, and it’s threatening to do so again. In 2016, Playa del Amor was closed after reports of serious ecosystem damage and visitor numbers far beyond the park’s carrying capacity. It reopened under stricter rules, including recurring closure days for maintenance and monitoring. Given the park’s conservation mandate, recent reports of coral stress in its boundaries could lead to more restrictions, and it’s reasonable to expect that future restrictions could get tighter rather than looser.

These restrictions are important, and emphasize why responsible visitation is key. Take pictures and memories and leave only your support for those preserving the natural functionality of its habitats. If you head down, you’ll arrive by licensed boat, with permission being part of the booking process. Access depends on sea conditions, especially if you’re trying to reach tide-dependent Playa del Amor. As frustrating as this can be day-of, the tightly controlled access helps preserve the reason people go in the first place: clear water, dramatic rock formations, seabird habitat, and some of the best reef scenery in Bahía de Banderas.

Where to stay: Puerto Vallarta has plenty of large, amenity-rich resorts, including Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa and Velas Vallarta, but within the town, you’ll find lots of traditional and modern Airbnbs, ranging from boutique stays for couples to full homes for vacationing families.

CREDITS

Editorial lead

Suzie Dundas

Contributor

Tim Wenger