Copyright Newsweek
A small mountain town in Montana, home to just over 3,000 people, has been named the world’s top travel destination for 2026, according to Expedia’s new Destinations of the Year list. Big Sky, Montana Tops Expedia’s Global Rankings The travel platform revealed its annual list this week, spotlighting Big Sky, Montana, as the ultimate travel hotspot for 2026. The ranking was compiled using real-time search and booking data from millions of users worldwide, highlighting where traveler interest is “taking off.” Big Sky is known for its dramatic alpine scenery, luxury ski resorts and proximity to Yellowstone National Park. But according to new data, it has seen a sharp spike in global searches on Expedia’s app and website over the past year—enough to propel it ahead of traditional travel hotspots like Paris, Tokyo and Rome. A Tiny Town With Big Appeal Read More Despite a population of only around 3,500 residents, Big Sky has built a global reputation as a playground for both outdoor enthusiasts and luxury travelers. Situated in southwestern Montana, about 45 miles southwest of Bozeman, the community sits at an elevation of over 6,000 feet. The area’s main attraction, Big Sky Resort, offers some of the largest ski terrain in North America, while summer months bring hiking, mountain biking, fly-fishing and easy access to Yellowstone. “Big Sky’s recognition as the top trending destination underscores what locals and longtime visitors already know. This is a place where adventure and awe-inspiring landscapes come together in a way that’s truly special,” Brad Niva, CEO of Visit Big Sky said in a statement. “We work hard to balance the benefits of tourism with our responsibility to protect what makes Big Sky unique, ensuring the visitor economy thrives while listening to and supporting the residents who call this place home,” Niva added. While Big Sky earned the title of top travel destination for 2026, Expedia also highlighted nine other must-visit spots around the world. These include Okinawa in Japan in second place, Sardinia in Italy third, fourth is Phu Quoc in Vietnam, while Savoie in France comes in fifth. And another U.S. location made the cut—the only country to feature twice in the list—with Fort Walton Beach in Florida in sixth place, Ucluelet in Canada seventh, the Cotswolds in the U.K was eighth., San Miguel de Allende in Mexico was ninth, and finishing off the list was Hobart in Australia. Expedia’s Smart Travel Health Check In addition to its rankings, Expedia unveiled a new framework for 2026—the Smart Travel Health Check—a system inspired by the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) vision for responsible destination management. The tool aims to assess how well destinations balance visitor demand with community well-being and environmental sustainability, rewarding those that promote long-term, regenerative tourism. Big Sky scored highly in this category thanks to ongoing community efforts to preserve its pristine landscape while expanding infrastructure for year-round tourism. A Shift In Travel Trends The rise of Big Sky is part of a wider shift in travel behavior: travelers are increasingly seeking out shorter, more intentional escapes and lesser-known destinations are gaining in popularity. A recent study by Allianz Partners found that 34 percent of Americans say their first vacation of the year will last just two nights or less, signaling the growing appeal of high-impact short trips to lesser known locations.
