The BBC has unveiled its annual list of must-visit destinations for 2026, and one Aussie spot has made the list.
This year’s guide celebrates places “that offer incredible experiences while using tourism to support local communities”.
While Queensland or Tasmania typically tend to feature on these lists, one of our least-visited regions shone this year.
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Uluru is officially one of the “best places to travel in 2026” according to the BBC.
The list celebrates Uluru as a destination where visitors can respectfully interact with local culture.
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“Anangu [the land’s traditional owners] are telling their stories on their own terms and travellers can connect with this ancient land in deeper, more meaningful ways.”
While Uluru is considered a bucket-list destination by many, it has seen a slump in visitor numbers in the last few years. Parks Australia contributes this in part to expensive flight costs and an increasing number of Aussies choosing to holiday overseas.
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BBC also shouts out a brand-new hike that will let visitors see the ancient rock in a whole new way.
The Uluru-Kata Tjuta Signature Walk is a five-day, four-night journey over 53km linking the soaring domes of Kata Tjuta with the base of the world-famous red rock.
The trail traverses parts of the national park that have been previously off-limites to visitors.
It will be the only way for people to spend the night inside the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, staying in beautifully crafted eco-camps and lodge that’s been designed to blend into the desert.
It’s already been named one of the Great Walks of Australia. The itinerary includes sunrise hikes, stargazing, and Indigenous-led workshops, with a share of revenue returning directly to community partners.
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The Cook Islands, an Aussie holiday fave, was also included as a must-visit destination on the BBC list.
Rarotonga has ” everything great about the South Pacific”, according to the article.
It has “triangular peaks reminiscent of Tahiti, a wild hinterland ringed by a blue-water lagoon and a proud Polynesian culture.”
“Beyond Rarotonga – aside from honeymoon favourite Aitutaki – are 13 islands you can experience almost entirely for yourselves.”
A non-stop flight to Rarotonga is about six hours from Australia’s east coast.
Indonesia’s Komodo Islands also made the list, which has become an increasingly popular spot for holidaymakers looking to escape the crowds of Bali.
“The Komodo Islands remain one of the planet’s great wildlife theatres,” reads the BBC article.
“Travellers can explore by day-boat, stay in eco-lodges on nearby islands or sail between remote bays on traditional phinisi vessels for a deeper connection to the archipelago.”
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Other destinations on the list include Costa Rica (“one of the planet’s richest biodiversity hotspots is on the cusp of big change”), Scotland’s Hebridean islands (“white-sand beaches and community warmth”), and Ishikawa, Japan (“traditional crafts and award-winning sake”).
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