Whether it’s the concert of a lifetime, cheering on your country at the FIFA World Cup or chasing the sun’s path during an eclipse, when it comes to travelling for major events, planning ahead is essential. Fortunately, these events also offer an excuse to design an incredible trip before and after the big-ticket show.

In 2026, there are a number of major events that may inspire you to plan a trip—and then explore further afield. Here, some ideas to get the wheels turning.

Olympic Games

Italy hosts the Winter Olympics in February with competition based in and around Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in the north. Attending the Games themselves will provide plentiful opportunities to explore Italy’s cosmopolitan city, home to art, history and creativity, and the heights of the Dolomites. These locations are also prime launching points for off-season exploration in the Italian Lakes, Piemonte, Veneto and elsewhere in the Dolomites. There are world-famous wine regions to discover and the chance to see cities like Venice as the locals do. You can take on the mountains with hikes and other alpine activities while also getting a taste of regional delicacies—the sort that are only available in the small towns where they were born.

Europe

Start planning now for these major 2026 travel-worthy events

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