Food, culture, tech and adventure.. All the new trends and moments not to miss in 2026
Travel in 2026 is set to go bigger, smarter and more immersive. From culture-shifting openings and next-level food scenes to tech-driven stays and once-in-a-lifetime adventures, these are the trends and experiences shaping 2026, and the ones worth planning for now.
Take a street food tour
Street food offers one of the fastest ways to understand a place – it’s a glimpse into the cultural soul of how people eat and gather day to day. One of the best ways to experience the melting pot of the UAE’s expat-rich culture is with Frying Pan Adventures, compressing history and delicious bites into a few walkable hours.
Eating at hidden gems where locals eat offers a unique insight beyond the headline attractions. Whether you’re passing through on a business trip, on holiday, or just playing tourist as you rediscover the city, street food tours make a compelling case for stepping off the usual route.
Rev your engines
Motorsport distils speed, strategy and innovation into a high-stakes environment where every second counts, and events like the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Bahrain Grand Prix are powerful drivers for the regional tourism industry. Fl’s 2026 season will once again feature 24 rounds that begin in Melbourne, Australia on 6 March, and conclude in Abu Dhabi, UAE on 6 December. The Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 will take place from 10-12 April in Sakhir.
Soothe your soul
Wellness travel increasingly focuses on ways to regulate our stress, sleep, attention and nervous systems, rather than indulgence. Taking place amidst the natural wonders of the ancient landscape, AlUla Wellness Festival – which typically runs for about two weeks – offers holistic experiences like yoga, meditation, music and desert adventures alongside fitness classes. While the 2026 edition’s dates have yet to be announced, the festival is typically held from late October to early November.
Check out an architectural marvel
The Middle East is home to some truly inspiring modern architectural feats and one of its latest is Dubai’s new Wasl Tower. This groundbreaking sustainable skyscraper features the region’s tallest ceramic facade, with fins that shade and cool the building, reducing energy use. This mixed-use icon combines luxury residences and offices as well as the Mandarin Oriental Downtown hotel, creating a truly dynamic urban hub with unique twisting architecture, vertical gardens and advanced eco-tech.
Expand your musical horizons
Some of the best music festivals to put on your calendar are Sole DXB set to return for its 14th edition at Dubai Design District in December; UNTOLD Dubai, which will take place from 5-8 November; and the debut of India’s Sunburn Festival in Abu Dhabi in December.
Immerse into nature
In Saudi, the UNESCO-recognised Taif Rose Festival closes its rose-picking season each April, offering a chance to learn how its fragrant Damask rose is used in food, perfume, and more. In Jordan, Yarmouk Eco Lodge – a new sustainable tourism project by Jordan’s Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature and EcoHotels in the Yarmouk Biosphere Forest Reserve – is set to open in 2026.
Image: What’s On Archive
Travel by rail
Etihad Rail is set to enter its passenger era in 2026. The 900km network connecting all seven emirates will begin carrying passengers from the Saudi border to Fujairah, initially linking 11 cities across the country.
Saudi Arabia’s first ultra-luxury train, Dream of the Desert, will also launch in 2026 and will operate five curated routes across the kingdom, complete with fine dining.
Take a flying taxi
Dubai will be launching its first commercial air taxi services in early
2026. The service will be bookable via an app, with rides priced akin to premium ride-hailing services. There are four vertiports scheduled within the initial network, at Dubai International Airport (DXB), Palm Jumeirah, Downtown Dubai and Dubai Marina.
Up your style quotient
While we’ll have to wait until 2027 for the next edition of Dubai Watch Week, in 2026, you can catch the brand-new Dubai Mall Festival of Fashion from 29-30 January, and Dubai Fashion Week from 1-6 February.
Be well-read
The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature – the Arab World’s largest celebration of the written and spoken word – has evolved into a major cultural anchor in the region and the 2026 edition will be held at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City from 21 to 27 January.
Witness a world first
When plans for Dubai’s first-ever 3D printed mosque were first announced in January 2023, the news made headlines around the world. This landmark project is a world-first, as the first fully-functional mosque built with 3D printing technology. Designed by JT+Partners, it can hold up to 499 worshippers and is expected to open by the second quarter of 2026.
Walk the red carpet
Events such as the Red Sea International Film Festival, Istanbul Film Festival, and El Gouna Film Festival place the Middle East firmly within the global cinematic circuit, spotlighting regional talent alongside international premieres.
Travel by water
Cruises can give us a sense of efficiency by offering the chance to visit multiple destinations without having to deal with constant packing, airport transfers, or logistics. New itineraries entering Middle Eastern ports include those by Celestyal, MSC Cruises and Saudi Arabia’s homegrown AROYA Cruises.
Take a thrill ride
Having opened at the very end of 2025, Six Flags in Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya is an immense new tourism attraction that represents the kingdom’s push to anchor entertainment within large-scale economic diversification. The park has six themed lands, 28 rides and the world’s fastest, tallest, and longest roller coaster.
Experience the tech of the future
The Middle East is fast emerging as one of the most tech-forward corners of the world, and the region’s innovation hubs – such as the upcoming Jaddaf Urban Tech District, a net-zero carbon innovation hub set to be the world’s largest urban tech district – provide insight into where industries – and careers – are heading.
Events such as LEAP and DeepFest in Saudi Arabia, Dubai Esports and Games Festival, and the Dubai Future Foundation’s annual Dubai Future Forum bring together technologists, pioneers, policymakers, entrepreneurs and investors shaping tomorrow’s systems.
Watch the game of inches
Elite sport is a masterclass in marginal gains and there are few better ways to enjoy this than with a good game of golf. Tournaments such as the LIV Golf Riyadh (next held from 4 to 7 February at Riyadh Golf Club) attract the world’s top players, along with a host of global business leaders and decision-makers keen to network beyond the fairways.
Treat your inner AV geek
While the Dubai Airshow only takes place once every two years – and its next edition won’t be until 2027 – in the meantime, events such as MEBAA (8-10 December at the UAE’s DWC Dubai Airshow Site), Air Expo Abu Dhabi (October, at Abu Dhabi’s ADNEC Centre), and SAHA Istanbul (5-9 May at Istanbul Expo Centre, Türkiye) are all taking place again in 2026, ready to wow aviation enthusiasts and industry professionals alike.
Image: What’s On Archive
Embrace mountain life
The Middle East’s mountain regions give residents and travellers alike the chance for respite from the intensity of our urban environments. Destinations such as Hatta, Jebel Hafeet, Ras Al Khaimah, and Saudi Arabia’s emerging Aseer region continue to combine outdoor adventure with growing hospitality infrastructure, from glamping experiences that allow you to see the night sky to the world’s longest zipline.
Indulge in fine food
The Middle East’s dining scene continues to mature, with chef-driven concepts, hyper-local sourcing and experimental formats gaining momentum. The Michelin Guide Food Festival brings together a range of world-class chefs, signature dishes and culinary creativity that foodies won’t want to miss, taking place in the grounds of Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in late October or November each year.
Dine by fire
Fire-based cooking is one of humanity’s oldest culinary techniques and its recent revival speaks to a growing desire for authenticity and elemental experiences. Try it at Ras Al Khaimah’s Red Rock BBQ a rugged open-flame experience that uses locally-sourced ingredients in a menu inspired by the emirate’s geology and flora.
Surf in the desert
Learn a new skill by going surfing at one of the UAE’s world-class facilities that allow you to surf in the desert.
Surf Abu Dhabi boasts the world’s longest and most advanced man-made wave pool, while in Dubai, the highly-anticipated Surfbase Dubai is expected to open in 2026, which will be the city’s first-ever indoor surfing spot. Located at CityLand Mall, it’s planned to be the world’s largest indoor surf club, with a wave machine capable of producing waves up to 3m high and 30m wide.
In Saudi Arabia, Surftopia – the country’s first surf park – is in Qiddiya City and uses tech from Endless Surf: a pneumatic system-based next-gen wave pool technology also used at 02 SURFTOWN MUC in Germany, and that will feature at the UK’s upcoming Surf London.
Be a culture vulture
From 5-7 February, Art Basel Qatar – the renowned art show’s debut in MENASA – positions the region firmly within the global art circuit as it attracts collectors, curators, and creatives.
Fly a new airline
Riyadh Air’s much-anticipated launch at the end of 2025 marks a significant moment in Saudi Arabia’s aviation ambitions. The airline continues to expand its fleet this year.
Shop ’til you drop
Dubai Mall expanded last year with a new wing – and upgraded its famous fountain. Whether you’re enjoying a bit of retail therapy between meetings, catching up with a colleague at one of the mall’s 200+ dining venues, or enjoying its entertainment facilities with your family, it’s a prime representation of the UAE’s thriving experience-led economy.
