Why national travel writers are telling people to come to Utah in 2026
Jan 4, 2026, 4:56 PM | Updated: 5:37 pm
Christmas lights on old Park City Main Street on Dec. 17. As 2026 kicks off, people all around the world are starting to plan their travel for the year, and a number of travel publications are suggesting a trip to Utah. (Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
(Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — As 2026 kicks off, people all around the world are starting to plan their travel for the year, and a number of travel publications are suggesting a trip to Utah.
To wrap 2025, travel publications share lists of the top travel destinations for the year ahead, with three different Utah cities included on these lists.
Park City, Salt Lake City and Moab all drew notable mention. Here’s a look at why travel experts are telling people they should come to Utah, as well as hot spots around the world in 2026.
Park City
Park City, and specifically its Deer Valley Resort, was included on multiple lists this year including “Forbes Travel Guide’s Top Destinations For 2026” and Condé Nast’s “The Best Places to Go in 2026.”
Experts who suggest traveling to Park City focus mainly on skiing and other outdoor winter activities.
Forbes highlighted Deer Valley, which recently expanded its skiable terrain to 4,300 acres and added 100 new ski runs, 10 chairlifts and a gondola. The resort is also working on developing Deer Valley East Village, which will have North America’s largest “ski beach” and a new Four Seasons.
Deer Valley receives 300 inches of annual snowfall supported by a state-of-the-art snowmaking system, per Condé Nast.
Even with the departure of the Sundance Film Festival after this year, Park City will continue to attract many tourists, especially during the ski season from early December to mid-April, the report said.
Construction progresses at Deer Valley Resort in Park City on Nov. 5. Forbes highlighted the construction as part of its top travel destinations in 2026, which included Deer Valley. (Photo: Laura Seitz, Deseret News)
Salt Lake City
Travel + Leisure’s “The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2026” made the case for why travelers should make their way to Utah’s capital this year.
“Once seen as a mere stopover en route to nearby ski resorts, Utah’s capital has emerged as a dynamic, year-round destination where dramatic landscapes meet urban energy,” the publication said.
The list highlighted Salt Lake City’s Maven District, which is full of indie shops, decorated with murals and good dining can be found in the nearby 9th & 9th neighborhood. Travel + Leisure also shined a spotlight on the Granary District.
Another reason for traveling to Salt Lake City is its close proximity to outdoor activities such as hiking and skiing.
Moab
Utah’s Moab was included in U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Small Towns to Visit in the USA for 2026.”
“The red rock deserts of the Colorado Plateau are unlike anywhere else in the country, and Moab is the prime destination for recreation,” per U.S. News and World Report.
The small city and the “Mars-like landscape” draw mountain bikers, climbers, off-roaders, photographers, river runners and more.
Visitors to Moab can venture to Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park and explore the 3.6 million additional acres managed by the Canyon Country Bureau of Land Management.
Other top destinations for 2026
Along with promoting these Utah cities, these travel list included a wide variety of unique destinations all around the world, from small beachfront towns to bigger cities and escapes in the mountains.
Guests check in at the Stein Eriksen Lodge at Deer Valley Ski Resort in Park City, Nov. 13, 2010. Park City is part of travel experts’ destination suggestions in 2026. (Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
One major destination for 2026 is Milan, which is home to the upcoming Winter Olympics.
There are a few other destinations in the U.S. which have populated multiple lists. Some of the domestic destinations include Sonoma, California; Hudson Valley, New York; and Emerald Coast, Florida.
Some of the more unique destinations included in the list include Gabon, northern Namibia and Prince Edward County, Canada.
Another big event that will cause lots of travel is the 2026 FIFA World Cup taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The U.S. is also celebrating its 250th anniversary, which will include a number of major events leading up to and after July 4.
