This month, it’s time to wear red and celebrate the Lunar New Year to welcome in the Year of the Horse. In cities around the world, the 16-day event ends with the brilliant and beautiful Lantern Festival, where neighborhoods glow with colorful lamps and striking light sculptures. The Chinese Zodiac considers this year to be one filled with energy and ambition. Years of the horse are when people are often inspired to try something new and embrace change. To us, that sounds like a great year to get out and explore the world anew!
Bottom Left: Aqua Expeditions, Vietnam | Bottom Right: CMH Heli-Skiing, Canada
Embrace the spirit of this new Year of Horse with travel that pushes you to new adventures. Is 2026 when you book that family safari to see the Great Migration? Or line up that heli-ski safari into the peaks of the Canadian Rockies? Maybe it’s an expedition cruise to the polar ends of the Earth or a drift along Vietnam’s Mekong Delta? Think big. Think grand. Channel your free spirit, that wild mustang we’ve all got in our souls, and reach out to us. Finding you the right adventure anywhere in the world is what we do best.
Bottom Left: Explora Patagonia Torres del Paine | Bottom Right: Paws Up Montana
If you’d rather take a more literal approach to the Year of the Horse, we can round up the best ranch vacations to consider. We’ve got favorite guest ranches in Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, even Alberta and British Columbia in Canada. But we’d recommend you go further. Try the luxury beachfront resort with horses, NIHI Sumba, in Indonesia. Or see what it means to be a gaucho and head down to Patagonia in Chile or Argentina. Riding a horse through the region’s jaw-dropping scenery, from craggy mountain peaks to glacial lakes and wind-whipped glaciers, is one of life’s great travel experiences.
Gung Hay Fat Choy! Let’s plan something unexpected.
The Best Events to Travel and Explore in 2026
There’s nothing like the thrill of being there. In 2026, iconic moments such as the Day of the Dead, Oktoberfest, Kentucky Derby, global sporting events, and major cultural festivals offer the perfect reason to plan travel around what’s happening and stay for everything else a destination has to offer. These events add energy, meaning, and a sense of occasion that turn a great trip into something truly memorable.
Major sporting events bring an unmatched atmosphere, and 2026 delivers on a global scale. The FIFA World Cup makes history with matches hosted across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, allowing travelers to pair game days with city-hopping and cultural exploration. Add the timeless tradition of Wimbledon each July in London, along with the international glamour of Formula 1, where race weekends transform destinations from Monaco to Abu Dhabi, and sporting moments become the foundation of a far bigger journey.
Some of the most meaningful trips are tied to moments that only happen once, or for a brief window each year. On August 12, 2026, the Total Solar Eclipse will be visible in totality across parts of northern Spain, offering one of the longest totalities of the decade. In spring, Cherry Blossom Season transforms Japan’s cities and countryside into a fleeting celebration of renewal, while early summer brings Lavender Season, when Provence’s rolling fields turn violet and travel naturally slows.
Cultural events reveal the creative pulse of a destination. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, held each August, is the world’s largest arts festival, filling Scotland’s capital with comedy, theatre, and music. Vivid Sydney transforms the city after dark with immersive light installations, while the Venice Biennale offers a rare chance to experience Venice through a modern artistic lens.
Let’s turn a major event into a journey that goes far beyond the main event.
Timing Your Travel, From Summer to Sooner
It might seem too soon to book your summer holiday, but it’s not. If we haven’t already talked about where your travel group is headed this summer, now is the time. Alaska stands out for glacier views and family-friendly hiking. Europe is drawing interest around the upcoming total solar eclipse. Expedition ships through the Norwegian fjords and up to Svalbard are seeing strong demand. And the classic multi-gen stay at an Italian villa is still very much possible with the right timing.
Many sought-after hotels and prime cabins on luxury sailing ships are already limited, but that doesn’t mean great options are off the table. With thoughtful planning, there are still beautiful high-end resorts and memorable summer itineraries to be secured.
If winter is starting to feel long, a last-minute escape can also be a great idea. Off-season travel still offers excellent hotels and experiences in places like Ireland, Scotland, the U.K., and the Caribbean, along with lesser-known ski towns that offer character, great skiing, and memorable stays.
Let’s start planning while the best options are still available.
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