Today’s Trending Islands, According to Expedia

Expedia recently released its 2026 Island Hot List. The report implies island getaways are greatly in demand at the moment, with increased interest across internet searches, as well as social media.

So where are travelers headed? Expedia feels the following destinations are the current top favorites:

• Lucia
• Porto Santo, Madeira, Portugal
• Praslin, Seychelles
• Syros, Greece
• Lofoten Islands, Norway
• Palawan, Philippines
• Culebra, Puerto Rico
• Sanibel Island, Florida
• Phu Quoc, Vietnam
• Fiji

As you can see, these are not just islands travelers can easily get to on a budget, or islands that are quick to reach from the U.S. mainland. Islands all over the world are represented, offering a blend of nature, culture, tranquility and seclusion.

However, Expedia went out of the way to call out two islands in particular (and they’re not even islands that made the above list of top 10 favs!). From its findings, Expedia decided Cape Verde was the top soccer-inspired island destination of the year, due to recent World Cup interest. It then named Great Stirrup Cay as the best private island for cruises.

“Islands don’t just satisfy the urge to get away; they can also be one of the smartest vacation values, thanks to all-inclusive resorts and bundle savings on Expedia,” said Melanie Fish, vice president of public relations, Expedia Group Brands. “The list was finalized until two destinations generated so much buzz from cruise travelers and soccer fans that we had to give them awards of their own.”