Why these 3 Utah cities are high journey locations in 2026? – Deseret News

As 2026 kicks off, folks all all over the world are beginning to plan their journey for the yr and plenty of journey publications are suggesting a visit to Utah.

To wrap 2025, journey publications share lists of the highest journey locations for the yr forward, with three completely different Utah cities included on these lists.

Park City, Salt Lake City and Moab all drew notable point out. Here’s a take a look at why journey consultants are telling folks they need to come to Utah, in addition to hotspots all over the world in 2026.

Park City

Park City, and particularly its Deer Valley Resort, was included on a number of lists this yr together with “Forbes Travel Guide’s Top Destinations For 2026” and Condé Nast’s “The Best Places to Go in 2026.”

Experts who counsel touring to Park City focus primarily on snowboarding and different out of doors winter actions.

Forbes highlighted Deer Valley, which just lately expanded its skiable terrain to 4,300 acres and added 100 new ski runs, 10 chairlifts and a gondola. The resort can be engaged on creating Deer Valley East Village, which may have North America’s largest “ski beach” and a brand 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 yr, Park City will proceed to draw many vacationers, particularly through the ski season from early December to mid-April, the report mentioned.

Salt Lake City

Travel + Leisure’s “The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2026” made the case for why vacationers ought to make their method to Utah’s capital this yr.

“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 checklist highlighted Salt Lake City’s Maven District, which is filled with indie outlets, adorned with murals and good eating will be discovered within the close by ninth & ninth neighborhood. Travel + Leisure additionally shined a highlight on the Granary District.

Another motive for touring to Salt Lake City is its shut proximity to out of doors actions resembling climbing and snowboarding.

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 metropolis and the “Mars-like landscape” draw mountain bikers, climbers, off-roaders, photographers, river runners and extra.

Visitors to Moab can enterprise to Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park and discover the three.6 million extra acres managed by the Canyon Country Bureau of Land Management.

Other high locations for 2026

Along with selling these Utah cities, these journey checklist included all kinds of distinctive locations all all over the world, from small beach-front cities to larger cities and escapes within the mountains.

One main vacation spot for 2026 is Milan, which is dwelling to the upcoming Winter Olympics.

There are a couple of different locations within the U.S. which have populated a number of lists. Some of the home locations embrace Sonoma, California; Hudson Valley, New York; and Emerald Coast, Florida.

Some of the extra distinctive locations included within the checklist embrace Gabon, Northern Namibia and Prince Edward County, Canada.

Another massive occasion that can trigger a number of journey is the 2026 FIFA World Cup going down within the United States, Canada and Mexico. The U.S. can be celebrating its 250th anniversary which can embrace plenty of main occasions main as much as and after July 4.