10 Cultural Travel Trends for 2026: From Treasure Islands to Underwater Museums
A study conducted by Ipsos Brand Equity Monitor indicates that travelers from France favor cultural city excursions over relaxation and prefer heritage exploration to shopping. To cater to these culturally inclined tourists, tour operators are organizing art-related events. Hotels such as La Colombe d'Or and La Ferme Saint Siméon highlight their artistic themes, while La Residencia in Mallorca accommodates artists-in-residence. Cultural attractions are now providing overnight lodging options, including Château La Coste and Martin's Patershof. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's yacht Ilma showcases pieces by famous artists. Underwater art experiences feature sculptures by Jason deCaires Taylor. In 2020, Greece unveiled a shipwreck site dating back to the 5th century BC. Urban art trails and events like Art Basel are boosting travel, with European Capitals of Culture, including Trenčín, Slovakia (2026), attracting more visitors.
Key facts
- Ipsos study shows French prefer cultural city trips over leisure.
- La Residencia in Deià hosts artists-in-residence and has over 600 works.
- Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine is a 12th-century abbey turned hotel with 200 artworks.
- The Ritz-Carlton Ilma yacht features nearly 700 artworks by major artists.
- JR designed a carriage for the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
- Jason deCaires Taylor created underwater sculptures in Cancún and Cannes.
- Greece opened a 5th-century BC shipwreck site off Alonissos in 2020.
- Trenčín, Slovakia, is European Capital of Culture 2026 with pre-event visitor growth.
Entities
Artists
- Antoni Gaudí
- Eun-Me Ahn
- JR
- Juan Waelder
- Joan Miró
- Cecilie Sheridan
- Jean-François Fourtou
- Antonia Fiermonte
- René Letourneur
- Jacques Zwobada
- Eugene Kangawa
- Pia Maria Raeder
- Pablo Picasso
- Andy Warhol
- David Hockney
- Guy Boyer
- Christelle Téa
- Jason deCaires Taylor
- Marc Petit
- Benoît de Souza
- Christophe Charbonnel
- Évelyne Galinski
- Nils-Udo
- Phyllida Barlow
- Piet Oudolf
- Luis Laplace
- Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo
- Henrique Oliveira
- Marc Chagall
- Alexander Calder
- Mathieu Lehanneur
- Iveta Niňajová
- Claude Monet
- Marcel Proust
Institutions
- Ipsos
- Brand Equity Monitor
- Connaissance des Arts
- Fondation du Patrimoine
- La Colombe d'Or
- Ferme Saint Siméon
- Minos Beach Art Hotel
- La Residencia
- Belmond
- LVMH
- Galleria Continua
- Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine
- Château La Coste
- Dar El Sadaka
- Martin's Patershof
- Fiermonte Museum
- MACAM – Museu de Arte Contemporânea Armando Martins
- Eugene Museum
- The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
- Ponant
- Ponant Explorations Group
- Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
- Hauser & Wirth
- Fundación Hospital
- Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo
- Art Touraine
- AirMagic France
- Hero Balloon Flights Saudi
- UNESCO
- Desert X
- Le Voyage à Nantes
- Un été au Havre
- Annecy Paysages
- Forest Travel
- Airbnb
- Art Basel
- Centre for Contemporary Art Tashkent
- Visit Košice
- Arts et Vie
- Eurostar
- Swiss Travel System
- Swiss Coupon Pass
Locations
- France
- Saint-Paul-de-Vence
- Honfleur
- Crete
- Deià
- Majorca
- Spain
- Valladolid
- Marrakech
- Morocco
- Mechelen
- Belgium
- Lecce
- Italy
- Lisbon
- Portugal
- Bali
- Indonesia
- Monte-Carlo
- Rome
- Athens
- Greece
- Malta
- Epidaurus
- Mycenae
- Puglia
- Sicily
- Cancún
- Mexico
- Cannes
- Ajaccio
- Marseille
- Alonissos
- Florida Keys
- United States
- Hydra
- Naoshima
- Japan
- Porquerolles
- Isla del Rey
- Menorca
- Port Mahon
- San Giacomo
- Venice
- Loire Valley
- Chenonceau
- Amboise
- Chaumont-sur-Loire
- Cheverny
- AlUla
- Saudi Arabia
- Hegra
- Teotihuacán
- Nantes
- Le Havre
- Annecy
- Chicago
- Paris
- Erriadh
- Djerba
- Tunisia
- Basel
- Switzerland
- Miami
- Tashkent
- Uzbekistan
- Košice
- Slovakia
- Trenčín
- Reus
- Barcelona
- Giverny
- Illiers-Combray
- Rouen
- Trouville-sur-Mer
- Cabourg
- Austria
- Hungary
- Germany