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These are the top trending island destinations for 2026
Island escapes have long been associated with tranquillity, crystalline waters lapping powder-soft sands on which palm trees rustle and hammocks sway in the breeze.
Brits feel particularly drawn to island adventures, as the many thousands of votes in Condé Nast Traveller’s Readers’ Choice Awards display. 2025’s frontrunners included the Isles of Scilly in the UK, the Greek island of Naxos, and the Brazilian Fernando de Noronha, while the Turks and Caicos claimed the title of the best islands in the Caribbean and the Atlantic.
However, with each new year comes a new wave of islands thrown into the spotlight, whether thanks to emerging social media trends, a film or series that showcases the best of a destination, or simply word of mouth.
Ahead of our summer 2026 jetsetting, TravelSupermarket has pulled the data on which island destinations are capturing our imaginations.
As expected, Greece dominates, with searches for the glittering island of Zante up 269 per cent year-on-year, suggesting it’s emerging as the Mediterranean hotspot to watch. Kos also graces the top ten, while the glitz and glamour of Mykonos still appeal, as the search for 2026 breaks on the island has risen by 126 per cent.
While many of the islands we’re searching for are long-time favourites, from Cyprus to Antigua, the top-trending island is the most surprising entry – Gozo, the second-largest island in the Maltese archipelago.
The extraordinary 1,703 per cent increase in interest is largely attributed to the release of Ridley Scott’s epic Gladiator II, with travellers seeking out the rugged, untouched Mediterranean aesthetic depicted on the big screen. “The Gladiator II effect on Gozo has been remarkable,” says Chris Webber, head of holidays and deals at TravelSupermarket. “We’re seeing holidaymakers actively searching for this quieter island that offers ancient history, dramatic landscapes, and a more authentic Mediterranean experience. Malta itself is also performing strongly with a 95 per cent increase, but Gozo’s explosion in interest shows that British travellers are increasingly seeking out lesser-known destinations with genuine cultural depth.”
Below is the full list of the top trending island destinations for 2026, accompanied by the year-on-year search increase.
The top 10 trending islands for 2026
1. Gozo: +1,703%
2. Sri Lanka: +605%
3. Zante: +269%
4. Mauritius: +264%
5. Fuerteventura: +139%
6. Kos: +136%
7. Mykonos: +126%
8. Antigua: +106%
9. Cyprus: +104%
10. Malta: +95%
