The first half of 2026 may be drawing to a close, but the year’s biggest travel stories are still unfolding. Across the globe, a host of highly anticipated hotel openings, museum launches, festivals and milestone celebrations are set to take place over the coming months.
From the debut of Japan’s remarkable HOSHINOYA Nara Prison Hotel to the opening of Memphis’ highly anticipated new art museum and iconic anniversaries such as Red Rocks Amphitheatre turning 85, here are the key travel openings and events to watch in the second half of 2026.
HOTEL OPENINGS
White Elephant Aspen – Aspen, Colorado (June)
The White Elephant Aspen will officially open its doors on 15 June, just steps from Aspen’s charming downtown. Marking the Rocky Mountain debut of the celebrated Nantucket-based White Elephant Resorts, the new luxury property brings the brand’s signature blend of refined hospitality, understated elegance and boutique service to Aspen for the first time. The hotel will also introduce LoLa 41°, the acclaimed seafood and sushi restaurant, alongside an intimate new speakeasy lounge and summer amenities like free bicycle hire. Rooms from £569 per night during the summer. aspenchamber.org
HOSHINOYA Nara Prison Hotel – Nara Prefecture, Japan (June)
Openings to the public on 25 June 2026 include, HOSHINOYA Nara Prison is one of the country’s most ambitious adaptive-reuse projects of the year. The 48-room luxury hotel is carved out of the red-brick Meiji-era penitentiary that closed in 2017 and is now a designated Important Cultural Property. Located just north of Nara Park’s temples and free-roaming deer, the hotel also houses the Nara Prison Museum which opened on 27 April, allowing guests and day visitors to learn more about the history of the iconic building. visitnara.jp/
Amanvari – Los Cabos, Mexico (August)
Amanvari, the boutique resort by the acclaimed Aman brand, is opening on 1st August in Los Cabos, Mexico. Situated within the Costa Palmas community on the East Cape, Amanvari will feature just 18 freestanding casitas along with private residences, a signature Aman Spa, and refined dining concepts that combine Italian, Japanese and regional cuisine. This intimate, ultra-luxury hideaway underscores a growing trend in Los Cabos towards less-crowded and deeply personalised escapes. visitloscabos.travel
Villa Florhof – Zurich, Switzerland (opening summer 2026)
Set within a beautifully preserved 15th century townhouse in Zurich’s Old Town, the tradition-steeped Hotel Florhof will reopen as Villa Florhof, a boutique hotel from the luxury brand Lalique. The property offers an intimate atmosphere with 13 elegant rooms and suites, blending original historic elements with contemporary Lalique design. Guests will enjoy a garden terrace and a refined restaurant, as well as a bar, lounge and fumoir, with a historic vaulted vine cellar forming the foundations of the house. Rates to be confirmed. zuerich.com/en
PUBLIC West Hollywood – California (opening summer 2026)
One of the most anticipated hotel launches of the year, PUBLIC West Hollywood embraces a fresh take on “luxury for all” with stylish design, social spaces, and dining destinations built right in. Located on the iconic Sunset Strip, this 137‑room property from industry legend Ian Schrager will feature a vibrant lobby “social hub,” multiple eateries and bars, and a 16,000‑square‑foot rooftop terrace with panoramic city views, perfect for cocktails at sunset or late‑night gatherings. visitwesthollywood.com
Denū Hotel & Spa – Phoenix, Arizona (September)
Denū Hotel & Spa is now taking reservations from 26 September 2026. Located in the heart of Downtown Phoenix, the property draws inspiration from Arizona’s desert’s energy, and encourages guests to embrace renewal by unwinding at the full-service wellness spa and soaking in the rooftop pool overlooking the stunning city skyline. This new lifestyle hotel will feature 236 rooms, 16 suites, an urban-designed presidential suite and more than 22,000 square feet of meetings and event space. visitarizona.com
Le Méridien Toronto Pinnacle Hotel – Toronto, Canada (November)
Le Méridien Toronto Pinnacle Hotel is set to open in early November, located on Toronto’s waterfront it will be Canada’s tallest building, and the first building in the country to exceed 100 floors. Combining Le Méridien’s European sophistication with dramatic city views, the property promises to become a new architectural and cultural landmark. Guests will be able to enjoy wellness amenities including a fitness center, spa, sauna, and steam room and sample delicious cuisine, all just steps from Toronto’s iconic attractions like the CN Tower, Union Station, Scotiabank Arena, and the city’s vibrant cultural hubs. destinationtoronto.com
MUSEUM EXHIBITION OPENINGS
Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America – Pueblo, Colorado (12 June)
Set to become a cultural cornerstone in southern Colorado, the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America will bring the genius of the Renaissance to life through hands-on exhibits, immersive galleries and full-scale reconstructions of da Vinci’s visionary machines. Opening on 12 June 2026 it will be the largest museum dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci in North America. colorado.com
Lucas Museum of Narrative Art – Los Angeles (22 September)
Slated to open in September 2026 in Los Angeles’ Exposition Park, the highly anticipated Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will showcase storytelling through painting, photography, film and sculpture in its impressive 100,000 square feet. The 11-acre campus not only features the 5-story museum, but also includes a rolling landscape of greenery and parkland. Founded by filmmaker George Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson, Co-CEO President of Ariel Investments, the museum will also feature dynamic learning opportunities for visitors. VisitCalifornia.com
Destination Discovery at Saint Louis Zoo – Missouri (Autumn)
Saint Louis Zoo is set to unveil Destination Discovery, a new 2.8-acre interactive area for children and families. Opening in 2026, the attraction combines play, animal encounters and conservation education to inspire a deeper connection with nature. Visitors can explore habitats featuring river otters, flamingos, coatis and babydoll sheep, enjoy water-play features, climb adventure structures and meet animal ambassadors. The area also includes a 15,000-square-foot Conservation Education Building that will expand preschool, camp and learning programmes. explorestlouis.com
Memphis Art Museum – Tennessee (December)
A major cultural moment for the city as it gains 600 percent more art-filled free and public spaces, the new Memphis Art Museum, designed by Herzog & de Meuron with local firm archimania, will open its doors in December. Built to house the Brooks Museum’s 9,000-piece collection spanning 5,000 years of art and culture, the design of the venue itself was imagined as Memphis’ living room, enticing visitors in from Front Street. The museum will feature a striking 50,000 sq ft rooftop sculpture park overlooking the Mississippi River. memphistravel.com
ANNIVERSARIES
Red Rocks Amphitheatre celebrates 85 Years (July)
One of the world’s most iconic music venues, Red Rocks Amphitheatre celebrates its 85th anniversary this year with a blockbuster summer lineup including Rod Stewart, Paul Simon, Sting and Mt. Joy. Just outside downtown Denver, the open-air venue has hosted legends from The Beatles to U2 and remains one of the city’s biggest cultural draws thanks to its dramatic sandstone setting and legendary natural acoustics. visitdenver.com
The Loneliest Road in America turns 100, Nevada
Although U.S. Route 50 was officially added to the U.S. Highway System in 1926, the now-famous nickname “The Loneliest Road in America” was coined by Life magazine in 1986, when an article described the route as having “no points of interest”. Today, the 400 mile route from Carson City to Utah offers visitors must-see stops including the Shoe Tree, a 600-ft high sand dune that sings, vintage steam trains, and the epic Great Basin National Park. travelnevada.com
Providence Park at 100, Portland (October)
One of the most historic and storied stadiums in the USA turns 100 years old this year. The most visible city-wide celebration will be on the pitch as the Portland Timbers soccer team announce their 2026 Away Kit dedicated entirely to the anniversary of the park. The jersey features a unique Ice Yellow base with Silver Green accents inspired by the stadium’s iconic archways that run along the exterior – a feature that has remained since the original 1926 construction. travelportland.com
Anderson Ranch Arts Center commemorates 60 years – Snowmass Village, Colorado
Anderson Ranch Arts Center will celebrate 60 years as Snowmass Village’s leading creative institution and one of the USA’s foremost centres for contemporary art education, known for its artist residencies, exhibitions and workshops. Highlights will include the 2026 Summer Series: Featured Artists & Conversations (9 July-6 August) and Ranch Week (13-18 July), culminating in the Ranch Gala honouring artist Marilyn Minter and the annual Ranch Picnic and Auction. gosnowmass.com
EVENTS
The Méribel Trail and New Night Run – Méribel (7-9 August)
For travellers whose idea of holiday hell is sitting on a sun lounger, the Méribel Trail returns, bringing together mountain running enthusiasts for a weekend of high-altitude challenge. New for 2026, La Nocturne des Crêtes (Friday 7 August) introduces a semi-nocturnal 22km race with 1,100m of elevation gain, where runners – solo or in pairs – take to the trails as dusk falls. Alongside this exciting new event, the festival offers distances ranging from 10 to 50km, with each route winding through technical, exposed and beautifully wild terrain, from steep climbs to sweeping ridgelines. meribel.net/en/
59th Carnegie International, Carnegie Museum of Art – Pittsburgh (2 May 2026 – 3 January 2027) Established in 1896 by Andrew Carnegie, the Carnegie International is held every four years at the Carnegie Museum of Art (CMOA) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the oldest recurring survey of contemporary art in North America and the second-oldest in the world (just behind the Venice Biennale). The 59th edition stands out as one of the most collaborative and community-entwined iterations in the exhibition’s long history. This year’s exhibition takes its title “If the word we” from a concept by writer Haytham el-Wardany and features 61 artists and collections with historic emphasis on brand-new art-featuring a record breaking 36 newly commissioned works. visitpittsburgh.com
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