Category Events, Tourism, Organisations & Operators

The global tourism industry has evolved far beyond the search for holiday destinations; it is now a massive economy shaped by technology, sustainability, and strategic partnerships. At the heart of this economic momentum, Istanbul is preparing to host one of the sector’s most prestigious gatherings: the Istanbul Tourism Fair (ITF). Scheduled for September 24-25, 2026, this major organization brings tourism professionals together under a single strategic roof at the crossroads of continents.

World Travel Awards (WTA) has announced that the paradise nation of the Maldives will host its Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2026, with travel industry leaders from across the region gathering for a prestigious VIP reception on 27 September 2026 to coincide with World Tourism Day.

The ceremony heralds the return of the Indian Ocean leg of the World Travel Awards Grand Tour, an annual series of red carpet events hosted in each continent. The decision reflects the strength of the travel and tourism sector in the Maldives and its leadership in the luxury, sustainability and experiential travel domains.

So after incredible scenes yesterday, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is now fully set, and with 48 nations heading to the United States, Canada and Mexico, this is not only football’s biggest stage, it is also one of the biggest tourism showcases on the planet. For some teams, the story is pure football pedigree. For others, it is also about destination power, visitor scale, global recognition and the chance to turn tournament visibility into future demand. France remains the world’s most visited destination on the latest comparable figures, with 102 million international tourists in 2024, ahead of Spain on 93.8 million and the United States on 72.4 million, while Turkey, Mexico, Germany and Japan all arrive with huge tourism weight of their own. Sport and tourism are now so tightly bound together, from airlines sponsoring stadiums to destinations sponsoring shirts, that the two are increasingly inseparable. So with that in mind, Breaking Travel News’ football fanatic Editor in Chief Justin “You’ll Never Walk Alone” Cooke has taken huge liberty and attempted to fuse football with tourism data to create his own ranking for who comes out on top at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Planting a cocoa sapling, making beauty products featuring cocoa and sea moss along with tasting, making and cooking with chocolate are just some of the experiences on offer in the 2026 Grenada Chocolate Festival, 22-27 May. 

The programme features tours, tastings and hands on workshops to help visitors gain a deeper understanding of the ‘tree to bar’ journey to transform cocoa pods on the tree into delicious chocolate and much more.

Planting a cocoa sapling, making beauty products featuring cocoa and sea moss along with tasting, making and cooking with chocolate are just some of the experiences on offer in the 2026 Grenada Chocolate Festival, 22-27 May. 

The programme features tours, tastings and hands on workshops to help visitors gain a deeper understanding of the ‘tree to bar’ journey to transform cocoa pods on the tree into delicious chocolate and much more.

The National Football League announced that Las Vegas will host Super Bowl LXIII in 2029 at Allegiant Stadium.

The announcement was made today at the NFL Annual Meeting in Phoenix, following a review by the NFL’s Fan Engagement & Major Events Committee and a vote by full ownership.

The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, in partnership with the Division of Festivals, announces the highly anticipated lineup for the 74th Annual St. Thomas Carnival Village, showcasing an exciting mix of homegrown, regional, and international talent.

Headlined by hip-hop icon Busta Rhymes, and award-winning St. Thomas–born duo R. City, this year’s Village concerts celebrate the vibrant culture and musical diversity of the Caribbean and the Virgin Islands.

Today, Disneyland Paris enters a bold new chapter with the opening of World of Frozen and the unveiling of its reimagined second park, now renamed Disney Adventure World. This landmark transformation represents one of the most ambitious expansions in the resort’s history, offering guests fully immersive worlds inspired by stories from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios and Marvel.

At the heart of this new experience lies Adventure Way, a vibrant promenade designed as a gateway to exploration, featuring landscaped gardens, entertainment and new dining experiences, as well as Raiponce Tangled Spin, a family attraction inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Tangled.

Arabian Travel Market has confirmed that ATM 2026, ATM Travel Tech and IBTM @ ATM have been rescheduled to 17–20 August 2026, having originally been due to take place 4–7 May 2026. The events will still be held at Dubai World Trade Centre in Dubai. The ATM website states that the change was made due to recent developments in the region and now lists the updated August dates across the event platform.

As Caribbean hoteliers face mounting distribution costs and intensifying competition for direct guest relationships, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and Triptease are bringing proven, revenue-focused solutions to the region. Now in its second year, the Direct Booking Summit (DBS) Caribbean edition returns on Thursday, May 15, 2026, at Sandals Grande Antigua — immediately following the 2026 Caribbean Travel Marketplace.