Planning Your Second-Half 2026 Holiday? Here’s Where to Go

If a getaway is on your wish list for the back half of 2026, you’ve picked a clever time to travel. The months from July to December line up beautifully with the cooler, quieter shoulder seasons in many of the world’s most sought-after destinations — which often means smaller crowds, gentler prices and far more breathing room than the chaos of peak summer.

To help you decide where to point your suitcase, we’ve looked at where Australia and New Zealand’s savviest travellers are heading next year. According to the 2026 Virtuoso Luxe Report — an annual survey of more than 2,400 travel advisers worldwide, including over 300 across Australia and New Zealand — Japan has knocked Italy off the top spot for the first time, with Greece, Croatia and Fiji rounding out the most-wanted list. Here’s a closer look at each, and why the second half of the year is such a good time to go.

Japan has surged in popularity in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. It’s the kind of destination that rewards you whatever you’re after — Tokyo’s neon-lit buzz, Kyoto’s serene temples, world-class food at every price point, or simply autumn’s spectacular foliage. A favourable exchange rate has been an added drawcard for travellers from this part of the world, too.

Autumn is exactly where the second half of the year shines. September and October bring welcome relief from the summer humidity, with pleasant sightseeing weather, while the famous fall colours peak from mid-November into early December. A quick tip: try to sidestep Japan’s domestic holiday peaks, particularly Silver Week in mid-September, when popular spots get busy.

Italy has been a perennial favourite for travellers down under, and while the headlines about overtourism and summer crowds are real, that’s all the more reason to travel later in the year. By autumn the heat eases, the queues at the Colosseum and the Vatican thin out, and the country settles back into its everyday rhythm — arguably the most pleasant way to experience it. It’s the season for long, unhurried lunches and wandering ancient streets without jostling for space.

Greece is forever on the wish list, and the second half of the year is arguably the sweet spot to visit. Climbing the Acropolis in the 38°C heat of high summer is nobody’s idea of fun — but come September and October, the temperature drops to comfortable levels, sightseeing and island-hopping become a pleasure again, and the crowds disperse. As a bonus, Athens’ theatre and opera season kicks off in October. Just check ahead, as some island hotels and archaeological sites wind down their hours after summer.

Croatia has exploded in popularity — Dubrovnik’s Game of Thrones fame certainly helped — and the country’s striking coastline, red-roofed old towns and island-dotted Adriatic deliver on every bit of the hype. Travelling outside peak summer is the way to go: you’ll spare yourself the cruise-ship crowds and enjoy the medieval towns and turquoise water at a far more relaxed pace.

If long-haul flights aren’t your thing, Fiji is the easy answer — it’s the nearest of these five to home, with reliably warm weather and that switch-off-the-moment-you-land feeling. It’s a particular favourite for families and milestone celebrations, and its proximity makes it one of the simplest international trips to pull off, whatever time of year you go.

If you love the idea of Europe but not the crowds, travel advisers are increasingly steering people toward lower-key alternatives that capture the same charm with fewer tourists: Malta’s historic towns, Montenegro’s intimate Adriatic resorts, Albania’s sun-soaked Riviera and Latvia’s striking, Art Nouveau-filled Riga are all having a moment as quieter stand-ins for the likes of Italy and Croatia.

It’s also worth remembering you needn’t go far at all. Closer to home, a fly-drive through wine country, a Queensland reef-and-islands escape, the natural drama of New Zealand’s South Island, or a Pacific cruise can deliver a memorable trip with none of the jet lag.

The single biggest advantage of a second-half 2026 holiday is timing. For Japan, Italy, Greece and Croatia, the autumn shoulder season delivers most of the magic with fewer crowds and milder weather — while Fiji stays reliably accessible all year. Whichever way you lean, it pays to book ahead: locking in flights and accommodation early is the surest way to keep your pick of dates open.

Wherever you end up, the trend among today’s travellers is clear — it’s less about ticking boxes and more about a trip that feels genuinely worth the journey.