The annual list of new UNESCO World Heritage Sites is a treasure trove of fascinating destinations for travelers looking to immerse themselves in some of the most culturally rich places on Earth.
Think of the World Heritage List as a highlight reel of more than a thousand meaningful locations around the world, including wild landscapes, ancient ruins, significant historical sites, and more.
In late July, the World Heritage Committee met to consider new proposals for inscriptions on the list and named 23 new sites, each one deemed a place of “outstanding universal value.” In order to receive the designation, each site must also fulfill at least one of 10 UNESCO criteria, such as exhibiting “exceptional natural beauty” or qualifying as a “masterpiece of human creative genius.”
This year’s crop of nearly two dozen new World Heritage Sites is an exciting melange of well-preserved historical landmarks, architectural gems, and diverse natural wonders across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North and South America. Here’s a look at four of UNESCO’s new World Heritage Sites that are worth planning a trip around in 2026—starting with one right here in the United States.
The Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge, United States
Imagine sailing by impossibly tall, moss-draped pines that sprout from glass-like waters while alligators and egrets glide by. That’s just a small taste of what the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge holds within its more than 400,000 stunning and mysterious acres. Spanning the Florida–Georgia state borders, this “vast and globally unique subtropical peatland” is an endangered ecosystem unique to the Southeastern United States of which less than 3% remains intact. Okefenokee is also home to at least 856 species of plants, 48 species of mammals, 238 species of birds, 39 species of fish, and 90 species of amphibians and reptiles. It’s an important refuge for migratory birds as well as many threatened species of animal and plant life. Visitors will spot creatures like sandhill cranes, red-shouldered hawks, river otters, and American alligators. Not only is it a vital ecosystem, but the refuge is also of great cultural and spiritual significance to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, as well as other Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral homelands surround Okefenokee.
How to visit: Okefenokee Park is open to the public. Travelers can hike the numerous wilderness trails that wind through the sprawling wetlands, rent kayaks or canoes to paddle across the swamp waters, or book guided boat excursions through the park’s official tour provider Okefenokee Adventures.