National Geographic releases its 2026 Best of the World list

Beijing, Rio, and Pittsburgh have been included in National Geographic’s 2026 Best of the World list, CNN reports.

The list includes 25 must-visit destinations chosen by National Geographic’s international team of editors and explorers.

CNN caught up with Nathan Lump, editor-in-chief of the 137-year-old magazine, to find out what made the list and why.

“Pittsburgh is a favorite city of mine in America,” Lump says.

The recommended cities in Europe are Oulu in Finland, Guimarães in Portugal and Hull in England.

Rwanda’s Akagera National Park has been selected by National Geographic as somewhere to see the safari “big five” (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalo) but with much fewer humans spoiling your view.