Island escapes have lengthy been related to tranquillity, crystalline waters lapping powder-soft sands on which palm bushes rustle and hammocks sway in the breeze.
2025’s frontrunners included the Isles of Scilly in the UK, the Greek island of Naxos and the Brazilian Fernando de Noronha, whereas the Turks and Caicos claimed the title of the finest islands in the Caribbean and the Atlantic.
However, with every new 12 months comes a brand new wave of islands thrown into the highlight, whether or not due to rising social media trends, a movie or sequence that showcases the better of a vacation spot or just phrase of mouth.
Ahead of our summer season 2026 jetsetting, TravelSupermarket has pulled the information on which island destinations are capturing our imaginations.
As anticipated, Greece dominates, with searches for the glittering island of Zante up 269 per cent year-on-year, suggesting it’s rising as the Mediterranean hotspot to look at. Kos additionally graces the top ten, whereas the glitz and glamour of Mykonos nonetheless enchantment, as the search for 2026 breaks on the island has risen by 126 per cent.
While a lot of the islands we’re looking out for are long-time favourites, from Cyprus to Antigua, the top-trending island is the most shocking entry – Gozo, the second-largest island in the Maltese archipelago.
The extraordinary 1,703 per cent enhance in curiosity is basically attributed to the launch of Ridley Scott’s epic Gladiator II, with travellers looking for out the rugged, untouched Mediterranean aesthetic depicted on the massive display. “The Gladiator II impact on Gozo has been outstanding,” says Chris Webber, head of holidays and offers at TravelSupermarket. “We’re seeing holidaymakers actively searching for this quieter island that offers ancient history, dramatic landscapes and a more authentic Mediterranean experience. Malta itself is also performing strongly with a 95 per cent increase, but Gozo’s explosion in interest shows that travellers are increasingly seeking out lesser-known destinations with genuine cultural depth.”