2026 Readers' Choice signals Asia's rise, Condé Nast Traveler says

Condé Nast Traveler's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards are on the way, and the editor's letter introducing them makes one trend clear: Asia is having a moment. In the magazine's November 2026 issue, the editor writes that the message from readers is that Asia is more enticing than ever.

Japan has been booming since the pandemic, the editor notes. On a recent first trip, the editor was in Osaka and Kyoto during cherry blossom season, calling the early-morning e-bike rides amid the blooms "one of my most enchanting travel memories."

Thailand continues to pull travelers back, the editor says, citing wellness retreats, destination weddings, Bangkok's street food and cocktail bars, and beach-villa holidays. The editor says Bangkok seems particularly alive, and the issue spotlights new energy along the Chao Phraya River, with old neighborhoods, contemporary art, restaurants, and iconic hotels.

But what connects these places isn't just scenery or food, the editor argues. It's hospitality. The editor points to India's "atithi devo bhava" (the guest is akin to God), Japan's omotenashi (anticipating a guest's needs), and Thailand's nam jai (generosity without expectation). The common thread: Hospitality is not a transaction but part of the culture.

That's why Asia's appeal will only grow, the editor predicts. Japan is no longer a discovery but a pilgrimage, Thailand is as fresh as ever, India evokes a multitude of emotions, and China is poised to be one of the great travel stories of 2027.

The full Readers' Choice Awards will reveal which places readers ranked highest. Given the editor's letter, expect Asian destinations and hotels to feature prominently.

• Asia
• Condé Nast Traveler
• hospitality
• Japan
• Readers' Choice Awards
• Thailand