Events worth travelling for in 2027

As summer holidays wrap up, there’s a change in the air. There’s back-to-school energy, and summer languor segues into routine, planning, and looking forward. Spoiler: there are great times ahead. Specifically, 2027. There’s a slew of good things we’re adding to our agenda.

So! We’ve done the (slightly obsessive) looking ahead so you don’t have to. Our top good things worth making a journey for, so you can be the first to lock in before the rest. On the list: arts! Culture! Sports events so good they get even the stubbornly un-sporty in the spirit! Natural wonders that will stop you in your tracks (pardon the pun). Read on for our top trip ideas to make 2027 one for the books.

Jason Howell

The 2027 total solar eclipse

Consider the recent eclipse a warm-up. The 2027 total solar eclipse is shaping up to be the event of the century. Top viewing locations like Málaga or Tangier are already booking up amongst avid eclipse-chasers willing to splurge, but lesser-known spots in Tunisia will still offer an awe-inspiring 98% coverage.

John Cameron

UCI cycle championships

In 2027, the world’s greatest cycling event will be hosted in France’s cycling heartland: Haute-Savoie. If you ever thought cycling was just one sport, the UCI Championships will make you think again, with everything from BMX to time trials around Lake Annecy, para-cycling to the legendary Domancy mountain climb.

Europeana

Bühnenbild: Die Walküre von Josef Hoffmann

Munich Opera festival 

A complete 16-hour Ring Cycle might not be the most accessible entry point to opera, but for Wagner lovers, the Bavarian State Opera will deliver a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle filled with all the drama you'd expect. (Don’t worry, the four operas are performed over consecutive days).

Jose Santos

Évora: European Capital of Culture for 2027

Forget heaving museums; the Portuguese city of Évora has been named European Capital of Culture based on the local Alentejo concept of "Vagar": an awareness of the interconnectedness of all things and the art of unhurried living. Feel it while listening to traditional Cante Alentejano singing, dining in courtyard restaurants, or exploring the UNESCO-listed Roman Templo de Diana.

National Gallery of Art

Parlor in Pullman Coach c. 1940 Perkins Harnly Associated Names Perkins Harnly Artist, American, 1901 - 1986

Unveiling of the new L'Orient Express

Granted, it's not an 'event' in the literal sense, but a journey on the soon-to-be-unveiled L'Orient Express turns the transit into an occasion of a lifetime. New for 2027, but with 17 fully restored original 1920s and 1930s carriages, this is a lavish tribute to the most opulent era of rail travel. 

James Jeremy Beckers

Beethoven’s 200th death anniversary

From 9 to 23 May 2027, Festival Leipzig will pay tribute to the 200th death anniversary of Beethoven. The internationally acclaimed Gewandhaus concert hall will host an eclectic concert series ranging from classical performances from the in-house Gewandhausorchester (the oldest civic orchestra in the world) to contemporary reimaginings of the composer's lesser-known works.