EBS STAFF
A report by popular travel platform Expedia identified Big Sky as Destination of the Year and the top trending travel destination for 2026. Pulling data from 24,000 travelers across 18 countries, Big Sky saw a 92% increase in flight and accommodation searches in 2025 compared to 2024.
Other high-ranking interest destinations include Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; and Phu Quoc, Vietnam.
Expedia also introduced the Smart Travel Health Check for the first time based on a 2025 report by the World Travel and Tourism Council. The WTTC call to action challenges travel destinations to address overcrowding through evidence-based approaches to sustainable tourism.
Actions like community impact, environmental stewardship and long-term planning are required to be highlighted by Expedia in the Smart Travel Health Check framework, according to a news release from Visit Big Sky on Oct. 20. Big Sky was awarded that check by Expedia this year.
“Big Sky’s recognition as the top trending destination underscores what locals and longtime visitors already know. This is a place where adventure and awe-inspiring landscapes come together in a way that’s truly special,” Brad Niva, CEO of Visit Big Sky, stated in the release. “We work hard to balance the benefits of tourism with our responsibility to protect what makes Big Sky unique, ensuring the visitor economy thrives while listening to and supporting the residents who call this place home.”
The release noted new tourism attractions and accommodations coming to Big Sky soon, including One&Only Moonlight Basin, Kircliff, an all-glass viewing platform on Lone Mountain, Explorer Gondola, and a culinary residency by Chef Grant Achatz and The Alinea Group. They also mentioned the opening of Gravity Haus Big Sky in July, a new boutique lodging option in Town Center.
