A quick guide to some of the places we think will be influential and important for leisure travellers in 2026

Skagen is Denmark's extraordinary northern outpost, where two seas meet at Grenen and generations of artists have been drawn by the remarkable light. Discover its painters, museums, seafood, Nordic cuisine, cider and fascinating links with Cornwall's Newlyn School.

What is the food like in Skagen? I explore this remarkable corner of northern Denmark through its seafood, Nordic cooking and local produce, from harbour restaurants and historic hotels to fishcakes, smørrebrød and a surprising Danish cider scene.

While the UK barely scores one-out-of-ten for joined-up food policy, Denmark is serving over a million public meals a day—90% of which are organic—for less than £2 a head. From a symposium at the Danish Embassy in London, Martin Hesp explores the 'Organic Cuisine Label,' the 'industrial pig in the room,' and why education, rather than a 'nanny state,' is the key to fixing a broken food system. Includes an award-winning recipe for traditional Danish pan-fried fish cakes

From Kolding and Vejle to the Viking monuments at Jelling, Martin Hesp travels by train into the heart of Denmark, discovering the landscapes, history and people behind the Viking story.

Could Denmark be the answer to Europe's increasingly hot summers? I discover Kystlandet on Jutland's eastern coast, with quiet beaches, islands, forests, cycling trails, Danish food and some wonderfully uncrowded coastal scenery.

Has Noma transformed the way Copenhagen eats? Martin Hesp explores the Danish capital's food scene, from a remarkable Noma-inspired burger to magnificent smørrebrød and modern Danish cooking.

Escape to Tunø, Denmark's charming car-free island, where dramatic coastal walks, quiet beaches, traditional cottages and slow island living create the perfect Scandinavian getaway.

Alrø Island is a peaceful corner of Denmark's Kystlandet, reached across Horsens Fjord and offering quiet coastal landscapes, walking and cycling, fascinating history and some memorable local food.