– The Official Grand Opening for Guests Took Place on Sept. 4, 2026, When Norwegian Luna^TM Called to NCL’s Private Island –

Norwegian Cruise Line^® (NCL), the industry leader in delivering freedom and choice in experiences with uncompromising hospitality, hosted government officials, travel partners, media, more than 100 content creators and special guests  for an exclusive preview of Great Tides Waterpark on Great Stirrup Cay, the company’s 270-acre private island destination in The Bahamas.

Ahead of its Sept. 4, 2026 grand opening, the exclusive event gave attendees a first look at the destination’s newest landmark, including thrilling attractions, new culinary offerings and special activations from NCL’s beverage partners – Aperol^®, Coca-Cola^®, Casamigos^™ and Hampton Water^®.

“Great Tides Waterpark represents an exciting new chapter for Great Stirrup Cay and a defining moment for Norwegian Cruise Line,” said Marc Kazlauskas, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. “With our official grand opening just days away on Sept. 4, this event offered a preview of the adventure, flexibility and family fun that awaits our guests. From the 170-foot Tidal Tower and first-of-its-kind slides to the immersive Wandering River, industry-first cliff jumps and interactive splash zones, every element has been thoughtfully designed to create an unforgettable island day for guests of all ages. Combined with the incredible experiences across Great Stirrup Cay, the destination offers families the freedom to enjoy the ultimate vacation day, where no one has to compromise and everyone gets the adventure or relaxation they want.”

Beginning with the ceremonial ribbon cutting, invitees heard from John Chidsey, President and Chief Executive Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.; Marc Kazlauskas, President of Norwegian Cruise Line; Herschel Walker, United States Ambassador to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and Randy Rolle Member of Parliament of Bimini and the Berry Islands.

Following the ceremony, the gates opened for invited guests, including NHL star Taylor Hall of the Carolina Hurricanes and Josh Peck, multi-talented actor, bestselling author and podcast host and creator, to explore the nearly six-acre Great Tides Waterpark and experience many of its signature, and industry-first, attractions firsthand. Throughout the day, attendees enjoyed a variety of curated experiences across Great Tides Waterpark, including partner-hosted hospitality experiences and opportunities to discover the island’s newest offerings.

Highlights from the preview event included:

• Signature partner activations featuring specialty cocktails, beverage tastings, branded giveaways and photo opportunities from Aperol at the Grotto Bar, Casamigos at Floataway Bar along the Wandering River, Coca-Cola by Splash Cay and Hampton Water near Tidal Tower. These experiences will also be available to guests during the official grand opening celebration on Sept. 4, 2026.
• A culinary showcase of Great Tides Waterpark’s newest dining venues featured samples from three new food trucks: barbecue at Low Tide Smoke, seafood favourites at Catch of the Cay and handcrafted ice cream and soft serve at Tidal Treats.
• A vibrant Junkanoo performance celebrated the culture, music and spirit of The Bahamas, bringing colorful energy to the day’s festivities.

At Great Tides Waterpark, one-of-a-kind experiences are available throughout four main areas:

• Tidal Tower, the iconic centerpiece standing at 170-feet tall, featuring eight exhilarating slides including the Tropic Spiral – the first Nautilus slide in the world with large spirals that spin guests into thrilling different directions; the Breakwater Blasters, the industry-first dueling Master Blaster slides in the Caribbean which propel inner-tubes uphill and through steep drops and twists with high-pressure water jets, and many more.
• Cliffside Cove, featuring Cliffside Leap, the industry’s first-ever, and the Caribbean’s tallest cliff jumps, at 10 and 15 feet high; The Great Slide, the Caribbean’s only family slide where four guests can slide down together for an adrenaline rush; and The Fearless Falls slides dropping riders down from five feet above the water.   
• Wandering River, a dynamic river over 800 feet long, features the industry’s first immersive tunnel and swim-up bar, Floataway Bar, alongside the river.  
• Splash Cay, offering over 9,000 square feet of family fun with an oversized tipping bucket holding 300 gallons of water, eight mini-slides and interactive water features.  

The opening of Great Tides Waterpark represents one of the most significant enhancements in Norwegian Cruise Line’s ongoing investment in Great Stirrup Cay. With the recent additions, the new waterpark expands the breadth of experiences available to guests while further strengthening Great Stirrup Cay’s position as a leading private island destination in the Caribbean.

Apart from the new waterpark attraction, the grand 270-acre Great Stirrup Cay offers a breadth of amenities for families, couples, solo travellers and everyone in between for their dream island day. The new Great Life Lagoon, an expansive pool area, offers two swim-up bars, private cabanas and an abundance of complimentary loungers and umbrellas, while Splash Harbor provides families with a fun and complimentary splash pad just steps away from the pool and nearby refreshments. Guests searching for elevated experiences can choose to purchase a day pass for the adults-only Vibe Shore Club featuring premium loungers, cabanas and a dedicated bar; or they can opt to enjoy the great life at Silver Cove by renting a premium air-conditioned villa, booking a day pass or reserving a spa treatment at the Silver Cove Spa. The spacious island invites guests to create their ideal day in paradise, whether relaxing on pristine white-sand beaches with complimentary loungers, diving into adventure with snorkeling gear and paddle boards available to rent, or booking an excursion to zipline from the island’s iconic Flighthouse.

Travellers can visit Great Stirrup Cay year-round, with voyages sailing seasonally from convenient homeports including New York and Philadelphia as well as Florida ports in Miami, Tampa, Orlando (Port Canaveral) and Jacksonville.

Guests may purchase a pass to Great Tides Waterpark by logging into their myNCL account after completing their cruise reservation.

Home to South Africa’s largest concentration of award-winning restaurants, celebrated wine estates, visionary chefs and artisan producers, Stellenbosch once again invites visitors to experience why it is recognised as the country’s leading food and wine destination.

Some destinations are known for great restaurants. Stellenbosch is something else entirely.

Here, award-winning chefs, passionate winemakers, artisan producers, farmers and welcoming hosts come together to create a destination where every meal tells a story. Whether it is an intimate chef’s table, a long table feast among the vines, an innovative tasting menu or a leisurely brunch that turns into an afternoon, food is not simply something you enjoy. It is how you experience Stellenbosch.

It is this extraordinary concentration of chefs, winemakers, farmers, cheesemakers, bakers, distillers, olive producers and hospitality experiences, all within minutes of one another, that makes Stellenbosch unlike anywhere else in South Africa. Every meal begins long before it reaches the table, rooted in exceptional local produce, generations of craftsmanship and a culture that celebrates creativity, collaboration and genuine hospitality.

Recognised by the Eat Out Awards, Gourmet Guide and the World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants, Stellenbosch continues to set the benchmark for culinary excellence in South Africa. Home to some of the country’s most celebrated restaurants and wine estates, the destination has earned a reputation for delivering world-class food and wine experiences that are authentic, innovative and deeply connected to place.

“Taste Stellenbosch is more than a celebration of exceptional food and wine. It is a celebration of the people, passion and craftsmanship that have shaped Stellenbosch into South Africa’s leading food and wine destination,” says Annemie Liebenberg, CEO of Visit Stellenbosch.

“Every chef, winemaker, farmer, artisan producer and host contributes to a culinary story that is uniquely Stellenbosch. Here, remarkable experiences begin with extraordinary ingredients, are brought to life by talented people and shared around tables that inspire conversation, connection and discovery. Taste Stellenbosch invites visitors to slow down, savour every moment and experience a destination where every meal becomes a lasting memory. We hope every visitor leaves inspired, already planning their return, because the very best way to discover Stellenbosch is one unforgettable meal at a time.”

This year’s programme celebrates the remarkable breadth and diversity of Stellenbosch’s culinary landscape. From intimate chef collaborations and immersive food and wine pairings to vineyard feasts, long table gatherings, heritage dining experiences and menus created exclusively for the season, every experience has been thoughtfully curated to showcase the creativity, generosity and unmistakable sense of place that define South Africa’s leading food and wine destination.

“Taste Stellenbosch is an invitation to experience the extraordinary diversity of our destination,” says Daniel Kriel, Chairman of Taste Stellenbosch.

“Whether it is an intimate chef’s table, a vineyard feast, a long lunch with friends or discovering a hidden culinary gem for the first time, every experience has been thoughtfully created by passionate people who love sharing Stellenbosch. Visitors won’t simply enjoy exceptional food and wine. They’ll discover the warmth, creativity and generosity that make this destination so memorable and leave with every reason to return.”

Highlights of Taste Stellenbosch 2026 include:

• De Warenmarkt’s interactive Test Kitchen and Pinotage & Venison Winemakers’ Dinner with Beyerskloof.

• 96 Winery Road Restaurant’s nostalgic four-course celebration of 30 years of Good Food, Good Wine and Good Times.

• HŌSEKI at Delaire Graff Estate’s Nihon Jūdan, an elegant culinary journey through regional Japanese flavours.

• Muratie Farm Kitchen’s Story Room Experience, where exceptional wines, slow-cooked cuisine and heritage storytelling come together.

• Pink Valley Restaurant’s Pink Drinks & Petite Plates experience, pairing rosé wines with beautifully crafted tasting plates.

• Warwick Wine Estate’s signature gourmet slider and wine pairing.

• Lanzerac’s guided Taste Lanzerac experience and Family Style Sundays.

• Klein Joostenberg Bistro’s spectacular long table farm brunch celebrating seasonal produce, artisan charcuterie, oysters and sparkling wine.

But Taste Stellenbosch doesn’t end at the table.

Some places deserve more than a day

Exceptional seasonal accommodation experiences at boutique guesthouses, luxury hotels, vineyard estates and countryside retreats invite visitors to slow down and stay a little longer. Wake up among the vineyards, linger over another breakfast, discover another cellar, book another table and give yourself the greatest luxury of all: another day to experience the flavours, people and unexpected moments that make Stellenbosch unforgettable.

Because the best meals are never rushed. Neither is Stellenbosch.

Taste Stellenbosch accommodation highlights include:

• 10 Alexander B&B: Stay for two nights and savour a third night free at the #1-rated Tripadvisor B&B in Stellenbosch.

• Rozenburg Guesthouse: Stay within walking distance of Stellenbosch’s historic village centre, top restaurants and wineries, and enjoy 30% off your accommodation.

• Spier Wine Farm: Book two nights or more and receive R1,600 credit to indulge across dining, wine and spa experiences.

Discover the full range of participating accommodation at: taste.visitstellenbosch.org/accommodation/

Come hungry. Leave inspired. Return soon.

Taste Stellenbosch runs from 1 August to 20 September 2026.

Discover the full programme of dining experiences, accommodation packages and seasonal inspiration at: taste.visitstellenbosch.org

About Visit Stellenbosch

Visit Stellenbosch is the official destination marketing organisation for Stellenbosch, working in partnership with tourism businesses, local government and industry stakeholders to position Stellenbosch as one of South Africa’s leading year-round leisure, lifestyle and business events destinations. Through strategic destination marketing, visitor services and industry collaboration, Visit Stellenbosch inspires travellers to discover the region’s exceptional wine, award-winning culinary experiences, rich heritage, vibrant culture and breathtaking natural landscapes.

Stellenbosch, South Africa, 7 July 2026: Stellenbosch Wine Routes celebrates an important milestone this year, marking 55 years of championing South African wine tourism and the wines of Stellenbosch. The centrepiece of this occasion is Wine Town Stellenbosch, which brings together wine producers, restaurants, accommodation establishments and visitors for nine days of exceptional wine and food experiences across the region, from 25 July to 2 August.
This year’s programme also incorporates the milestone anniversary through a number of special experiences, collaborations and anniversary events.

Whether you’re a regular to the region or a complete newbie, Wine Town Stellenbosch and the Stellenbosch Wine Festival will be worth your while, serving up outstanding experiences and rare tastings. Best of all – the event prides itself on pitching the broadest insight to Stellenbosch lifestyle, to experienced connoisseurs, newcomers and everyone in between, and completely over-delivering on value.  

If you’ve ever wanted an all-encompassing way to learn about South Africa’s capital of wine and experience the Stellenbosch lifestyle, Wine Town Stellenbosch is it. All in all, this is the attraction: the chance to stay and enjoy the setting of street cafés, galleries, luxurious stays, vineyards, outdoor adventures, a pedestrian-friendly town and most memorable food and wine.

Wine Town Stellenbosch comprises a nine-day programme of experiences taking place across the region that culminates in the Stellenbosch Wine Festival, an all-inclusive walk-around tasting at the City of Oaks’ historic town hall. On offer are specialised wine tours, workshops and curated vertical tastings as well as winemaker lunches and dinners, specials at restaurants around town and tastings hosted exclusively for the run of the event. 

Wine Town officially gets underway on Saturday, 25 July, with an inaugural Wine Town Run/Walk at Dornier Wine Estate, hosted in partnership with Runventure. Participants can choose between a scenic run or walk over 10km or 5km through the vineyards.

As part of the 55th anniversary, Stellenbosch Wine Routes has also introduced Celebrate With Us, a special Wine Town campaign in partnership with selected restaurants. Diners will be welcomed with a complimentary glass of Stellenbosch wine with their meal, inviting guests to raise a toast to over half a decade of exceptional wines, memorable dining and the stories shared around social tables.

The programme, with detailed information for bookings and prices, is available now at https://winetown.wineroute.co.za/.

Wine events for everyone

A host of events is on offer during Wine Town Stellenbosch, and all are popular. If you’re keen to go, best to book early as reservations are limited.

Wilder as die Wildtuin brings together chefs Bertus Basson, Drikus Brink and Michael Fuller for an extraordinary nod to South African venison, featuring game personally hunted by Bertus, paired with Stellenbosch wines and hosted alongside the winemakers for an unforgettable evening of storytelling, food and wine.

Take a Journey into Chenin Blanc, exploring the nuance of terroir at DeMorgenzon Wine Estate. DeMorgenzon’s predominantly south-facing vineyards create cooler microclimates that give rise to finely poised, ethereal Chenin Blanc — and this daily tasting experience is a chance to explore exactly why.  

Discover the magic of Muratie during its Retro Rouge Winter Wine Fest. This much-loved get-together is a celebration of Muratie’s history through vintage wine, featuring food, wine, smooth company and live music.

Simonsig hosts Vintage Day where many of its older wines are available for tasting and buying. This year, marks the 55^thanniversary of its Kaapse Vonkel, to be celebrated with food, wine and live music. Simonsig’s winemakers spend days tasting and selecting the wines to showcase, with only vintages at the peak of their maturation making the cut.

Sip and Paint Experience at Clos Malverne Restaurant while looking at wine from a different perspective! Enjoy a relaxed, creative afternoon pairing canvas and brushes with Clos Malverne’s wines. Guidance and all painting essentials are included.

Delheim Wine Estate puts on its Live Music and Cheese Fondue Sundays in its cosy downstairs tasting cellar where snug with low ceilings and rustic, candlelit tables set the scene for families and friends to huddle around fondue pots, with the cheese swirled to an authentic Swiss recipe. Live music keeps it all in festive mood.

Morgenster, one of the Helderberg’s historic estates, hosts a fun, midweek Quiz Night. Teams of six go head-to-head over a night of trivia and wine. It’s a sociable way to experience Morgenster beyond the tasting room, with the estate’s refined Italian-influenced setting providing a memorable backdrop. 

Join Narina Cloete, Blaauwklippen winemaker celebrating a decade with the estate this year, for brunch at one of Stellenbosch’s oldest farms. The event offers a rare opportunity to sit down with the person behind the wines, ask questions, and enjoy a meal in exceptional company.

All the info on the Stellenbosch Wine Festival

The highlight of Wine Town Stellenbosch and the region’s annual calendar is Stellenbosch Wine Festival. The historic event and South Africa’s oldest of its kind, has been held in various formats since the early 1970s.

It takes place over two days – Friday, 31 July (17h00–21h00) and Saturday, 1 August (14h00–18h00) – and brings together over 60 producers and more than 200 wines under one roof. 

Each ticket includes 20 tasting tokens, giving you the freedom to work your way through the range at your own pace. Food is taken care of too – chefs Bertus Basson and Adele Grewar put together a harvest table and abundant signature small plates and desserts, all included in the ticket price. Live music runs throughout the day, and an Aquasky water station is on hand to keep your palate refreshed between pours. Tickets are R600 online or R650 at the door.

Special offers on accommodation

Take your Stellenbosch Wine Town and Wine Festival experience to a new level, by taking advantage of accommodation discounts being offered exclusively for the run of the event. Among the participating properties are luxury stays offered at between 15 and 20% discounts. Visit winetown.wineroute.co.za for terms and conditions, and more information.

General enquiries may be directed to info@wineroute.co.za or 021 886 4310. Stay up to date with events by following @stellwineroute on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

#WineTownStellenbosch #StellenboschWineFestival #ThinkQuality #DrinkStellenbosch #visitStellenbosch 

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There is a version of Stellenbosch that most people carry in their minds before they arrive. Oak-lined streets. Wine estates. Gourmet restaurants. Perhaps a cheese platter on a sun-drenched stoep.

It’s a beautiful picture, yes, but it tells only part of the story.

The Stellenbosch that reveals itself to those who look a little deeper, who wake early and follow a river instead of a map, is something else entirely. A place of genuine surprise, where the most memorable moments were never on the itinerary.

According to Annemie Liebenberg, CEO of Visit Stellenbosch:

“Stellenbosch has always been extraordinary. What has changed is the invitation. This year, we are moving beyond the highlights reel and asking a more meaningful question: what happens when you stop ticking boxes and start paying attention? The answer, captured in our promise of ‘Unexpected Firsts. Unforgettable Moments,’ is what this town has always quietly offered. Some places you visit. Stellenbosch, you experience.”

Here is what a single day of paying attention might actually look like – just one example of the thousands of incredible, unexpected “firsts” that await…

Sunrise: The Valley That Wakes Before the Town Does

There is a quieter, more intimate side of Stellenbosch that reveals itself in the early hours of the day.

Before the estates open their gates and the coffee shops pull back their shutters, the Dwarsrivier Valley (a stretch of raw, unhurried landscape framed by the Simonsberg mountains and threaded by the Dwars River) is already alive, offering the kind of stillness that makes you aware of your own breathing.

Accessible via the R310, roughly 10 to 20 kilometres from the town centre, the valley draws trail runners and mountain bikers who understand something others are only beginning to discover: that this landscape, at this specific time, is one of the most beautiful places in South Africa.

There are trails of varying lengths for both mountain bikers and runners, winding through rocky singletrack and open farmland with elevation gains that reward the effort with panoramic views across the valley floor. The paths suit a range of fitness levels, and local guides are available for those who prefer company over solitude.

Morning: A Gallery with No Walls

Come mid-morning, after a comforting cuppa and an energising breakfast, you can choose to follow the Eerste River and let it lead you somewhere special.

The Stellenbosch Art Mile is a 1.6-kilometre open-air gallery that runs along the riverbank from the Krige Street pedestrian bridge to the Coetzenburg bridge, crossing six bridges beneath a canopy of trees. It’s free and open around the clock, and it asks nothing of you except that you pay attention.

Various South African artists have placed their work along this route, including interactive metal sculptures and site-specific pieces tied to the river’s geology and history. Recent themes have explored concepts of reflection, time, and the layered human relationship with landscape. QR codes on many of the works connect to the artists directly, but there’s no gift shop and no queue.

For those who want to extend the morning, the Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden sits just a short drive away on Paradyskloof Road: seven hectares of indigenous fynbos and mountain views populated by more than 60 bronze sculptures exploring wilderness and the deeper terrain of the human psyche. Visits are by appointment only, which means you’ll never share the encounter with a crowd.

Together, the two experiences form something rare: an art morning that feels genuinely discovered rather than consumed.

Midday: The Table You Were Not Expecting

Forget, for a moment, everything the word “tasting” conjures.

In the Kayamandi township, just minutes from the centre of Stellenbosch, Nocawe Piedtopens her home and her table to visitors in a way that changes what hospitality means in this part of the world. This is the Township & Village home dining experience, and it’s unlike anything else available in the Winelands.

The table is laden with traditional Xhosa dishes, like pap, chakalaka, samp, stew, spinach with potatoes, pumpkin with sweet corn, and chicken feet, alongside amagwinya, the traditional Xhosa beer that has been poured at celebrations here for generations. There’sdancing, drumming, storytelling, and the particular warmth of a community that has chosen to share its culture not as a performance, but as a genuine act of welcome.

It’s the most unexpected lunch in the Winelands. It is also, for many who experience it, the most unforgettable.

Afternoon: A Tasting That Tastes Like South Africa

The conventional wine tasting is not what Vergenoegd Löw had in mind when they created their Indigenous Tasting.

Spekboom. Bokkoms. Roosterkoek. Kaiings. Amasi. Dexter biltong. Kei apple. The Indigenous Tasting draws on ingredients that have sustained communities across southern Africa for centuries. Flavours that most visitors have never encountered and that most tasting rooms would never think to serve. Each element is paired with estate-grown wines that reflect what Vergenoegd Löw calls their “merroir”: the particular character of this specific place andthis specific soil.

It’s a tasting that asks a quiet but significant question: how well do you actually know this land?

The answer, for most visitors, is not as well as they thought. Which is precisely the point.

Sunset: The Street That Becomes a Living Room

As the light turns golden and the oak trees cast long shadows across Drostdy Street, something shifts in Stellenbosch. The energy is contagious and everyone, locals and visitors alike, comes together to laugh, eat, sip, chat, and simply enjoy the moment.

The Stellenbosch Street Soirées, a summertime highlight, are among the most joyful expressions of what this town truly is at its core: a community that genuinely enjoys itself. Wine tokens in hand, visitors graze on street food and find themselves in conversations they never planned to have with people they never expected to meet.

No itinerary leads here, and no booking is required. You simply follow the music and let the evening unfold.

It is the perfect final note for a day that began in a misty valley and moved through river art, a township kitchen, and an indigenous wine pairing. A day that looked nothing like the Stellenbosch most visitors would imagine, and everything like the one they will spend years trying to describe to people who were not there.

Stellenbosch is only 40 minutes from Cape Town, or a scenic 25-minute helicopter transfer away, placing you within easy reach of your next unforgettable moment. For more information on experiences, visit www.visitstellenbosch.org

Zay Ferguson-Nair, Customer Experience Leader at Flight Centre South Africa, notes how Flight Centre’s Travel Experts are seeing a shift towards more hyper-personalised travel experiences.

“Yes, travellers have always booked trips that satisfy an interest or passion, whether it’s a birding safari or a bucket-list trip to see the northern lights. This year, it’s just expanded into unexpected territory,” she explains.  “Think travellers who plan their journeys around beauty brands, skincare and wellness – or grocery store tourism, which caught everyone off guard! In 2026, travel is about indulging very specific obsessions.”

1. Glowcations

Korean beauty (K-beauty) brands have garnered a massive, dedicated following due to their innovative formulations and ‘glass skin’ results, with Korea’s capital, Seoul, fast becoming the home of glowing skin and cutting-edge (never mind TikTok-trendy) treatments.

The latest trend reports refer to ‘glomads’ (a predominantly young cohort of travellers who build their holidays around beauty brands and regimes) or ‘glowcations’ (where holidaymakers return with a youthful glow, rather than a suntan).  And the best destinations for a glowcation? Conde Nast says Seoul (Korea), Tokyo and Kochi (Japan), Tromsø (Norway), Rabat (Morocco), Paris (France) and Sao Paolo (Brazil) should be top of the list.

Must do: If you’re heading to Seoul, Ferguson-Nair recommends a visit to Namsam Park (with the observation deck offering sweeping views across the city), a stroll through Bukchon Hanok Village (home to over 900 traditional Korean homes), and a food tour in the Gwanjang Night Market.

“The foodie experience is next level,” she says. “Don’t leave without trying Korean fare, whether it’s the fiery kimchi – a base for most Korean dishes – or octopus tentacles. While the markets are the best place for an authentic foodie experience, the Lotte World Tower has a selection of restaurants and bars with some of the best views in town.”

2. Shelf discovery

Here’s the trend that took everyone by surprise: according to Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report, 77% of travellers already participate in grocery store tourism, and 35% plan to visit a local supermarket on their next trip. What started as a quirky bit of fun (and a pretty straightforward excursion if you’re self-catering) has exploded into a full-blown phenomenon, with 2026 declared “the year of grocery store tourism” by different travel publications.

So, why are travellers swapping museums for supermarket aisles? It’s simple: grocery stores offer an authentic, affordable window into daily life. From what’s on the shelves to how stores are laid out, wandering through a local supermarket tells you more about habits, preferences, and culture than a guidebook ever could.

Of course, social media has a lot to answer for. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have turned stores into destinations themselves. Japanese konbini (convenience stores), Spain’s Mercadona stores, and even Los Angeles’ Erewhon have become must-visit spots, with travellers posting “snack hauls” that rack up millions of views.

“I think what’s driving this trend is that people want to live like the locals, even just for a day,” says Ferguson-Nair. “Choosing cheese, cold meat and a few gourmet pantry essentials in a Parisian deli or even discovering a limited-edition Coca-Cola flavour in a Tokyo FamilyMart are fun moments that often stick with you!”

Must do: Yes, the exchange rate is against us, and yes, some of the UK’s department stores hardly qualify as ‘grocery’, but if you find yourself in London this year, a wander through Fortnum & Mason (the ‘Queen’s grocer’ with a grand staircase that looks more hotel than shop) is irresistible. And for those heading to the Cotswolds? Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm Shop has become a pilgrimage site for fans of his show.

3. Bookish breaks

If you’re the type who plans trips around favourite books and authors, you’re in excellent company. According to Euronews’s analysis of 2026 travel trends, literary tourism is gaining significant momentum as travellers seek to immerse themselves in the worlds created by literary legends.

This trend encompasses everything from visiting landscapes described in beloved novels (like the Yorkshire Moors of Wuthering Heights) to attending major literary festivals. The festival calendar for 2026 is particularly robust, with events like the Jaipur Literature Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Jane Austen Festival, Hay Festival in Wales, and the Paris Book Festival at the Grand Palais drawing book lovers from across the globe.

Must do: South Africa also hosts several key literary events each year, including the Kingsmead Book Fair (Johannesburg), the Open Book Festival (Cape Town) and the Franschhoek Literary Festival (Franschhoek).

4. Fandom takes flight

Amadeus’s Travel Trends 2026 report identifies ‘Pop Culting’ as a major trend, where hit shows, films and franchises are motivating fans to travel. The numbers back this up: Amadeus data shows international flight searches for travel to San Diego during Comic-Con are up 9% for 2026 versus 2025. Meanwhile, Visit Bath expects the Netflix drama Bridgerton to contribute approximately £5 million per year to its local economy.

From Labubus merchandise (which sold an estimated US$1 billion worth in 2025) to K-Pop themed experiences, pop culture is inspiring new forms of tourism. The Seoul Tourism Organisation created an end-to-end traveller journey revolving around the film K-Pop Demon Hunters, where fans can make traditional knot bracelets worn by characters, eat featured meals, and even join K-Pop dance programmes near the scenic Cheonggyecheon Stream.

‘Set-jetting’ – visiting film and TV locations – has boomed thanks to streaming and social media. Popular destinations include Hawaii, Sicily and Phuket for The White Lotus, Malta and Dubrovnik for Game of Thrones, Paris for Emily in Paris, and Yorkshire for Downton Abbey.

5. Game-day dreams

2026 is shaping up to be a goodie for sports fanatics. According to Expedia, more than half of all tourists look to catch competitive action while on vacation, and the World Economic Forum predicts the sports tourism sector will surpass $1.7 trillion by 2032.

The calendar is packed with bucket-list events, including the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina (currently underway), the 2026 FIFA World Cup spanning the USA, Canada and Mexico (48 teams across 16 cities), Premier League clashes at iconic stadiums like Anfield and Old Trafford, Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix and Six Nations rugby fixtures.

Suppliers like Edusport Travel create seamless packages that go beyond just match tickets – think stadium tours, meet-and-greets, merchandise and local cultural experiences, adding value and excitement to every trip.

Whether you’re a die-hard fan or simply want to experience the electric atmosphere of a major sporting event, 2026 offers endless opportunities to tick off your game-day dreams.

Must do: It’s a big year for rugby fans, with South Africa hosting New Zealand in August and September. ‘The Greatest Rivalry’ feels like an old-school test series, and local fans can catch the action at Ellis Park, FNB Stadium, Loftus, DHL Stadium and Kings Park.

As travel gets more specific, travel advisors are proving their worth – using their expertise to craft trips around your interests, whether that’s K-beauty clinics, literary pilgrimages or game-day bucket lists. In 2026, everyone deserves an adventure.

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STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA – Stellenbosch has launched Art of Origin Stellenbosch, a town-wide art competition and exhibition bringing together every generation and creative community in the region for the very first time. Organised by Visit Stellenbosch in partnership with the Art Association Stellenbosch, the initiative is open to all: primary and high school learners, university students, emerging and established artists, township collectives, community groups, and creatives from the town’s senior living communities. Submissions are accepted across all mediums and across three age divisions: 7 to 18, 19 to 65, and 66 and above.

Winning artworks will be featured in the 2027 Visit Stellenbosch Visitors Guide, distributed to over one million prospective visitors worldwide, giving Stellenbosch’s artists international exposure on a scale rarely accessible to emerging or community-based creatives. Five thematic category winners will each receive R10,000 in prize money, with one artwork selected for the front cover of the guide. Submitted works will be exhibited at the PJ Olivier Art Centre, and the official opening and winners’ celebration will take place on 4 June 2026, followed by a public exhibition running from 4 to 25 June 2026.

“Stellenbosch has always been a creative town. But Art of Origin is something we have never done before, an open invitation to every artist, school, community collective, and resident of our senior living communities in our town to tell its story in their own voice. More than an art competition, this is a cultural movement,” said Annemie Liebenberg, CEO of Visit Stellenbosch

“This is a moment that belongs to every artist in Stellenbosch, not just the established ones,” agreed Mr Coert Venter, Chairman of the Art Association Stellenbosch. “Art of Origin is the first initiative of its kind in this town, one that genuinely opens the door to every generation and community. We’re bringing our community together by inviting a child from a Stellenbosch school, a township artist, and a painter from a senior home to all hang their work in the same exhibition.  That is the Stellenbosch we want the world to see.”

A Creative First for Stellenbosch

Art of Origin Stellenbosch is one of the most tangible expressions of Visit Stellenbosch’s new destination-wide brand positioning, Unexpected Firsts. Unforgettable Moments, and forms part of this expansive initiative celebrating innovation and milestone moments across the town. While rooted in this broader vision, Art of Origin stands as a distinctive cultural initiative in its own right, designed to leave a permanent creative and tourism legacy for Stellenbosch and the artists who call it home.

Artists are invited to submit original works across five thematic categories that reflect the heart of Stellenbosch:

• Taste: Culinary culture, food artisans, markets, and local produce
• Wine: Vineyards, harvest, cellars, heritage estates, and wine lifestyle
• Stay: Hospitality, architecture, boutique hotels, and guesthouses
• Experience: Festivals, cycling, hiking, university life, and the arts
• Community: The people of Stellenbosch and their diversity, heritage, and shared stories

Artists may enter across more than one theme, with each submission judged independently. All mediums are welcome, including painting, drawing, mixed media, digital art, and collage.

Important Dates

• Judging Session: Wednesday, 3 June 2026 | 14:00 – 18:00
• Location: PJ Olivier Art Centre, 3 Blom Road, Stellenbosch
• Soft Opening (First Thursdays): Thursday, 4 June 2026 | 17:00 – 20:00
• Exhibition Dates: 4 June – 25 June 2026 (Open to the public)
• Awards Evening (Winners Announced): Thursday, 18 June 2026

For submission guidelines, entry forms, and further information, contact: admin@stellenboschkuns.co.za or 079 084 6183

Table of Contents

Johannesburg – A consultant flies to a regional hub for a late-week meeting. Their partner joins for the weekend; they use loyalty points to upgrade the room, book a set‑menu Valentine’s dinner on the Saturday evening, and add a day of local exploring before flying home. This is business travel done right.

It’s an open secret that multi-day business travel is less “exciting time away in a new city” and more “lonely and exhausted”. It’s a recipe for decreased productivity and, critically for your business, a negative impact on mental and physical health, says Herman Heunes, GM of Corporate Traveller South Africa.

We all know the drill: waiting at airports, transfers, delays, traffic jams, jetlag, long days in meetings, hotel food eaten alone. It’s a drag. Companies have woken up to this, and many are supporting employees who tack a few leisure days on to their business trip, says Herman. Think: Monday is the new Sunday and Thursday is the new Friday.

Human connection

It’s not just about leisure time, though, but how you spend it. And crucially, with whom. Loneliness is now widely described as an epidemic, with younger men especially affected. There is strong evidence that close, in‑person connection is protective for mental and physical health.

The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing published in the UK’s BMJ Journals, for example, found that people with the highest loneliness have about a 30% higher risk of new cardiovascular disease and a 48% higher risk of related hospital admission than the least lonely.

Additionally, a meta‑analysis of 16 longitudinal studies published by the US’s National Library of Medicine, found that loneliness and social isolation are associated with a 32% higher risk of stroke, which is on par with established risk factors like job stress.

In mental health terms, social support consistently predicts lower depression and anxiety.

Of course, business travel can offer its own social rewards – colleagues bonding over delayed flights, discovering hole-in-the wall restaurants together and navigating foreign cities as a team. But an adventure with a loved one? Priceless.

Love is in the air

In a 2024 Deloitte corporate travel study, 41% of travellers said time away from loved ones was a top drawback of business travel. Simultaneously, research into work‑life balance and satisfaction in romantic relationships suggests that spending quality time with a supportive partner significantly lowers the damage of high work stress.

“This supports the idea that using business trips as opportunities for couple time, such as a Valentine’s long weekend around meetings, can strengthen relationships, provided there is deliberate planning and partner inclusion,” says Heunes.

Bringing a partner along on a work trip is both rational choice and preventive care. It replaces evenings alone with shared experiences, turns anonymous hotel time into couple time, and gives the travelling partner a built‑in source of emotional support and stress‑buffering presence.

Instead of date night, plan a Valentine’s Day bleisure date-cation. Convert a solitary three‑night trip into a shared experience, especially around Valentine’s Day.

How to do it

Be transparent. A “stealth trip” or “hush trip” might be tempting – especially if you work remotely – but it can have huge duty of care ramifications. Instead, openly discuss your plans with your boss, team and travel management company (TMC). Your TMC will be able to use their buying power to secure the best rates and upgrades – and ensure details like travel insurance and visas don’t trip you up. Your employer is unlikely to pay for your partner’s flights and excursions – but loyalty points, special rates and negotiated fares can go a long, long way.

Plan the “relationship time” properly. Your partner does not want to spend all their time on their own. Block out one or two non‑negotiable windows for couple time, such as a Valentine’s dinner plus a morning walk, and keep those off‑limits for calls.

Manage expectations; transparency extends to your partner too – be honest about your workload, when you will be working, and when you will be fully present.

Keep logistics as smooth as possible and choose accommodations and locations that serve both purposes. Corporate Traveller’s analysis of longer average stays and their own client communications show a shift towards central, amenity‑rich hotels that are walkable to both meetings and restaurants or cultural sites, which is ideal for squeezing in a Valentine’s lunch or evening out.

Look for hotels with strong WiFi, quiet workspaces, and late checkout, but also easy access to romantic experiences (views, spa, wine bars, or safe evening strolls), so you don’t waste limited shared time.

If you can’t book chunks of couple time, use micro‑moments. Build small rituals into your day, even on days of back-to-back meetings: early morning coffee together, a sunset walk between sessions, or room‑service dessert after you’ve logged off.

Once you’ve made your plans, protect your time. Don’t over‑schedule sightseeing on top of work and add your leisure days at the end of the trip, so your break is not overshadowed by next‑day presentations. “For more guidance on structuring bleisure travel that works for both your business and your people, speak to your TMC or travel expert about travel policy considerations, duty of care, travel insurance and the accommodation options, rates and excursions that it make it worthwhile,” says Heunes.