Taghazout, Morocco, has been named one of the world’s top trending tourist locations for 2026, according to Tripadvisor’s 2018 Travellers’ Choice Awards.
The annual awards characterize their trending list as including “places our community of travellers already love, and places rising fast for 2026,” based on destinations with a high proportion of above-and-beyond ratings. These are the destinations whose popularity is rapidly increasing ahead of the new travel year.
Taghazout stands out as Africa’s only entry on a list dominated by Europe and North America. Madeira leads the global rankings, followed by Tbilisi and Chicago.
Taghazout, formerly a modest fishing village on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, has grown into a global surf and health destination. The town, known for dependable waves, quiet cafés, yoga retreats, and a burgeoning boutique hospitality industry, has become a magnet for digital nomads and experience-driven travelers looking for alternatives to crowded urban centers.
Its popularity reflects a broader shift in travel habits, with visitors increasingly valuing nature, authenticity, and lifestyle experiences over standard city holidays.
Morocco’s expanding tourism momentum provides background for the accolade. According to Business Insider Africa, Morocco ranked 13th in the 2017 UN Tourism rankings, cementing its place among the world’s most-visited destinations, marking a watershed moment for North Africa and signaling the continent’s growing significance in the global travel economy.
Between January and October 2025, the Kingdom received 16.6 million visitors, a 14% rise from the same period in 2024.