Travel Insights Overview

• Central Asian countries have been relaxing visa requirements – adding e-visas, allowing visa-free travel for more nationalities, or simplifying visa application processes – making it easier for international travelers to visit compared to 1 to 2 decades ago. Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan in particular are seeing a significant growth in interest, driven by visa facilitation, Silk Road heritage routes, and travelers seeking alternatives to crowded hotspots.

• Southeast Asia continues to see compounding growth in the number of international travelers. Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines are frequently included on travel bucket-lists. Growing infrastructure, international flight connectivity, and repeat and word-of-mouth demand also reinforce their position as top destinations. Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and the Maldives also saw notable YoY increases in the number of international visitors with +15%, +30%, and +10% respectively.

• NEOM's flagship "Line" megacity project has been dramatically scaled back, with construction suspended since September 2025 pending a Public Investment Fund (PIF) strategic review. The original 170-kilometer vision has narrowed to a roughly 2-kilometer proof-of-concept segment near Sharma, and PIF construction contracts for the wider NEOM development fell from $71 billion to $30 billion, a 60% cut.
• Trojena's planned Asian Winter Games were postponed indefinitely in January 2026, and a major dam and lake contract there was cancelled in March 2026. Trojena is a NEOM sub-project with a planned mountain resort and ski destination in the higher-elevation, mountainous part of the NEOM zone in northwest Saudi Arabia. It was pitched as a year-round outdoor destination with winter sports, an artificial lake, and mountain scenery, positioned as proof that Vision 2030's tourism ambitions could stretch even into snow sports.
• Sindalah, a luxury island resort unveiled at a VIP launch in October 2024, has not opened to the public and has remained largely shuttered since; no public opening date has been confirmed. Saudi Arabia's nearer-term tourism momentum has otherwise shifted to the Red Sea Project, AlUla, and Expo 2030/FIFA 2034 infrastructure instead.

International fares are rising in 2026, reversing the declines forecast early in the year, as airlines pass on higher jet fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict; Germany's Federal Statistical Office reported international flight prices up 8.5% YoY in the first half of 2026, and several Asian carriers raised fuel surcharges again in September. Overall fare indices remain elevated versus pre-pandemic levels. However, reduced demand on some routes, such as between the U.S. and Europe, has created pockets of value. Airlines may have excess inventory and flexible travelers could find quality deals.

Wellness and “slow travel” are becoming increasingly common, pushed more mainstream by Millennials and Gen Z as part of the broader digital nomad/remote-work cohort. Spa services topped rankings of leading travel experiences in 2025 along with the “glowcation”. Travel that prioritizes longer stays in fewer places, “slow travel”, is seen as an alternative to “checklist tourism”. It also overlaps with sustainability-minded travelers due to less transit and a lower carbon footprint per travel day.

Major events are now a primary driver for international travel. 65% of the top-searched 2026 travel dates align with major global events, led this year by the FIFA World Cup.

AI is entering the planning funnel as more travelers are using AI tools for inspiration, itinerary-building, and price comparison, particularly younger and digitally native travelers, bypassing traditional search filters.

• China group tours remain a large share of China outbound travel even as travelers from China are shifting more towards independent, experience-driven travel. The Chinese government approves which countries Chinese travel agencies can sell group tours to, and the government increased that number from 60 to 138 countries in August 2023. Top destinations for non-group travel are Southeast Asia, Japan, and the UAE.

• India is now the fastest-growing outbound market, growing at almost double China's pace. Air India cut about 145 weekly international flights between June and August 2026, citing airspace restrictions and record-high jet fuel prices, but restored most of those services from September 1 and plans added frequencies to Milan, Frankfurt, Zurich, Vienna, Melbourne, Tokyo, and New York for the winter season; flights to Chicago and Washington Dulles remain suspended. Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Etihad, British Airways, SAS, Air Astana, Wizz Air, and other airlines still have plans to expand service throughout India in 2026 despite temporary cancellations due to rising jet fuel costs.

• Saudi travelers spend heavily on international trips, while the UAE continues to be a major connecting hub and destination. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is a broad national reform and economic diversification program launched under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2016 aimed at reducing the country's dependence on oil revenue and transforming its economy and society more broadly. It spans many sectors, but tourism is one of its most visible pillars. This is a major shift for a country that has historically been largely closed to leisure tourists in practice and due to social restrictions that limited tourism appeal.

• Intra-regional travel is becoming self-sustaining across nearly every world region. Intra-Southeast Asia travel now accounts for 45% of arrivals into Southeast Asia, up from 37% in 2019. Intra-GCC travel is growing even faster in the Middle East, up 52% to 19.3 million visitors, now representing from 41.3% to over 50% of all Gulf international arrivals. Intra-African travel is also outpacing long-haul arrivals in several markets: South Africa's arrivals from other African countries rose 14.3% in the first half of 2026, more than double the 5.6% growth from overseas source markets. Latin America and the Caribbean shows a similar pattern: 84% of the region's net air passenger growth in 2025 came from intra-regional routes, with some corridors like Argentina–Brazil growing nearly 30% YoY.

• ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System; EU) was expected to launch in Q4 2026, but the EU has delayed the rollout to 2027 following technical problems with the prerequisite Entry/Exit System (EES). No new date has been set, and the European Commission has committed to announcing the confirmed launch date several months in advance. The confirmed application fee is €20 per traveler (travelers under 18 and over 70 are fee-exempt but must still apply). Once required, travelers from the 60 visa-exempt countriesETIAS visa-exempt countries✕AmericasAntigua & BarbudaArgentinaBahamasBarbadosBrazilCanadaChileColombiaCosta RicaDominicaEl SalvadorGrenadaGuatemalaHondurasMexicoNicaraguaPanamaParaguayPeruSaint Kitts & NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent & the GrenadinesTrinidad & TobagoUnited StatesUruguayEurope (non-Schengen)AlbaniaBosnia & HerzegovinaGeorgiaKosovoMoldovaMontenegroNorth MacedoniaSerbiaUkraineUnited KingdomAsia-PacificAustraliaBruneiHong Kong (BN(O))JapanMacaoMalaysiaNew ZealandSingaporeSouth KoreaTaiwanTimor-LesteMiddle East & AfricaIsraelMauritiusSeychellesPacific IslandsKiribatiMarshall IslandsMicronesiaNauruPalauSamoaSolomon IslandsTongaTuvaluVanuatuSource: European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). List subject to change prior to launch. will need to apply before visiting any of the 30 participating Schengen countries; once approved, ETIAS is valid for up to 3 years.
• The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES), fully mandatory since April 10, 2026, no longer allows border authorities to pause biometric registration during severe congestion; those temporary flexibility measures expired September 6, 2026. Non-EU travelers must now provide fingerprints and a facial scan on entry and exit, which has lengthened passport checks at some Schengen airports; travelers should allow extra time and avoid tight connections.
• The UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is in full effect as of February 25, 2026; the fee was raised from £16 to £20 on April 8, 2026. The UK ETA is a digital travel permission required before visiting the UK, even for short trips, for nationals who would otherwise be visa-exempt, and is valid for 2 years or until the holder's passport expires. It was first launched in October 2023 for Qatari nationals, then expanded to GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Jordan) in February 2024. Canada, the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and approximately 45 other non-European countries were added from January 8, 2025. EU/EEA/Swiss nationals were the last group, added from April 2, 2025.
• Barcelona almost doubled its overnight tourist tax effective April 1, 2026 which applies to hotels and short-term rentals. Barcelona also plans to ban short-term holiday apartment rentals entirely by 2028.

• The U.S. significantly expanded entry restrictions effective January 1, 2026. A Presidential Proclamation fully or partially suspended entry and visa issuance for nationals of 39 countries, though travelers who already held valid visas as of the effective date are generally still permitted to travel and use those visas, subject to standard inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The U.S. Department of State announced a visa processing freeze on January 14, 2026, pausing immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries pending a review of public-benefits eligibility criteria. The U.S. State Department has also nearly tripled the number of countries whose travelers may be required to post visa bonds of up to $15,000 to apply for U.S. entry, building on a 2025 pilot program.
• Enhanced screening now applies more broadly at U.S. ports of entry. New biometric screening requirements, including photography and fingerprinting, apply at all U.S. entry and exit points. ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) applicants must now compile five years of social media account history as part of the application. Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) remain exempt from the travel ban itself but face enhanced screening and biometric data collection at every border crossing.
• Effective July 15, 2026, the U.S. Department of State now requires most nonimmigrant visa applicants — including tourist, business, and student visa categories — to schedule their interview in their country of nationality or legal residence, rather than any third-country post. Travelers who attempt to apply elsewhere without proof of legal residence there may face longer waits and additional scrutiny.
• On July 17, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security published a final rule eliminating "Duration of Status" for F-1 (student) and J (exchange visitor) nonimmigrants, replacing it with a fixed admission period capped at four years, originally scheduled to take effect September 15, 2026. On September 14, 2026, a federal court in Massachusetts issued a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking the rule, which did not take effect as scheduled; F-1 and J nonimmigrants continue to be admitted for duration of status while the litigation continues. A status conference is set for October 2, 2026.

• Israel has closed checkpoints across the West Bank from September 27 through October 3, 2026, for the Sukkot holiday, with entry into Israel limited to medical and humanitarian cases.
• A Schengen-style single visa for access to the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries (the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain) — the "Grand Tours" Visa — is confirmed for a pilot launch in Q4 2026, starting with the UAE and Bahrain; the remaining states are expected to join in early 2027 if the pilot succeeds. This is aimed at international travelers who currently need a visa to enter the GCC countries and foreign nationals currently living and working in one GCC country, but need a visa to access another.

• International arrivals to the continent of Africa increased +8% YoY to 81 million in 2025, the fastest growth of any world region, led by North Africa (+11%); Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa posted the strongest individual results, with Morocco's arrivals up 14%, Egypt's up 20%, and South Africa's up 19%.
• Diaspora "reconnection" travel is a significant and growing share of growth in travel to the African continent. Nearly half of Morocco's roughly 17.4 million 2024 visitors were Moroccans living abroad. Ghana's "Year of Return" initiative has evolved into an annual homecoming season — an estimated 3.6 million people took part over its Dec. 2025–Jan. 2026 run, more than 70% of them Gen Z or Millennial travelers. Similar diaspora-driven demand is visible in Nigeria, where events like Detty December and Afrobeats-driven homecoming travel are contributing to reported international arrivals growth in the 12–15% range.

• Thailand reduced its visa-free stay from 60 to 30 days for travelers from 60 countries and territoriesThailand 30-day visa-exempt countries✕AfricaSouth AfricaAmericasCanadaUnited StatesAsia-PacificAustraliaBhutanBruneiFijiIndiaIndonesiaJapanKyrgyzstanMalaysiaMaldivesNew ZealandPhilippinesSingaporeTaiwanEuropeAustriaBelgiumBulgariaCroatiaCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFranceGeorgiaGermanyGreeceHungaryIcelandIrelandItalyLatviaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMaltaNetherlandsNorwayPolandPortugalRomaniaSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandTürkiyeUkraineUnited KingdomMiddle EastBahrainIsraelJordanKuwaitOmanQatarSaudi ArabiaUnited Arab EmiratesSource: Royal Gazette, Vol. 143, Special Issue 207 Ngor, Aug 31, 2026; Dailynews Thailand, Sep 1, 2026. effective September 15, 2026. The four implementing Ministry of Interior notifications were published in the Royal Gazette on August 31, 2026, following Cabinet approval on July 14, 2026. This replaces the 60-day options that had covered 93 countries since July 2024. The new exemption is granted for tourism only; the short-term work/business allowance under the outgoing 60-day scheme has been dropped. Travelers currently in Thailand under a 60-day entry stamp retain their full permitted stay. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also reinstate a cap of 2 visa-free entries per year via land borders, a rule that predates the 2024 expansion. A one-time 30-day extension remains available at Thai immigration offices for approximately 1,900 THB (~$55), applicable to the 60 countries in the 30-day tier; nationals of Mauritius and Seychelles fall under a new 15-day exemption category and are not eligible to extend. Visa on Arrival is limited to Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Serbia, and costs THB 2,000 at the border. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) remains mandatory for all visitors and must be completed online within 72 hours before arrival.

• An ASEAN Common Visa, modeled on the Schengen Protocol, was formally revived at the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Cebu, Philippines in January 2026, though with no binding timeline. This idea of a unified Southeast Asian visa has been under discussion for years among different countries in the region, dating back to 2010. It is part of a broader ASEAN economic and tourism-integration agenda that has been pending due to sovereignty and security concerns among member states.
• With the 2024 relaunch of discussions, Thailand proposed a scaled-down six-nation version — Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos (Lao PDR), and Myanmar — as an initial solution, sometimes branded "Six Countries, One Destination"; Brunei and Singapore have also been invited to join. Thailand also hoped to eventually negotiate visa-free reciprocity between this bloc and the Schengen zone.
• Japan's departure tax — the "International Tourist Tax" — tripled from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 effective July 1, 2026. This tax applies to every traveler leaving Japan by air or sea regardless of nationality or visa status; exemptions are limited to children under 2 and same-day transit passengers. Japan also raised its single-entry visa fee fivefold, from ¥3,000 to ¥15,000, also effective July 1, 2026, which affects nationals of countries that require a visa for Japan, while visa-exempt travelers are unaffected by the fee increase and only pay the departure tax.
• From November 1, 2026, Japan will replace in-store tax-free shopping with a refund system: visitors pay the tax-inclusive price at the store and receive the consumption-tax refund after customs confirms the goods are leaving Japan, a procedure to be completed at the departure airport or seaport before check-in.
• As of 2026, Japan is also developing a new pre-entry travel authorization system, JESTA (Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization), as part of its "Second Basic Plan for Immigration Control and Residency Management." JESTA is not yet mandatory: travelers entering under Japan's existing visa-waiver rules do not currently need to register. The government's working target for launch is fiscal year (FY) 2028, by the end of March 2029, though this has not been formally finalized.

The U.S. and Canada have both implemented border measures affecting travelers who have been to the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within 21 days of intended arrival.

• Under a CDC Title 42 order, first issued May 18, 2026 and renewed several times, most recently on September 11, 2026 and in effect through October 11, 2026, non-U.S. citizens who have been in the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the previous 21 days are barred from entering the U.S. The order was expanded on May 22, 2026 to also apply to lawful permanent residents (green card holders). Travelers, including U.S. citizens and nationals, who have been in the DRC within the previous 21 days may not board U.S.-bound commercial flights until 21 days have passed since leaving the DRC. U.S. citizens and nationals who have been in Uganda or South Sudan, but not the DRC, must route through one of three designated airports for enhanced CDC screening: Washington Dulles (IAD), Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL), or JFK. Travelers without symptoms are subject to 21-day health monitoring after arrival. Visa services at U.S. embassies in DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan have been temporarily suspended.
• Canada has extended its Ebola border measures, first put in place May 27, 2026, through November 27, 2026. Foreign nationals who have been in the DRC within the previous 21 days may not enter Canada or board a direct or connecting flight to Canada, and immigration documents, including previously approved visas and eTAs, remain suspended for residents of the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan. Travelers entering Canada who have been in affected areas within the previous 21 days, including Canadian citizens and permanent residents, receive a health assessment on arrival; those without symptoms must quarantine for 21 days, and those with symptoms are isolated at a medical facility.

• The U.S. State Department maintains Israel and the West Bank at Level 3: Reconsider Travel, citing terrorism and civil unrest; Gaza remains Level 4: Do Not Travel. The advisory also designates Do Not Travel zones within specific border areas. The UK FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) advises against all travel to Gaza and specific West Bank governorates (Tulkarm, Jenin, and Tubas, except Route 90), and against travel to areas near the Lebanon border and the Golan Heights.
• Ben Gurion Airport is operating, and cities including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem see routine tourism, but the security situation can shift with little warning. In the West Bank, tourist destinations such as Bethlehem, Jericho, and Ramallah are generally considered safe for visitors and remain open, though travelers should expect checkpoint delays, carry their passport and Israeli-issued entry slip at all times, and avoid areas near checkpoints on Fridays when protests are more common. Consular support in Gaza is essentially unavailable, and the West Bank barrier and checkpoint network mean access can close or reroute without warning during periods of unrest. Authorities advise visitors to know the location of the nearest bomb shelter, download a real-time alert app, avoid demonstrations and crowds, and enroll in their home country's traveler registration program before traveling to the area.

Authorities advise that travelers with any itinerary touching the broader Middle East region should monitor government travel advisories (such as the U.S. State Department or your home country's equivalent) in real time before departure, and verify refund and travel insurance terms immediately, as many travel insurance policies specifically exclude support during active conflicts.

• Current status: The U.S.-Israel war with Iran began February 28, 2026. The 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed June 17 has effectively collapsed: the ceasefire came under serious strain in late June 2026, and by July 10 the U.S.-Iran truce was declared over, with Iran declaring the Strait of Hormuz closed after the IRGC attacked commercial vessels transiting the strait. The U.S. reimposed a naval blockade against Iran effective July 14. The conflict remains active and continues to alternate between periods of direct fighting and pauses. The U.S. State Department maintains Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman at Level 3: Reconsider Travel.
• Airspace & flights: Gulf airspace has remained open as of July 14, 2026. However, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued a Conflict Zone Information Bulletin recommending that air operators avoid the airspace of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman through November 16, 2026, following the renewed direct fighting that began August 31, 2026. Regional impacts have been significant: Middle East tourist arrivals are down approximately 14% and regional air passenger traffic down roughly 46.6% YoY since the ceasefire collapse. Given how quickly carrier decisions are shifting — some airlines have suspended, resumed, and re-suspended service to the same city within the span of a single week — travelers with any Middle East connections or routings should treat any published suspension list as provisional and confirm flight status directly with their airline.

• Travelers with existing Cuba bookings should verify status immediately. Even where flights technically exist via third countries, the on-the-ground infrastructure situation means Cuba is not currently functioning as a standard leisure destination. Travel insurance terms for Cuba-specific disruptions should be reviewed carefully before any booking is made.
• Cuba's power grid has suffered at least seven complete nationwide collapses in 2026 alone, most recently on September 18 — three within a single ten-day stretch in early-to-mid July 2026, plus further collapses from July 30 to August 3 on top of earlier collapses in 2024 and 2025, bringing the total to roughly twelve nationwide blackouts since late 2024. Outages are frequently running 15–30 hours a day in Havana and as long as 87 consecutive hours in some provinces. Grocery shortages, hospital backlogs, and near-total hotel occupancy collapse (below 22%) are part of the current reality.
• Blue Diamond Resorts, a major Canadian hotel operator in Cuba, has ceased operations. Global Affairs Canada's Cuba advisory now also flags that Visa and Mastercard payments have been suspended on the island.

• Russia is not legally off-limits to most foreign travelers, including U.S. citizens — no U.S. or Russian law bars the trip, and no country is currently known to formally ban its citizens from traveling there. Instead, most Western governments — including the U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia — advise against all travel, with the U.S. State Department maintaining a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory. U.S. citizens are not eligible for Russia's e-visa and must apply for a traditional consular visa in advance, though Americans can uniquely obtain a 3-year multiple-entry tourist visa. There are no direct flights between Russia and the U.S., UK, Canada, or most of the EU; travelers typically connect through hubs such as Istanbul, Dubai, or Doha.
• Financial access is severely limited and foreign Visa and Mastercard cards have not functioned in Russia since March 2022. Travelers must bring sufficient cash in euros or USD to exchange on arrival, or arrange a Russian MIR or Chinese UnionPay card. Western payment apps and major social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, X, WhatsApp) are blocked; a VPN is required to access them, though Russian law restricts VPN use.
• Dual nationals face elevated risk because Russia does not recognize dual nationality. Travelers who also hold Russian citizenship are treated solely as Russian citizens while in Russia, meaning their other country's consular protection is effectively unavailable. Dual nationals have reportedly been prevented from leaving Russia and, in some cases, conscripted into the military. Anyone holding Russian citizenship alongside another nationality should seek specialized legal advice before considering travel to Russia.
• The conflict with Ukraine remains active and border regions — Kursk, Belgorod, Bryansk, and Rostov — have experienced regular attacks. Drone strikes have reached Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Kazan. Major tourist cities continue to operate day-to-day, but no part of Russia is entirely removed from the conflict's reach. Travelers should register with their home country's embassy before departure and monitor official government travel advisories in real time.

Venezuela declared a nationwide state of emergency following the twin earthquakes on June 24, 2026, and recovery is ongoing. Search-and-rescue has largely transitioned to recovery operations.

• Scale of the event: The 7.5 mainshock is the largest recorded earthquake to strike Venezuela in more than 125 years. Buildings collapsed in Caracas and surrounding areas, especially in the hard-hit coastal state of La Guaira. The quakes were felt as far as Colombia's Caribbean coast, northern Brazil, and Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire.
• Airport status: Simón Bolívar International Airport reopened to commercial passenger traffic on September 1, 2026, via temporary terminals, with international flights initially limited to roughly a third of pre-quake levels and some airlines assigned to Maracay, Valencia, or Maracaibo instead. Venezuela's Transport Minister expects to recover about 45% of national airport capacity in 2026, with reactivation of the main terminal facilities not expected to begin before mid-2027. Travelers should confirm their arrival and departure airport directly with their airline.
• Economic impact: Recovery and identification work has continued. The UN's damage estimate increased from $6.7 billion (~6% of Venezuela's GDP) to $37 billion (~33% of Venezuela’s GDP) as of July 2026. As of the most recent government figures from August 24, 2026, roughly 44,600 people remain without permanent housing, either displaced or in homes classified as uninhabitable.

• Canada's 2026 wildfire season remains active but is running below its five-year average: 582 active fires and 4.1 million hectares burned season-to-date as of the government's most recent update, compared with 7.7 million hectares burned by the same point in 2025.
• The western U.S. is having its most severe wildfire season in at least a decade: more than 8.3 million acres (about 3.4 million hectares) had burned nationwide as of September 8, 2026, well above the 10-year average, with Oregon and Washington among the hardest-hit states. Cooler fall weather has eased conditions and the national preparedness level has been lowered from its highest level, but vegetation remains exceptionally dry across much of the West; travelers should check state fire and air-quality maps before visiting rural or forested areas.

• Catastrophic flooding struck the Nepal-China border region – Rasuwa district, Nepal, and the Gyirong/Kerung crossing in Tibet – beginning around August 26, 2026 causing a significant loss of life and displacement. The flooding destroyed the main Rasuwa-Kerung overland route between Nepal and China and damaged hydropower and transmission infrastructure in the region. Nepal's Department of Roads aims to open a temporary track to the Rasuwagadhi border crossing before the Dashain festival, but in the meantime, stranded Nepali nationals have been returning via the Tatopani border crossing. Travelers with itineraries touching this border region should confirm current conditions directly with local authorities before departure.
• In Japan, record rainfall in Chiba Prefecture in mid-August also resulted in loss of life and flooded roughly 1,500 buildings; that event has since moved into a recovery phase. A separate, more severe event struck Japan's Hokuriku region – Ishikawa, Toyama, and Fukui prefectures – beginning August 27, 2026 prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency's highest-level emergency warnings and record 24-hour rainfall in Fukui; water and road infrastructure were damaged in Toyama. As of early September 2026, fresh heavy rain and landslide risk have prompted evacuation orders in Aomori Prefecture in northern Japan. Travelers to Japan during the typhoon and rainy season (through October) should monitor the Japan Meteorological Agency directly given how quickly conditions have been shifting.

• NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) forecasts a below-normal season in the Atlantic, raising the probability of a below-normal season to 75% (from 55% in May 2026), with a 20% chance of near-normal and just 5% chance of above-normal activity; NOAA revised the storm counts slightly downward to 7–13 named storms total, of which 2–6 are expected to become hurricanes and 0–2 are expected to reach major hurricane status, Category 3 or higher.
• As of September 30, the season has produced seven named storms – Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, Edouard, Fay, and Gonzalo – and no hurricanes, the latest the Atlantic has gone without a first hurricane in the satellite era. The primary driver remains El Niño conditions suppressing tropical development. Travelers to the Caribbean, Gulf Coast, southeastern U.S., and Central America between June and November 2026 should monitor national hurricane centers and other appropriate weather resources, and have contingency plans. Many travel insurance policies have specific terms around hurricane-related disruptions, which should also be reviewed when making travel plans and before departure.

• The Northwest Pacific typhoon season has no official start or end date. Storms are possible year-round, with the busiest stretch typically May through October and the strongest typhoons typically arriving in August and September. Forecasters have raised the 2026 outlook to exceptionally active, with the current season about 40% above the long-term average, citing a strong El Niño and projecting 27–29 total systems for the year. Since Super Typhoon Bavi struck Guam in July, additional systems including Typhoon Kujira (Luzon, early August 2026) and Typhoon Jangmi (Guam and Okinawa) have continued the active pattern; travelers to Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, and the wider region should continue to monitor the season closely through October 2026.