El Paso just scored big on a national travel list, and this one actually means something. HomeToGo, one of the largest vacation rental marketplaces in the world, has named El Paso the\u00a0number four rising travel destination for 2026\u00a0in its newly released Travel Trends Forecast. That puts the Sun City squarely on the radar for travelers who are actively looking for exciting, affordable places they have not already overdone.<\/p>\n
This recognition comes from real data, not hype. HomeToGo analyzed search trends, pricing, and traveler surveys to figure out where people are planning to go next. The results show that El Paso is having a moment, and the rest of the country is starting to notice.<\/p>\n
Why Travelers Are Looking for Cities Like El Paso<\/p>\n
According to HomeToGo\u2019s survey,\u00a076 percent of Americans plan to take a vacation in 2026, and more than half say they expect to spend more on travel than they did in 2025. At the same time, price still matters.\u00a0Fifty-two percent of travelers say affordability is their top priority, and nearly\u00a0one in three is actively searching for hidden gem destinations.<\/p>\n
That is where El Paso shines. The city offers desert landscapes, rich culture, food, history, and major events without the massive price tag of more crowded tourist cities. HomeToGo reports that El Paso saw a\u00a0191 percent year-over-year increase in searches for 2026 stays, with a\u00a0median nightly price of just $62.21 per person. For travelers who want something new without blowing their budget, that is a huge draw.<\/p>\n
El Paso\u2019s Big Year on the World Stage<\/p>\n
El Paso\u2019s rise is not just about travel trends. Over the past year, the city has repeatedly been recognized on a national and even global level for its culture, creativity, and community spaces.<\/p>\n
One of the biggest moments came when\u00a0El Paso WinterFest was named the best winter market in the country, beating out cities that are traditionally known for holiday tourism. That recognition put downtown El Paso in front of a national audience and showed that the city knows how to create large-scale events that draw visitors, support local vendors, and build real holiday magic in the desert.<\/p>\n
Courtesy of The Plaza Theater<\/p>\n
Courtesy of The Plaza Theater<\/p>\n
The arts scene also made waves. The\u00a0Plaza Theatre was named the top-grossing theater in Texas, an incredible achievement that speaks to how strong El Paso\u2019s live performance scene has become. Night after night, people are filling seats for concerts, Broadway shows, comedy, and touring acts, proving that El Paso is a serious stop on major entertainment circuits.<\/p>\n
Courtesy: La Nube<\/p>\n
Courtesy: La Nube<\/p>\n
El Paso\u2019s innovation and family-focused attractions are also getting attention.\u00a0La Nube, the city\u2019s STEM children\u2019s museum, received national recognition, highlighting El Paso as a place investing in education, creativity, and future generations. It is another example of how the city is building spaces that serve locals while also impressing visitors from outside the region.<\/p>\n
Courtesy of Brian Wancho and CODA<\/p>\n
Courtesy of Brian Wancho and CODA<\/p>\n
On the global art stage, El Paso was honored in a deeply meaningful way. A public art piece created by\u00a0local artist Tino Ortega, dedicated to the victims of the 2019 Walmart shooting, was recognized alongside public artworks from around the world. The piece stood out not just for its design, but for its message of remembrance, resilience, and community healing, placing El Paso in an international conversation about how cities honor tragedy through art.<\/p>\n
Courtesy: Iris Lopez<\/p>\n
Courtesy: Iris LopezThe Top 6 Rising Southwest Destinations for 2026<\/p>\n
As part of its Neo-Western Revival trend, HomeToGo highlighted six Southwest destinations seeing major growth in interest:<\/p>\n
Yucca Valley, California<\/p>\n
Ca\u00f1on City, Colorado<\/p>\n
Bisbee, Arizona<\/p>\n
El Paso, Texas<\/p>\n
Queen Creek, Arizona<\/p>\n
Marana, Arizona<\/p>\n
All six cities saw search growth of over 100 percent and offer median nightly prices under $100 per person, making them attractive options for travelers who want something fresh and affordable.<\/p>\n
Courtesy of Christian Churches Photography<\/p>\n
Courtesy of Christian Churches PhotographyWhat This Means for El Paso<\/p>\n
El Paso landing at number four is more than a fun ranking. It is proof that the city\u2019s culture, energy, and authenticity are resonating far beyond West Texas. With music, film, food, and community all colliding at the right time, El Paso is no longer a secret. For 2026 travelers, it is quickly becoming a destination.<\/p>\n
Special Olympics Bowling Tournament 2025<\/p>\n
Nearly 200 athletes from El Paso stepped up to compete at The El Paso Special Olympics Bowling Tournament!<\/p>\n
Gallery Credit: Grizz<\/p>\n
Guns Down, Gloves Up: RT Fades Fighting Gun Violence With Boxing In El Paso<\/p>\n
Local social media page, RT Fades, has been fighting gun violence by encouraging community members to box out their problems in the ring. After being negative and violent rumors spread across news sources in El Paso, Grizz and local photographer Christian Churches decided to see for themselves what the events were really like. Los Toreados was the host for this particular weekends RT Fades event. <\/p>\n
Gallery Credit: Grizz<\/p>\n
The IMPOSTERS Vol. 3 Selection Party<\/p>\n
Volume 1 brought 19 artists, Volume 2 brought 30 artists. The next volume of the IMPOSTERS brings over 50 artists to join this amazing new art show where local artists adopt each others styles and get out of their comfort zones. All put together by local art icon, JayD Viz!<\/p>\n
Gallery Credit: Grizz<\/p>\n
LOOK: An Inside Look at La Nube Children\u2019s Museum<\/p>\n
Gallery Credit: Iris Lopez<\/p>\n
The Most Famous People You Didn’t Know Were El Pasoans<\/p>\n
These are just a few of the most famous El Pasoans to grace the earth. Some of them, like Alan Tudyk, have played so many famous characters, its crazy that we could ever forget they were El Paso born!<\/p>\n
Gallery Credit: Grizz<\/p>\n
The City of The 915: El Paso, Texas Through Photos<\/p>\n
El Paso, Texas is a hidden gem full of so much culture, art, and community. These photos show what the city has to offer.<\/p>\n
Gallery Credit: Courtesy: UnSplash<\/p>\n
El Paso’s Jazz+Poetry Night At International Bar<\/p>\n
Every Thursday night at International Bar down by the Plaza, some of the best Jazz Musicians come out to shake the place up! And on rare nights, the poets come out to play too!! <\/p>\n
Gallery Credit: Grizz<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"El Paso just scored big on a national travel list, and this one actually means something. HomeToGo, one…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":23887,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[138,140,139,141,142,143,833],"class_list":{"0":"post-141443","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-el-paso","8":"tag-el-paso","9":"tag-el-paso-headlines","10":"tag-el-paso-news","11":"tag-featured-carousel","12":"tag-include-in-newsletter","13":"tag-local-el-paso","14":"tag-local-texas"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=141443"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141443\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23887"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=141443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=141443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=141443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}