Casablanca – Morocco has added another international travel accolade to its growing list, taking the top spot in National Geographic Traveller (UK)’s Editors’ Pick category for the 2026 UK Reader Awards.
The recognition comes as Morocco continues to draw travellers with its mix of cities, dramatic landscapes, coastal escapes, and desert adventures.
National Geographic Traveller’s editors placed Morocco ahead of Japan and Sri Lanka, which took the two runner-up spots.
Why Morocco stood out
For National Geographic’s editors, Morocco’s appeal lies partly in how easily UK travelers can reach it. The magazine points to flights of less than four hours that can transport travelers from the UK into a world that feels dramatically different.
For first-time visitors, the experience can begin in the lively chaos of Jemaa el-Fnaa, Marrakech’s iconic square, where food stalls, performers, storytellers, and crowds create an atmosphere unlike anywhere else.
National Geographic describes a first visit to Jemaa el-Fnaa as an experience that can feel like “a slap in the face and a warm hug at the same time.”
But Morocco’s appeal stretches well beyond the Red City. The magazine also looked beyond Marrakech, highlighting the range of experiences Morocco offers across its landscapes.
Travelers can spend a night beneath the stars in a Sahara desert camp, surf along the Atlantic coast in Taghazout and Tamraght, or hike through the ochre landscapes of the Atlas Mountains.
That variety gives Morocco a little something for almost every kind of traveller. One trip can move from medina mornings to beach afternoons and desert sunsets without ever feeling like the same holiday twice.
Japan and Sri Lanka follow
Japan came close behind Morocco in the Editors’ Pick category, earning one of the two runner-up positions. The country also appeared strongly across the wider awards, taking second place in the People’s Choice category behind Italy.
Sri Lanka claimed the second runner-up spot alongside Japan, rounding out a shortlist that reflects the wide range of destinations still capturing the attention of travel editors.
Another international nod for Morocco
The 2026 Reader Awards brought together 16 categories and thousands of votes, reflecting the destinations and travel experiences that captured readers’ attention over the past year.
While the other award categories were decided by reader votes, Morocco earned its place through the magazine’s Editors’ Pick selection.
The results showed a strong appetite for new experiences, cultural connections, and destinations closer to home.
The magazine also noted that financial pressures and global uncertainty may have encouraged some travellers to look closer to home this year, even as long-haul destinations continued to attract adventurous travellers.
For Morocco, the Editors’ Pick recognition adds another international nod to a destination that keeps finding new ways to surprise even those who think they already know it.
