The World Travel & Tourism Council has opened worldwide nominations for the 7 Contemporary Wonders of the World, a year-long campaign to identify the modern landmarks that have most shaped travel since 1801.
Anyone, anywhere, can now nominate the buildings and landmarks they believe define the modern age of travel, with public submissions live from 7 July 2026.
It is the first time a global vote has been held to recognise contemporary wonders of the world, with the criteria going beyond architectural and cultural significance to weigh a landmark’s role in reviving local economies, attracting investment and creating jobs.
Eligible sites are those built since 1801. Reference points named in the campaign include the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza.
How the campaign works
The campaign runs across four stages over a full year.
Nominations opened worldwide on 7 July 2026. On 7 January 2027, the 70 nominees are announced and public voting begins.
The shortlist narrows to 30 finalists on 7 April 2027, before the 7 Contemporary Wonders of the World are revealed on 7 July 2027.
What counts as a contemporary wonder
The selection considers tourism contribution, economic impact, community value and destination development, alongside cultural and architectural merit.
Both globally celebrated icons and emerging landmarks are eligible, opening the door to newer attractions that have delivered meaningful impact on their communities.
WTTC represents the private sector of travel and tourism, with members drawn from hotels, airlines, airports, cruise lines, tour operators, technology platforms and destinations across every major region.
Why WTTC is running the vote
WTTC president and CEO Gloria Guevara said the campaign is about recognising each generation’s contribution to global travel.
“Wonder is not something humanity stopped creating centuries ago. Every generation leaves its mark on the world. We are inviting people everywhere to help recognise the landmarks that have defined the modern age and will continue to inspire new ways of experiencing the world.”
“The most influential tourism assets do far more than attract visitors. They create jobs, stimulate investment, support local businesses, strengthen communities and enhance the global profile of destinations. We want to showcase how visionary investments in tourism infrastructure and cultural assets can deliver lasting economic and social value for generations.”
Many of the world’s most-nominated landmarks are likely to sit in the destinations Australians already travel to in the greatest numbers, giving travel sellers a fresh hook for European city breaks, Egypt add-ons and bucket-list itineraries.
The public nomination phase for the new Wonders of the World is now open, with submissions accepted at contemporary-wonders.wttc.org. There is no cost to nominate or vote.
KARRYON UNPACKS: A year-long global vote is a ready-made content engine for the trade, with the 70-nominee reveal in January 2027 and the winners in July 2027 both giving advisors a reason to talk to clients about bucket-list landmarks. Expect plenty of these to land in Europe, Egypt and other top outbound markets, making the campaign an easy conversation starter for itinerary building.
