According to National Geographic's Best of the World list, Hull is up there with the likes of Rio de Janeiro, Beijing and the Black Sea Coast in the top destinations to visit in 2026.
Trust us, we're just as surprised as you are.
The list features destinations hand-picked by National Geographic's editors and photographers and aims to inspire the reader's next adventure across the world.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
So, what did they have to say about Hull then?
The list praises Hull for its rich maritime history and 'significant revitalisation'. The guide says: "A $53 million project to promote Hull’s many-layered maritime heritage wraps up in 2026, transforming this underrated northern England port city. A network of new interpretive sites brings some 800 years of seafaring history to life.
"Among them are the Hull Maritime Museum, the North End Shipyard two-story visitors center, and two permanently docked museum ships: the 1960s Arctic Corsair cod trawler and the Spurn lightship, which once guided boats through the treacherous waters of the Humber Estuary near the city of Hull (Kingston upon Hull). The phased openings will be complete by summer 2026, making it the perfect time to discover the city’s laid-back charm."
Images: The Hoot Leeds
High praise for Hull indeed, and we'd have to agree that it most definitely does have a 'laid-back' charm.
The guide continues: "At the edge of the North Sea, Hull was one of the world’s busiest whaling ports in the 19th century and a fishing and shipping hub until the 20th, before falling on hard times.
"Over the past decade, the city has undergone significant revitalization. Warehouses around Humber Street’s old waterside Fruit Market are now lively independent bars, restaurants, and art galleries.
"There’s also a spectacular performance amphitheater, called Stage@TheDock, overlooking River Hull where it meets the Humber Estuary; and a former shipyard has for over 20 years been the base for The Deep, one of the United Kingdom’s most highly respected aquariums and marine conservation centers."
So cancel your flights to Vancouver or Japan, because Hull is where it's at.
You can read the full Nation Geographic list here.
Niall Horan has announced a huge arena show in Sheffield this year, as part of a brand-new European tour.
The former One Direction star will be stopping off at the Utilita Arena this September, along with gigs in Manchester, Newcastle, and Glasgow.
The chart-topping singer-songwriter has just announced his Dinner Party Live On Tour tour, which is in support of his upcoming fourth solo studio album.
After his show in Sheffield. he'll then head right across Europe, playing music from his multi-Platinum-selling songbook.
Niall first shot to fame as one-fifth of One Direction, but has one of the group's strongest solo careers, with three chart-topping albums and massive hits like Slow Hands, Heaven, and Our Song.
Niall Horan has announced a massive arena gig in Sheffield on his new tour
He's also worked on some exciting collaborations with the likes of Anne-Marie, and most recently Myles Smith.
£1 from every ticket sold for Niall Horan's Dinner Party tour will be donated to the LIVE Trust, which is dedicated to protecting, expanding, and supporting grassroots music across the UK.
Niall Horan will be at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield on Tuesday 29 September.
Tickets will go on sale from 10am on Thursday 2 April HERE.
Niall Horan UK and Europe tour dates in full
22 September – Utilita Arena, Birmingham (UK)
23 September – Utilita Arena, Newcastle (UK)
25 September – Co-op Live, Manchester (UK)
28 September – OVO Hydro, Glasgow (UK)
29 September – Utilita Arena, Sheffield (UK)
2 October – The O2, London (UK)
7 October – Barclays Arena, Hamburg (Germany)
8 October – Uber Arena, Berlin (Germany)
10 October – Royal Arena, Copenhagen (Denmark)
13 October – Lanxess Arena, Cologne (Germany)
15 October – Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam (Netherlands)
16 October – Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam (Netherlands)
25 October – Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona (Spain)
Estimated to be worth around £45 million, the Grade II-listed structure renovations won't begin for a little while just yet, but it is set to increase the capacity of the space by more than 50%.
Announced on Tuesday, 24 March, the major refurb will be partly funded by public money and topped up by the private sector and "philanthropic partners".
The UK government and Sheffield City Council will be pumping in approximately £35m, with a further £10m being added through the investment mentioned above.
Soon to allow the theatre to scale up or down in size, the hope is that the new 'in the round' format will enable the Crucible to serve its arts and sporting audiences for decades to come, as well as opening the big Northern stage up to new opportunities.
Due to start in the summer of 2028, it's still unclear as to the exact completion date, but the plans are in support of confirmation that the annual snooker tournament will stay put.
A fresh agreement with the WSC will see them stay in Sheff until at least 2045, with the Crucible's number of seats set to jump from just under 1,000 to 1,480.
It's also said there is an option in the deal to extend the contract until 2050, and as one of the biggest competitive events that comes to the city year in and year out, you would expect them to push hard for the Council and partners to push hard for this, too.
Credit: Bread and Butter PR (supplied)
Dan Walker, Chair of Sheffield Theatres Trust, said in a statement: "The Crucible is a wonderful theatre with a brilliant reputation, and the positive impact of this investment will be seen for years to come.
"As a proud resident of Sheffield, I know the importance of snooker to our city, but this isn’t only good news for Sheffield: this is amazing news for the north of England and the whole of the UK."
If all goes to plan, the overhaul should take around 18 months, with productions being hosted in the Lyceium and the newest room, the Montgomery.
All the while, the Sheffield Theatres will continue to present new work both domestically and around the globe over this period, with more details coming this autumn 2026.
Clementine Hall -
4th November 2025 
