Penang has once again earned its spot in the global spotlight after it was named as one of the top places to visit in 2026 by two prestigious publications.
The news was celebrated by many, including state tourism committee chairman Wong Hon Wai, who congratulated the state on the achievement in a Facebook post.
What makes the achievement all the sweeter was the fact that Penang is the only destination from Malaysia to make the list, further cementing its reputation as a tourist haven.
What the publications say
According to an article by CNN Travel, it praised Penang for preserving the “old school charm” evident in its pre-war buildings located at the George Town Heritage Site, which come with “vintage decor, colorful tiles, and 1950s and ’60s tunes playing in the background”.
The article also added that this was one of the main reasons why Penang was chosen to be one of the locations for the filming of ‘Crazy Rich Asians’.
Penang’s rich and diverse cuisine scene were also highlighted, with the article stating that it’s home to several Michelin-recognised eateries such as Auntie Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery, as well as humble kopitiams that serve up mouthwatering dishes loved by locals and tourists alike.
Other cities on the list include Adelaide, Algeria, Arusha in Tanzania, Aragon in Spain, Bahrain, Brussels, the Chilean fjords, Devon, Dominica, East Timor, Jamaica, Kanazawa, the Orkhon Valley in Mongolia, Oulu in Finland, Peñico, Peru, Philadelphia, Sail250, Santa Monica, and France’s St. Pierre and Miquelon.
As for the New York Times, it placed Penang at the 15th spot out of 52 cities in an article titled: ’52 Places to Go in 2026′.
Congratulations to Penang for making all Malaysians proud with this achievement!
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