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UNESCO has designated 12 new Global Geoparks, adding new destinations across Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America to its international network of protected geological sites. The organization’s announcement brings the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network to 241 sites across 51 countries. The new additions give travelers more nature-focused destinations to consider in 2026, from volcanic islands and karst caves to canyons, coastlines, fossil-rich landscapes, and mountain regions shaped by millions of years of geological change.

UNESCO Global Geoparks are territories recognized for their geological heritage, educational value, conservation work, and role in sustainable local development. The 12 new sites are located in China, France, Greece, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Portugal, the Russian Federation, Tunisia, and Uruguay. Tunisia also received its first UNESCO Global Geopark designation, for Dahar in the country’s southern region.

Why It Matters For Travelers

The 2026 additions give UNESCO-recognized nature travel a wider map, with new sites stretching from East Asia to South America. In China, Changshan and Mt. Siguniang add two very different landscapes to the network, while Japan’s Miné-Akiyoshidai Karst Plateau brings limestone caves, grasslands, and karst scenery into the mix. Malaysia’s two new sites, Lenggong and Sarawak Delta, connect geological heritage with cultural anchors, including the Lenggong Valley World Heritage Site and Kuching, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

The list also brings more attention to regions where geology shapes both the land and the visitor experience. Portugal’s Algarvensis includes coastal formations, the Loulé Salt Mine, and traces of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. Tunisia’s Dahar preserves about 250 million years of geological history. Toratau in the Russian Federation and Manantiales Serranos in Uruguay round out the new designations.

UNESCO said the sites were approved after evaluation by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council and endorsement by the UNESCO Executive Board. For travelers, UNESCO’s designation gives these places greater visibility among those seeking nature trips with a stronger connection to local history and conservation.