popularity

MOST Brits would have heard of Malta, famous for its fortified city and having hundreds of days of sunshine a year, but most wouldn’t have heard of its neighbour, Gozo.

However this might be the year that Gozo – the second-largest island in the Maltese archipelago – appears on your radar as it’s a trending destination that is topping the travel charts.

Research by TravelSupermarket revealed that interest in Gozo has increased by 1,703 per cent.

One explanation for its surge in popularity could be that travellers are looking for a quieter alternative to Malta – where Gladiator II was recently filmed.

Chris Webber, head of holidays and Deals at TravelSupermarket said: “The Gladiator II effect on Gozo has been remarkable.

“We’re seeing holidaymakers actively searching for this quieter island that offers ancient history, dramatic landscapes, and a more authentic Mediterranean experience.

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“Malta itself is also performing strongly with a 95 per cent increase, but Gozo’s explosion in interest shows that British travellers are increasingly seeking out lesser-known destinations with genuine cultural depth.”

Gozo’s capital is Victoria and it’s famous for its impressive fort citadel which has museums and the Gozo Cathedral.

In more modern parts, you’ll find restaurants, bars, boutiques and markets.

When it comes to beaches, Ramla Beach is considered ‘Malta’s finest beach’ with red toned sand and calm waters.

One visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: “Absolutely the most beautiful beach in the Maltese archipelago.”

Another dubbed it a ‘bucket list’ beach – and there’s a great viewpoint above it called Mixta Cave.

It’s not all beaches – there’s even a lagoon of seawater, which is literally called Inland Sea and it’s linked to the Mediterranean Sea through a narrow archway.

On the northern coast of Gozo are the salt basins of Xwejni which were used for centuries to harvest sea salt and now are one of the island’s main attractions.

There’s also the Ta’ Pinu Basilica which is perched on a hill in the countryside and is a popular stop for hikers.

Another popular attraction near Gozo is Blue Lagoon.

It’s a stunningly clear, shallow bay with bright blue water, between the islands of Comino and Cominotto where visitors can swim or snorkel.

Writer Nuria Cremer-Vazquez visited Gozo last year, she said: “Gozo has much of what makes Malta so special — stunning citadels, mind-blowing food, budget-friendly prices, and glittering turquoise sea — though it has noticeably fewer tourists, giving it a more relaxed, off-the-beaten-track feel.

“Its vibrant capital, Victoria, is another must-visit, and on a clear day you can even see Sicily from the ramparts of the city.

“There is plenty to do beyond sightseeing.

“At Il-Wileg restaurant, you can try your hand at making the authentic Gozitan cheese, which is served all over Malta, under the watchful eye of a local chef — or you can take an idyllic tuk-tuk ride around the island.”

Just like Malta, Gozo basks in over 300 days of sunshine each year and long summer days can have up to 14 hours of sun.

The months for the warmest temperatures are from June until October where it sits between 25C and 32C.

When it comes to getting to Gozo, British travellers will have to fly to Malta first – flights from London Luton as as low as £18 in January with Ryanair.

From there, you can hop onboard ferry from the ports at either Cirkewwa or Valletta which take around 45 minutes.

The fee for a one-way trip is around €6 (£5.20).

The Top 10 Trending Islands for 2026…

HERE are TravelSupermarket’s top trending island destinations for 2026…

1. Gozo
2. Sri Lanka
3. Zante
4. Mauritius
5. Fuerteventura
6. Kos
7. Mykonos
8. Antigua
9. Cyprus
10. Malta

For more on islands, here are some of the UK’s best that look more like the Caribbean and Maldives.

And here are 20 of Europe’s most beautiful islands that have direct flights from the UK – and some of the world’s best beaches.

WASHINGTON — President Trump intends to preview his agenda for next year and beyond in a live speech from the White House on Wednesday night. His remarks are coming at a crucial time as he tries to rebuild his steadily eroding popularity.

The White House offered few details about what the Republican president intends to emphasize in the 6 p.m. PST speech. Public polling shows most U.S. adults are frustrated with his handling of the economy as inflation picked up after his tariffs raised prices and hiring slowed.

Trump’s mass deportations of immigrants have also proved unpopular even as he is viewed favorably for halting crossings along the U.S. border with Mexico. The public has generally been nonplussed by his income tax cuts and globe-trotting efforts to end conflicts, attack suspected drug boats near Venezuela and attract investment dollars into the United States.

In 2026, Trump and his party face a referendum on their leadership as the nation heads into the midterm elections that will decide control of the House and the Senate.

Trump has said that he thinks more Americans would back him if they simply heard him describe his track record. Administration officials say investment commitments for new factories will reverse the recent decline in manufacturing jobs and that consumer activity will improve dramatically as people receive increased tax refunds next year.

“It has been a great year for our Country, and THE BEST IS YET TO COME!” Trump said in a Tuesday social media post announcing the speech.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump would discuss his achievements this year and his plans for the remainder of his second term.

Trump has been omnipresent on social media and television this year with his impromptu news conferences and speeches. But addresses to the nation often can be relatively sober affairs, as was Trump’s June address describing the U.S. bombing of nuclear facilities in Iran.

The president has eschewed the messaging discipline that’s common among most politicians, an authenticity that appeals to some voters and repels others.

In a speech in Pennsylvania last week, he said his tariffs might mean that American children should have fewer dolls and pencils, while confirming a previously denied story from his first term in 2018 that he did not want immigrants from “shithole” countries.

On Monday, Trump on his social media site blamed Rob Reiner’s vocal objections to the president for the killing of the actor-director and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.

A report released on Tuesday showed a jobs market that looks increasingly fragile, even if the overall economy still appears to be stable.

Employers were adding on average 122,750 jobs a month during the first four months of this year. But since Trump announced his broad tariffs in April, monthly job gains have averaged a paltry 17,000 as the unemployment rate has climbed from 4% in January to 4.6%.

Trump’s team has blamed Democratic lawmakers for shutting down the government for the job losses reported Tuesday during October. The president continues to blame his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, for any challenges the nation might face over inflation or ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Boak writes for the Associated Press.