by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 8:25 AM ET, Wed July 8, 2026
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is launching a new public effort to name the seven contemporary “Wonders of the World,” created to celebrate iconic landmarks and buildings that have had storied impacts on travel and tourism in their destinations.
Travelers and people from all over the world can nominate and help select the 7 Contemporary Wonders of the World. They can nominate any manmade structure built from 1801 onwards.
Think: the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, monuments that have become symbols of place and culture.
From delighting travelers to becoming iconic parts of a city’s skyline or a destination’s cultural heritage, the seven contemporary wonders will show how tourism assets can become, as WTTC says, “strategic infrastructure,” an important part of the tourism cycle.
The nominations will be considered for their contribution to tourism, their economic impact, community value, destination development and cultural and architectural significance.
Nominations are open worldwide, as of July 7. By January 7, 2027, the 70 nominees will be announced, and public voting for the best of the seven will begin. On April 7, the shortlist of 30 wonders will be released, with a new round of voting. On July 7, 2027, the 7 Contemporary Wonders of the World will be revealed.
"Wonder is not something humanity stopped creating centuries ago,” said President & CEO of WTTC, Gloria Guevara. “Every generation leaves its mark on the world. We are inviting people everywhere to help recognize 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."
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