Inside Egypt: What’s Happening in 2026 & Beyond

Egypt is seeing a travel boom. Tour operators and travel advisors have seen a spike in Egypt bookings, and the African nation saw a 21% increase in tourists over the first nine months of 2025 (via Arab News).

The increased interest is thanks, in part, to the long-awaited opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), as well as the upcoming 2027 solar eclipse.

Minister of Tourism Sherif Fathy told Travel Market Report in an exclusive interview that Egypt is poised to build on this momentum in 2026, thanks to the destination’s range of experiences.

“We have unmatched diversity,” said the Minister. “The diversification of sites, products we have [cannot be found] anywhere else in the world.”

The Grand Egyptian Museum: What’s New

After years of delays, the GEM celebrated its grand opening on Nov. 1, 2025. The event was attended by 39 heads of state and dozens of global dignitaries.

“The new museum… It’s the biggest museum in the world dedicated to a specific culture,” said Fathy.

The GEM currently displays 57,000 artifacts, including the full collection of King Tut, with 5,950 items under one roof for the first time. But the facility is intended to be more than just a display of historical artifacts: it’s an institution dedicated to culture and education.

“The Grand Egyptian Museum is not only a museum, it’s also a research and development center,” Fathy explained. The complex includes libraries, a dedicated children’s museum, and an immersive experience where travelers can watch technicians restore ancient boats discovered near the Pyramids. One has already been reconstructed; the second will remain “always shown under restoration,” offering visitors a rare behind-the-scenes view.

Fathy told TMR that the reopened GEM in Egypt is just part of a large-scale effort to expand tourism in the Giza Plateau, which will add 20,000 to 25,000 new hotel rooms and introduce new entertainment, retail, and resort zones over the next three to five years. “We’re restructuring the whole area… all these things are going under a big master plan,” he said.

Egypt: More Than Just the Pyramids

While the GEM is a major talking point for Egypt tourism in 2026, Fathy emphasized that his main mission in the U.S. this year is to showcase Egypt’s vast and often underappreciated range of tourism experiences.

“We’re focusing on this unmatched diversity… making our products more visible and more fit to be part of an itinerary,” he explained.

In terms of cultural history, there’s more to see than the pyramids and the exhibits at GEM. “We have archaeological sites from all eras—Islamic, Jewish, Christian, Mamluk,” he said. “We have 3,500 kilometers traveled by the Holy Family across Egypt… 25 sites have been identified.”

Egypt also has natural beauty and opportunities for adventure tourism. Fathy described the unparalleled beauty of the region’s deserts of black and white sand, as well as activities like hiking and animal watching. Nile river cruises continue to be popular with American travelers, and Egypt’s coastline is experiencing its own renaissance.

“Imagine… you enjoy swimming and sun, then drive two hours into the desert and spend the rest of your vacation in an oasis,” said Fathy.

Fathy’s overall message was clear: with so much to see and do in the region, Egypt should be on every travel advisor’s radar in 2026.

“I met a tourist from Mexico who visited Egypt three times in one year because she enjoyed the country so much,” said Fathy. “Deserts, eco-reserves, Holy Family sites, historic Cairo, the Nile, our beaches. It’s all there.”