The Gatherings · November 2026 · 2 min read
Four dates to plan around in 2027
Some dates do the hard work of a group trip for you. Nobody needs persuading, the diary clears itself and the only question is where everyone will stay. These four are worth putting in the diary now.
The total solar eclipse, 2 August
On a Monday morning in August, the sky will go dark over southern Spain and North Africa. Totality lasts under three minutes in Cádiz, close to five in Tangier and more than six around Luxor, where it will be the longest total eclipse visible from land until 2114. For a group, that’s three very different trips. We like the idea of an Andalusian finca with a terrace facing east, or a dahabiya moored on the Nile, with breakfast planned around the moment the light goes.
The Venice Architecture Biennale, 8 May to 21 November
Curated by Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu, the 20th International Architecture Exhibition fills the Giardini and the Arsenale for more than six months. It suits a client trip beautifully, because it gives a group something to talk about over dinner. We’d take a palazzo rather than a hotel floor, and arrive by water.
The Ryder Cup, 17 to 19 September
The contest marks its centenary at Adare Manor in County Limerick, its first time in Ireland since 2006. Houses near the course will be in demand for that week. A private country house within reach of the course turns a sporting weekend into a house party, with a fire to come back to.
The Rugby World Cup, 1 October to 13 November
Australia hosts an expanded 24-team tournament across seven cities, with the final in Sydney. It’s a long way to go for one match, which is why it’s a natural shape for a longer journey, perhaps the Barossa or the Great Barrier Reef between fixtures, with one plan holding it all together.
Group travel around a fixed date rewards whoever moves first. If one of these has your name on it, now’s the moment to talk.