Scout the next filming-location towns before the crowds arrive

Scout the next filming-location towns before the crowds arrive — your low-effort, high-reward travel playbook for 2026

Feeling overwhelmed by endless travel lists and worried you’ll arrive somewhere only to find tour buses and selfie queues? You’re not alone. In 2026 the smart traveler doesn’t wait for a location to trend — they read the signals studios, commissioners, and local film offices are already sending. This guide teaches you how to spot towns likely to be featured in upcoming shows and plan pre-tourist visits so you experience hidden places on your own terms.

Why 2026 is a turning point for media-driven travel

Late 2025 and early 2026 brought three developments that change the scouting game:

• EO Media’s expanding sales slate (Variety, Jan 16, 2026) shows independent producers are leaning into specialty titles — rom-coms, holiday movies and offbeat indie features — that favor small, characterful towns over backlot locations.
• Disney+ EMEA’s executive reshuffle (Deadline, Jan 2026) signals a push for more regionally commissioned scripted and unscripted content in Europe, led by commissioners who know local production landscapes.
• BBC’s talks with YouTube (Variety, Jan 16, 2026) point to bespoke short-form and platform-native programming that often shoots in accessible, photogenic locations outside big cities.

Together, these trends mean more shows are being commissioned that deliberately seek authentic, under-the-radar towns — the exact places you want to visit before travel demand spikes.

Most important takeaway (read first): watch commissioning signals

If you remember only one thing: start with the people who decide what gets made. Commissioners, sales slates, and festival pick-ups are early predictors of which towns will get screen time. Follow them and you’ll often have months—sometimes a year—before tourism surges.

Practical: 3 quick signals to watch this week

• New commissioning hires or promotions — a newly empowered regional commissioner often prioritizes local stories (see Disney+ EMEA’s promotions, Jan 2026).
• Content market slates — sales announcements (Content Americas, Berlinale Series Market) reveal titles and production partners early.
• Local film office permit dashboards — towns publish filming permits or road-closure notices before production starts; these are public and often updated in real time.

How commissioning trends translate into filming-location picks

Understanding why a show chooses a town helps you predict the next hotspots. Here are the commissioning-driven variables producers weigh in 2026:

• Genre fit: Rom-coms and holiday movies need quaint streets and intimate B&Bs; prestige dramas seek characterful architecture; true-crime series look for specific landscapes and community backstories.
• Budget constraints: Smaller productions (EO Media-style specialty titles) prefer towns with lower location costs and willing local partners.
• Logistics & crew base: Proximity to regional hubs, local production services, and crew accommodation matters — producers choose towns with accessible airports and sufficient short-term stays.
• Tax incentives and local incentives: Regions that recently boosted film incentives are suddenly more attractive.

Signals that a town is likely to be featured — a practical checklist

Use this checklist to shortlist towns you should visit now, before the cameras roll and the crowds follow.

1. New entries on sales slates and festival pickups

   When EO Media or a similar outfit announces a title that matches a town’s look — e.g., coastal coming-of-age films or small-town rom-coms — flag nearby towns that match the aesthetic. Sales announcements often occur months ahead (Content Americas, Jan 2026).

2. Commissioner focus & regional mandates

   When an executive states a focus on local or regional content — like Disney+ EMEA’s drive for long-term regional commissions (Deadline, Jan 2026) — regions under that executive’s remit are prime candidates.

3. Local film office activity

   Watch permit logs, public notices and social media posts from town councils. Many film offices publish pending permit lists or “filming this month” calendars.

4. Casting and crew calls

   Open casting notices for “local adults” or “townspeople” are an early sign. Monitor casting websites, local Facebook groups, and community notice boards.

5. Location scout posts

   Scouts and location managers often post teaser photos on Instagram, X, or LinkedIn. Account follows include production services companies, local location agencies, and location scouts.

6. Local infrastructure upgrades

   Temporary upgrades like road resurfacing, façade restorations, or pop-up production facilities often precede shoots. These are visible in planning notices and local papers.

7. Short-form & digital content strategies

   Deals like the BBC-YouTube talks (Variety, Jan 16, 2026) indicate more short-form projects that shoot quickly in reachable towns — often making those towns visible online almost immediately after release.

Tools & sources — where to monitor signals (weekly routine)

Make this a short weekly ritual — 20 to 30 minutes — to stay ahead.

• Trade press & markets: Variety, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, Content Americas and Berlinale Series Market feeds.
• Commissioning announcements: Follow streaming platforms’ regional press releases (Disney+ EMEA, BBC commissioning pages).
• Local film offices: Subscribe to regional film commission newsletters (e.g., Screen Scotland, Northern Ireland Screen, regional county film offices).
• Casting boards: Mandy, Backstage, local casting Facebook groups.
• Location databases: ProductionBase, LocalCrew directories, and Google Alerts for “filming permit [town name]”.
• Social listening: Set X/Twitter and Instagram searches for location scout handles and hashtags like #locationscout, #filminglocal, #onlocation.

On-the-ground scouting checklist — what to do once a town is shortlisted

Once you’ve identified a potential filming-location town, follow these steps to plan a low-risk, high-enjoyment pre-tourist visit.

1. Verify status — Contact the local film office or council to confirm whether a production is planned and approximate dates. Many offices are transparent about filming schedules when asked politely.
2. Check permit calendars — If filming is imminent, find out if there will be road closures, restricted areas, or public-access changes and plan around them.
3. Book flexible lodging — Choose small guesthouses or family-run B&Bs that offer free cancellation in case a shoot blocks access.
4. Map alternate experiences — Identify nearby villages, walking routes, and off-peak cafes so you can still enjoy the region if parts are busy during filming days.
5. Respect production etiquette — Never cross taped areas, avoid photographing active shoots, and follow local signage. Productions appreciate local goodwill and so will you.
6. Engage locally — Ask hosts and shopkeepers about recent production interest; locals often know before public announcements and can give context and history.

Case studies: how shows historically changed towns — and how to avoid the negative effects

Media tourism can be a double-edged sword. Examples like Game of Thrones (Northern Ireland & Dubrovnik) show both economic boosts and overtourism. But there are also positive models: towns that used production attention to improve infrastructure and spread benefits locally through community tourism plans.

Key lessons:

• Spread visitation — Avoid visiting only the main “photo spot.” Explore the surrounding countryside, markets, and lesser-known heritage sites.
• Support small businesses — Eat, drink and shop locally to ensure production-driven tourism benefits the community.
• Respect capacity limits — If a town asks visitors to stagger arrival times or buy timed-entry tickets for certain attractions, comply. Those rules protect both residents and visitors.

Photography and storytelling tips for pre-tourist visits

Want great photos without the crowds and a story people will read? Follow these quick practices.

• Shoot at golden hours — Early morning and late afternoon give you empty streets and cinematic light.
• Use context shots — Include storefronts, signage and local faces (with permission) to create publishable travel stories.
• Document the timeline — If you find indicators of upcoming filming (permits, scaffolding, local chatter), record dates and sources — that makes your post valuable to others planning pre-tourist visits.

Ethical and legal considerations

Filming locations are also residents’ homes. Follow these rules:

• Obey private property signs and never enter closed sets or private alleys.
• Ask permission before photographing people in private businesses or homes.
• Be transparent with local businesses if you plan to publish photos as part of a commercial project.

Advanced strategy: use commissioning trends to time longer itineraries

For travelers planning multi-week explorations in 2026, commission-driven timing helps you avoid or embrace the media cycle.

1. Pre-release visits (6–12 months out) — Ideal for exploring a town before production, when the atmosphere is untouched. Use this window if you prioritize quiet discovery.
2. Production-time visits (weeks before release) — Great for seeing behind-the-scenes energy and maybe spotting extras or location shoots. Expect restricted areas.
3. Post-release visits (after premiere) — Visit a location after the initial media surge to enjoy established tours and exhibitions curated for fans.

Predicting future hotspots — 2026 trends & what they mean for travelers

Here’s how the landscape will evolve through 2026 and beyond — and how you can adapt:

• Regional commissioning will rise — Platforms will continue funding local teams. That means more stories set in lesser-known towns across Europe and beyond. Watch regional commissioning announcements closely.
• Short-form & digital-first productions will create immediate visibility — BBC-YouTube style deals will spotlight towns quickly and broadly on social platforms.
• AI & virtual scouting will be used more in pre-production — Production teams will shortlist towns via AI-driven image and location databases; if a town matches AI criteria, you’ll see production interest earlier.
• Sustainability and community engagement will shape production choices — Expect production companies to favor towns with clear sustainability plans and community buy-in. That’s good news for travelers who want authentic, respectful experiences.

Quick-start plan: 7-day routine to spot and visit a future filming location

Follow this one-week routine whenever you want to scout a future hotspot.

1. Day 1: Scan trade press and set Google Alerts for “filming permit [region]” and producers named in recent slates.
2. Day 2: Check local film office calendars and local newspapers for permit notices.
3. Day 3: Follow commissioning execs and production companies on LinkedIn/Instagram for hints about the slate and filming preferences.
4. Day 4: Search casting boards for local calls; bookmark promising towns.
5. Day 5: Reach out to a local host or B&B to ask about any scheduled filming and to scout lodging options offline.
6. Day 6: Plan a weekend trip; map alternate attractions in the area.
7. Day 7: Visit at dawn, document the place, and ask three locals about recent production interest — they’ll likely point you to the earliest signs.

Final notes from the field

"With commissioners shaping long-term regional strategies and sellers like EO Media broadening genre slates, 2026 is the year to treat media commissions like a travel forecasting tool." — discovers.site travel editors

Studying commissioning trends isn’t about cheering for overtourism — it’s about timing your visits so you enjoy authentic experiences and help local economies sustainably. Follow the commissioning signals, respect communities, and enjoy discovering towns before guidebooks catch up.

Call to action

Ready to scout your first pre-tourist filming-location town? Sign up for our weekly Filming Locations Alert to get early warnings from trade slates, film offices and casting calls. Or submit a town tip — tell us the hidden town you think will be on screen next, and we’ll research it for you.

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