Nationwide — Black Women Abroad (BWA), a boutique travel company redefining global travel for Black women, is launching its highly anticipated 2026 group voyage calendar of curated cultural journeys around the world, designed by expert travelers with a passion for purposeful exploration.
Founded by Christa Sanders and Johnette Iris Stubbs, who have collectively traveled to 49 African countries and nearly 80 countries worldwide, Black Women Abroad crafts experiences that go beyond tourism. The brand merges travel with identity, cultural reconnection, and sisterhood, offering itineraries that are luxurious, logistically seamless, and deeply rooted in heritage.
The 2026 launch includes new destinations and returning favorites across Africa, the Caribbean, South America, and Europe, reflecting growing interest in identity-affirming, transformative travel experiences among Black women.
“As Black women who’ve spent years exploring the world, we saw the gap and the opportunity to create travel experiences where Black women are seen, centered, and celebrated,” said co-founder Christa Sanders, who has lived and worked in Ghana in the field of international education for over two decades.
In addition to its new travel offerings, BWA is also expanding its Study Abroad Student Scholarship, a program that supports students who want to study abroad in Africa and other parts of the world at their alma mater, Spelman College. The fund is raising capital to open global doors for recipients who would otherwise face financial barriers to international travel.
“We believe travel is a form of liberation, and we began our international journeys while still students at Spelman. Our scholarship is one way we remove obstacles that often prevent Black women from experiencing that,” added Stubbs, who has lived in Mozambique, Rwanda, and Ethiopia over the last decade and whose photographic work has been exhibited on four continents.
Highlights for 2026:
• New group itineraries featuring cultural immersions, heritage site visits, and local
community engagement
• Private voyages for small groups, families, or solo travelers seeking tailored experiences
• Expanded Study Abroad Student Scholarship Fund at Spelman College — now accepting donations and applications for 2026 recipients
• Limited-edition BWA Valuables travel merch collection, with proceeds supporting the scholarship fund
Last year, the company led curated group trips to Morocco, South Africa, Italy, and Ghana with expanded destinations across the African continent for 2026. To learn more, visit BlackWomenAbroad.org