Algarve shines at Portugal’s top tourism awards

The Algarve enjoyed a successful night at the 2026 Publituris Portugal Travel Awards, with tourism businesses across the region picking up some of the industry’s most prestigious accolades.

Held at the Hilton Vilamoura Resort & Spa on June 26, the 21st edition of the awards recognised excellence across Portugal’s tourism sector, with the Algarve securing victories in several of the headline categories.

Among the biggest winners was Viceroy at Ombria Algarve, which was named Portugal’s Best Five-Star Hotel. The region also claimed the awards for Best Resort, won by Verdelago Resort, Best Beach Hotel, awarded to Vilalara Grand Hotel, and Best Boutique Hotel, which went to Palácio de Tavira.

Vilamoura also enjoyed a particularly strong evening. The Els Club Vilamoura was named Portugal’s Best Golf Course, while Vilamoura Marina took the title of Best Marina.

Another Algarve success came with Zoomarine, which was named Portugal’s Best Theme Park.

The evening also recognised Isolete Correia, CEO of Vilamoura World, who received the Belmiro Santos Award in recognition of her more than five decades of work at Vilamoura Marina and her contribution to establishing it as one of Europe’s leading nautical tourism destinations.

The ceremony brought together leading figures from Portugal’s tourism industry, including Secretary of State for Tourism, Commerce and Services Pedro Machado, Loulé mayor Telmo Pinto, Algarve Tourism president André Gomes, AHETA president Hélder Martins, APAVT president Pedro Costa Ferreira, AHRESP secretary-general Ana Jacinto, and representatives from tourism bodies across the country.

Nationally, TAP Air Portugal was named Best Airline, easyJet won Best Low-Cost Airline, Pestana Hotel Group was recognised as Best Hotel Chain, Agência Abreu won Best Travel Agency Network, while Porto and Northern Portugal was crowned Portugal’s Best Tourism Region.

The annual Publituris Portugal Travel Awards recognise excellence across Portugal’s tourism sector, with winners selected based on criteria including innovation, quality, reputation and contribution to the industry’s development.

Full list of winners – Publituris Portugal Travel Awards 2026

Best Airline: TAP Air Portugal

Best Low-Cost Airline: easyJet

Best Car Rental Company: Europcar

Best Tour Operator: Abreu

Best Travel Agency Network: Agência Abreu

Best Cruise Line: MSC Cruzeiros

Best Hotel Chain: Pestana Hotel Group

Best Five-Star Hotel: Viceroy at Ombria Algarve

Best Four-Star Hotel: PortoBay Blue Ocean

Best Resort: Verdelago Resort

Best Boutique Hotel: Palácio de Tavira

Best City Hotel: Tivoli Avenida

Best MICE Hotel: Montebelo Viseu Congress Hotel

Best Beach Hotel: Vilalara Grand Hotel

Best Rural Tourism: Casas do Côro

Best Wine Tourism: Herdade da Malhadinha Nova

Best Golf Course: The Els Club Vilamoura

Best Theme Park: Zoomarine Algarve

Best Tourism Entertainment Company: Picos de Aventura

Best Marina: Marina de Vilamoura

Best International Destination: Morocco

Best Portuguese Tourism Region: Porto and North

Belmiro Santos Award: Isolete Correia, CEO of Vilamoura World

Michael Bruxo

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.