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Portugal and Montenegro emerge among top winners at World Travel Awards Europe Gala in Kotor

Turkish Airlines, Lisbon, Athens and leading travel brands also recognised as Montenegro hosts the European ceremony for the first time

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • World Travel Awards held its first-ever Montenegro ceremony in Kotor on 17 October 2026.
  • Portugal won Europe’s Leading Destination, while Kotor and Montenegro took emerging tourism and nature destination titles.
  • Turkish Airlines was named Europe’s Leading Airline and Athens won the city-break destination award.
  • Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort hosted the ceremony and won Montenegro’s Leading Resort.

Portugal secured Europe’s Leading Destination title, Turkish Airlines won Europe’s Leading Airline and host country Montenegro collected two destination awards as the World Travel Awards Europe Gala Ceremony 2026 brought tourism and hospitality representatives to Kotor on 17 October. Held at the Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort, the event marked the awards programme’s first ceremony in Montenegro since its establishment in 1993.

The gathering on the Adriatic coast was the 20th anniversary edition of the Europe gala within the 33rd annual World Travel Awards. Its results spanned national destinations, city tourism, airlines, resorts, visitor attractions and travel service providers, providing a snapshot of the businesses and places recognised in this year’s regional programme. The complete results appear in the organisers’ 2026 European winners list.

Portugal leads destination honours as Montenegro gains recognition

Portugal’s Europe’s Leading Destination award was accompanied by several additional honours for the country. The Algarve received Europe’s Leading Beach Destination, the Azores Islands won Europe’s Leading Regional Adventure Tourism Destination, and Dark Sky Alqueva was named Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction. Lisbon took Europe’s Leading City Destination.

For the host destination, the ceremony brought recognition on two levels: Kotor received Europe’s Leading Emerging Tourism Destination, while Montenegro was named Europe’s Leading Nature Destination. Together, the awards highlighted the country’s mix of Adriatic coastal heritage and inland landscapes, including the historic town of Kotor and the mountain environment of Durmitor National Park.

Elsewhere among European destinations, Athens won Europe’s Leading City Break Destination, Dubrovnik took Europe’s Leading Seaside Metropolitan Destination, and Cannes was recognised as Europe’s Leading Festival & Event Destination.

Airlines, events and travel services among the winners

Beyond destination awards, Turkish Airlines received Europe’s Leading Airline, while Disneyland Paris earned Europe’s Leading Theme Park Resort. Madrid was named Europe’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination, with The Convention Centre Dublin awarded Europe’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre.

In the intermediary and mobility sectors, Nordic Visitor was selected as Europe’s Leading Tour Operator, Top Atlântico as Europe’s Leading Travel Agency, Europcar as Europe’s Leading Car Rental Company, and Mideast Travel Worldwide as Europe’s Leading Destination Management Company.

Kotor resort hosts Europe gala and takes national award

Several Montenegrin hospitality and tourism operators were recognised in national categories. Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort, which hosted the ceremony, took Montenegro’s Leading Resort; Merit Starlit Hotel & Residence & Casino won Montenegro’s Leading Hotel; Villa Geba Boutique Hotel received Montenegro’s Leading Boutique Hotel; and Montenegro Concierge DMC won Montenegro’s Leading Destination Management Company.

The host resort offers 252 accommodation units and private villas, according to information published for the event, and plans to introduce 25 additional apartments in April 2027. Its facilities include a private beach, marina, health and wellbeing retreat, spa and spaces for meetings and events. These amenities positioned the property to host both the awards presentation and the accompanying travel-industry gathering.

Graham Cooke, founder of World Travel Awards, described the first Montenegro edition as a significant occasion for the programme and thanked the resort and local partners for their role in hosting it. Hans Prins, general manager of Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort, said the recognition of Kotor and Montenegro was a proud moment for the resort team and the destination.

The Montenegro event closed the regional stage of the World Travel Awards 2026 European programme after other ceremonies in Zanzibar, Dubai, the Maldives and Jamaica. The organisers’ Grand Tour is scheduled to conclude with a global final in Tanzania. For travellers, the European results offer a guide to award-winning destinations and travel suppliers, although awards reflect the programme’s own selection and voting process rather than an independent guarantee of a particular travel experience.

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