What happened
The award page names Madeira Islands as the winner of Europe's Leading Island Destination 2026. The Europe gala was held on 17 October 2026 in Kotor, Montenegro. Nominees on the same page were the Azores, the Canary Islands, Crete, the Cyclades, Cyprus, Guernsey, Jersey, Ibiza, Mallorca, Malta, Sardinia and Sicily. JM's report of that night, 17 October, says the regional tourism secretary Eduardo Jesus described it as the 12th win in this category since 2013.
What it means for you
The title to use is Europe's Leading Island Destination 2026, and the winner line on the award site is Madeira Islands. It is an industry prize from World Travel Awards, voted inside that programme. Related guide: Porto Santo vs Madeira: which island for your first trip?.
Sources
Publication times are the times on the source items, in Europe/Lisbon.
- World Travel Awards — Europe's Leading Island Destination 2026
- World Travel Awards — Europe winners 2026
- World Travel Awards — Europe Gala Ceremony 2026
- JM Madeira, 2026-10-17 21:32 — Madeira volta a ser a melhor ilha da Europa
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