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Andalucía has had another strong year in the Blue Flag rankings, with 143 beaches earning the coveted award for 2026, five more than last year, putting the community firmly in second place in Spain behind only the Valencian Community.

 

On top of that, 22 marinas across the region also picked up the distinction, two more than in 2025, along with four Andalucían tourist boats.

 

The figures were published on Tuesday May 5 by the Association for Environmental Education and Consumer Protection (ADEAC), which runs the programme in Spain. Of the 155 Andalucían beaches put forward for consideration this year, 143 came away with the award, and between them they account for just over 21% of Spain's total of 677 Blue Flag beaches.

 

Málaga leads the way within the community with 45 awards, followed by Almería with 38, Cádiz with 32, Granada with 14 and Huelva with 12.

 

But the headlines this year belong to Córdoba and Jaén, both of which have picked up a Blue Flag for the first time, a landmark moment for two inland provinces not typically associated with beach awards.

 

Seven beaches are new to the list this year. In Almería, the awards go to Playazo-Villaricos in Cuevas del Almanzora, Piedra Villazar in Mojácar and Las Marinas-Bolaga in Vera, all of which have held the flag before at various points.

 

In Cádiz, La Ballena beach in Chipiona returns to the list after its last award in 2023, and in Granada, Poniente beach in Motril has regained the distinction after a gap of nearly four decades, last holding it back in 1988.

 

In Málaga, Torrebermeja-Santa Ana in Benalmádena and Las Gaviotas in Manilva have both been awarded, though Puerto Banús-Levante in Marbella loses its flag this year after holding it in 2025.

 

Twelve special mentions have also been awarded to Andalucían municipalities across four categories.

Chiclana de la Frontera in Cádiz was recognised for its lifeguard services, Fuengirola and Torremolinos in Málaga were singled out for universal accessibility, and Chiclana, Fuengirola and Mijas all received recognition for the Soludable Project.

 

In the marinas section, Andalucía's 22 awards are spread across five provinces. Almería has three, at the ports of Adra, San José in Níjar and Roquetas de Mar. Cádiz has six, covering Alcaidesa Marina in La Línea de la Concepción, Chipiona, Rota, Sancti Petri in Chiclana de la Frontera, Sotogrande in San Roque and Puerto Sherry in El Puerto de Santa María.

 

Granada's award goes to Marina del Este in La Herradura-Almuñécar, and Huelva's six go to the Nuevo Portil Nautical Sports Association in Cartaya and the ports of Ayamonte, Isla Cristina, Mazagón in Palos de la Frontera, El Terrón in Lepe and Punta Umbría.

 

Málaga rounds things off with awards for the marinas of Benalmádena and Estepona, La Duquesa in Manilva, Marbella, José Banús and the port of Caleta de Vélez, which regains its award after holding it in 2024.

 

Finally, four Andalucían tourist boats also received recognition for their environmental education work: New Magic and Starfish II, both operated by Costa Sol Cruises from the port of Benalmádena; Gran Guerrero, run by Excursiones Marítimas Isleñas from Isla Cristina in Huelva; and Mundo Marino Eco, operated by Innova Cruises from the port of Málaga.

 

Image: Ayuntamiento de Marbella