Spain Leads the World Again: 677 Blue Flag Beaches, San Juan in Alicante Celebrates 40 Consecutive Years

Spain leads the world again: 677 Blue Flag beaches, San Juan in Alicante and back among the elite.

In 2026, Spain set a new national record: 677 beaches were awarded the Blue Flag — 35 more than the previous year. This is the country’s best result since the program’s launch in 1987. Across Spain, a total of 794 Blue Flags were awarded this year: 677 beaches, 111 marinas, and 6 tourist vessels.

The Blue Flag is an internationally recognized quality certification awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) — an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to environmental education and sustainable tourism. Beaches earn the flag by meeting strict criteria in water quality, safety, accessibility, sanitation, environmental management, and public information.

Alicante leads the rankings: San Juan among the world’s elite beaches

The province of Alicante stands out once again as a top performer in the number of Blue Flag beaches. In the city of Alicante itself, four key beaches received the award: San Juan, Postiguet, Saladar–Urbanova, and the island of Tabarca.

In 2026, San Juan Beach reaffirmed its status as one of Spain’s most prestigious coastal destinations: it has now held the Blue Flag for 40 consecutive years — a distinction shared by only seven beaches worldwide. This makes it a major draw for tourists choosing Alicante for their holiday.

Why San Juan deserves special attention

San Juan is a long, sandy beach stretching approximately 6.2 km, of which nearly 3 km fall within the municipality of Alicante, while the remainder (Muchavista) lies in the neighboring municipality of El Campello. The beach is renowned for its excellent infrastructure, calm waves, and suitability for both family holidays and active water sports.

For Alicante, San Juan is more than just a leisure destination — it symbolizes ecological responsibility and consistently high service standards, validated by its uninterrupted presence on the Blue Flag list for four decades.