Neos Kosmos: Two top European honours for Athens at 2026 World Travel Awards

Athens continues to strengthen its position on the international tourism map, winning two more major European awards at the World Travel Awards 2026, one of the most prestigious institutions in the global tourism industry.

The Greek capital was named Europe’s Leading City Break Destination 2026, whilst the ‘This is Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau’, the Athens City Council’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, won the Europe’s Leading City Tourist Board 2026 award, as the leading city convention and visitors bureau in Europe.

Mayor of Athens Haris Doukas, stated:

“Athens continues to gain the trust and recognition of the international tourism community. The two new European honours are a significant reward for our city and for all those who work daily to highlight its unique identity.

We want this momentum to translate into more and better jobs, support for local businesses and substantial benefits for every neighbourhood. Athens belongs first and foremost to its residents. And we must not forget this as its international appeal grows.

The two awards were presented on 17 October during the European World Travel Awards Gala Ceremony held in Kotor, Montenegro.

The second distinction takes on special significance, as the Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau has won the title for the second consecutive year. In fact, in this year’s event, the Greek capital stood out among dynamic European destinations such as London, Berlin, Madrid, Lisbon and Rome.

Elissaios Sarmas, CEO of Development Athens S.A, stated:

“Athens’ double award is a significant recognition of the systematic effort we are making to strengthen the city’s international presence.

Through targeted promotional actions and international collaborations, we are working to ensure that Athens strengthens its position in leisure tourism, as well as in conference and business tourism, with a constant emphasis on quality and sustainable development.”

Athens among the top European destinations

This year’s accolades add to a series of important international awards that Athens has won in recent years. Just last December, the Greek capital was named the World’s Leading Cultural Destination and the World’s Leading City Break Destination at the World Travel Awards 2025.

Through ‘This is Athens’, the city’s official tourism brand, and the ‘This is Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau’, the Development Company of the Municipality of Athens implements extroversion actions, develops international partnerships and strengthens the presence of the Greek capital in important tourism markets.

Initiatives such as ‘This is Athens – Agora’, the annual B2B tourism event that connects Athens with representatives of the international tourism market, as well as actions to attract conferences, business meetings and events of international scope, contribute to this direction.