Portugal has 438 beaches, marinas, and vessels with the Blue Flag this year, six fewer than in 2025, distributed across 100 municipalities, with the municipality of Sertã standing out for applying for the first time, the Blue Flag Association announced today.
The announcement was made at the Pedra do Sal Environmental Interpretation Center in Estoril, Cascais municipality, Lisbon district, by the president of the Blue Flag Association of Europe, José Archer, who stated that in the upcoming bathing season, 396 beaches—350 coastal and 46 inland—will fly the Blue Flag.
“We had fewer awards than last year, but that was essentially due to the weather conditions that occurred during the bathing season, which always penalize the quality of bathing water; therefore, it is not a worrying situation, but a localized one,” José Archer told the Lusa agency.
According to the official, the main news is that this year is a transition year regarding the criteria for obtaining the Blue Flag, which will change starting in 2027.
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“We are going to have more criteria and a different methodology with external auditors in the validation of applications. It is a transition year (…), it has to do with the new consumer directive that comes into force in September,” said José Archer.
Thus, to ensure that new beaches and potential re-entries can apply in 2027, there will be an extraordinary application period this year in July and August, which will then be presented and analyzed at the International Jury meeting on September 16.
At the international level, the official noted that Portugal remains “very prominent,” holding “fifth place in coastal beaches awarded” and “second place worldwide” in inland beaches.
“Considering the size of our territory, it is frankly gratifying and is, in fact, the result of all the work and the change in behavior that (…) people have today,” José Archer emphasized.
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In this year marking the 40th anniversary of the Blue Flag program, José Archer recalled that Mira Beach is the only one to hold the award for all 40 years because, as he explained, “in 1992, due to a laboratory strike,” the Algarve did not have its beaches awarded.
The hoisting of the first coastal Blue Flag will take place at Mira Beach on June 8, while on June 13 it will be raised at the Mourão river beach in Alentejo.
The first marina to hoist the Blue Flag will be Angra do Heroísmo on Terceira Island, Azores, on June 15.
Furthermore, 31 Blue Centers (information structures and environmental education activities located near the beaches) were recognized, distributed across all regions.
A beach distinguished with a Blue Flag adheres to several criteria, including water and space quality (planning), safety and services, surveillance, and public awareness (environmental education).
