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Türkiye has retained its position as the world’s third-leading country for Blue Flag beaches in 2026, with the number of awarded beaches rising from 577 to 580, according to results announced under the international coastal quality program.
The 2026 list includes 580 beaches, 30 marinas, 18 tourism boats and 26 private yachts across Türkiye. In the beach category, Türkiye again ranked behind Spain and Greece, confirming its place among the strongest coastal destinations in the Mediterranean.
The Blue Flag is an international environmental award given to beaches, marinas and boats that meet standards on water quality, environmental management, safety, accessibility, waste control and environmental education. In Türkiye, the program is coordinated by the Turkish Environmental Education Foundation, known as TURCEV.
Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said Türkiye’s coastline had become a global brand, pointing to the country’s continued investment in free-entry public beaches built to international standards.
Ersoy said Bodrum Turkbuku Free-Entry Public Beach would fly the Blue Flag for the first time this year, adding that new public beach projects would further broaden Türkiye’s Blue Flag map.
In his statement, Ersoy said: “Our beaches are now a global brand! We have once again maintained our world third place in Blue Flag. In 2026, 580 beaches, 30 marinas, 18 tourism boats and 26 private yachts qualified for the Blue Flag.”
He added that Türkiye would keep growing its free-entry public beaches while maintaining environmental standards, safe tourism infrastructure and sustainable coastal management.
The ministry’s free-entry public beaches stood out as part of Türkiye’s wider coastal tourism strategy. Ersoy had earlier announced that new public beach projects were underway in Bitlis Adilcevaz, Sinop Inceburun and Samsun Yakakent.
With these additions, the ministry aims to increase the number of public beaches developed under its five-star concept to 23 by the end of 2026.
Several ministry-backed public beaches received Blue Flags this year, including Sorgun, Ilica, Belek, Kadriye, Lara 1, Lara 2, Beldibi Bahcecik, Ciftecesmeler, Camyuva and Tekirova in Antalya. In Mugla, Marmaris Public Beach, Bodrum Icmeler Public Beach and the newly listed Turkbuku Public Beach also qualified.
Antalya remained Türkiye’s leading province in 2026 with 232 Blue Flag beaches. Mugla followed with 113, while Izmir ranked third with 60.
Other provinces also contributed to the national total, including Balikesir, Aydin, Samsun, Canakkale, Mersin, Tekirdag and Kocaeli. The list also included beaches in Bursa, Istanbul, Sakarya, Duzce, Bartin, Ordu, Yalova, Zonguldak, Kirklareli, Van, Adana and Sinop.
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The ministry said the 2026 results underline Türkiye’s growing international profile in coastal tourism, supported by environmental standards, safe beach infrastructure and sustainable management practices.
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