Beaches, Blue Flags rise to 257: Rimini enters, San Felice Circeo exits
There are 14 new entries and three unconfirmed municipalities. Among the Regions the primacy of Liguria
Key points
There are 257 Italian municipalities that have been awarded the Blue Flag this year, 11 more than last year's 246: 14 are the new entries, 3 the unconfirmed municipalities. Blue Flags on lakes rise to 23, with the entry of a new lake municipality. There are 87 marinas awarded, with 3 new entries. Liguria is confirmed as the region with the most Blue Flags, 35. These are the numbers released by the Foundation for Environmental Education (Fee), an international NGO based in Copenhagen. Every year, the Fee awards the recognition to seaside and lake resorts and marinas with the best water, environment and services.
Who enters
The 14 new Blue Flags 2026 are in Calabria Amendolara (Cosenza), Montegiordano (Cosenza), Falerna (Catanzaro), Locri (Reggio Calabria); in Emilia Romagna Rimini; in Liguria Andora (Savona), Taggia (Imperia); in Lombardy Limone sul Garda (Brescia), the new lake municipality; in Apulia Morciano di Leuca (Lecce), Tricase (Lecce); in Sardinia Teulada (Sulcis Iglesiente); in Sicily Ispica (Ragusa), Lipari (Messina); in Tuscany Monte Argentario (Grosseto).
Who exits
The 257 Italian municipalities with a total of 525 beaches that received the award correspond to approximately 11.6% of the world's award-winning beaches. Losing the Blue Flag were San Felice Circeo (Latina), Patù (Lecce) and Castrignano del Capo (Lecce). The new award-winning tourist landings are in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Portomaran in Marano Lagunare (Udine), and in Liguria: Marina del Fezzano in Portovenere (La Spezia) and Porto Carlo Riva in Rapallo (Genoa).
Liguria's record
Liguria wins 2 flags and obtains 35 locations. They are followed, both with 27 awards, by Puglia, with 2 new entries and 2 exits, and Calabria, which adds 4 entries. The 20 Blue Flags of the Campania and the Marche are reconfirmed, and the Tuscany also rises to 20, gaining a municipality. The Sardinia gained 17 localities with one new entry. The Sicily obtains 16 Blue Flags with 2 new municipalities. The Abruzzo also confirms its 16 Blue Flags. The Trentino Alto Adige confirms its 12 municipalities. The Emilia Romagna sees 11 localities awarded thanks to a new entry. Lazio drops to 10 with one exit, while Veneto's 9 Flags are reconfirmed. The Basilicata confirms its 5 locations, the Piedmont its 4. The Lombardy obtained a new award and rose to 4 municipalities, the Friuli Venezia Giulia retained its 2 Flags from the previous year, as did the Molise which remains at 2.
The criteria
The criteria for awarding the Blue Flag are absolute validity of the bathing waters, which have been found to be excellent in an assessment of the last four years, and regular water sampling carried out during the summer season; efficiency of waste water purification and the sewerage system; differentiated waste collection and proper management of hazardous waste; large pedestrian areas, cycle paths, well-kept street furniture, green areas beaches equipped with all services and lifeguard personnel; removal of architectural barriers; ample space dedicated to environmental education courses; publication of bathing water data; hotel facilities, public health services, tourist information, up-to-date signage; environmental certification of institutional activities and tourist facilities in the municipal area; presence of fishing activities well integrated in the context of the seaside resort.
