18 Blue Flags awarded to Corfu in 2026 – Improvement after last year’s drop
Enimerosi
CORFU. This year, Corfu was awarded 18 Blue Flags — two more than in 2025 — but it has not yet returned to the performance levels of previous years.
The number of Blue Flag-awarded beaches in Corfu rose to 18 this year, two more than in 2025, putting the island back on an upward trajectory after the noticeable decline of the previous year. The announcement of the 2026 awards also confirms Greece’s overall rise, as the country maintains second place worldwide with 624 awarded beaches, 17 marinas, and 17 tourist marinas, accounting for around 14% of all internationally awarded beaches.
Corfu had received 16 Blue Flags in 2025, marking a decrease compared with previous years. In 2024, the number of awarded beaches on the island had exceeded 20, including, among others, Canal d’Amour, Ermones, Kontogialos, and Kavos, which did not retain the distinction afterward. This year’s increase to 18 flags does not yet restore the levels achieved during that period, but it does indicate recovery.
The main difference in 2026 compared with last year is the return or addition of two more awarded beaches: Agios Gordios / La Grotta Verde and Dafnila / Grecotel Daphnila Bay Dassia, which were not included on the 2025 list. At the same time, most of the consistently awarded beaches are linked to large hotel complexes or organised tourist zones, a pattern that has long characterised Corfu.
Of the 18 awards for 2026, one belongs to the Municipality of North Corfu (Almyros), eleven to the Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands, and four to the Municipality of South Corfu, while two additional awards were added within already awarded areas through hotel-operated beaches. The geographical distribution shows that the Dassia–Dafnila–Kommeno–Kontokali axis remains the island’s strongest concentration of awarded beaches.
At the national level, Greece has consistently remained above 620 awarded beaches in recent years: 625 in 2024, 623 in 2025, and 624 in 2026, maintaining second place globally behind only Spain. This reflects both the stability of the programme and stricter compliance requirements, since retaining a Blue Flag requires meeting dozens of criteria relating to water quality, safety, accessibility, cleanliness, and environmental management.
The 18 beaches in Corfu receiving awards for 2026 are: Almyros, Agios Gordios, Agia Aikaterini, Aeolos, Alykes Potamou, Glyfada, Dassia (two awards), Dafnila (two awards), Kanoni, Kommeno, Kontokali, Benitses, Agios Ioannis Peristeron, Issos, and two beaches in Moraitika.
ELENI KORONAKI
