Tenerife is Europe's best island destination for 2026. This is according to a new study from tour operator Saga Holidays, which has compared 80 European islands based on weather, restaurant selection and green areas.
Spain and Croatia dominate the overall ranking with nine of the ten highest-placed destinations.
Tenerife tops the list with 95 out of 100 possible points. According to Saga Holidays, it is the combination of scenic surroundings, a wide gastronomic offer and one of Europe's sunniest climates that makes the island this year's winner.
In second place is La Palma (94 points), also in the Canary Islands. The island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is highlighted for its pristine nature and focus on sustainable development.
Madeira comes in third place with 93 points. The Portuguese archipelago is known for its ancient Laurissilva forest, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Croatia's Korčula and Mljet complete the top five. Korčula, with its medieval town center on the Dalmatian coast, ranks fourth, while Mljet is highlighted as a nature-oriented destination with good opportunities for hiking and other outdoor activities.
Europe's ten best holiday islands 2026
- Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain – 95/100
- La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain – 94/100
- Madeira, Portugal – 93/100
- Korcula, Croatia – 92/100
- Mljet, Croatia – 90/100
- Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain – 89/100
- Losinj, Croatia – 88/100
- Brac, Croatia – 87/100
- Gran Canaria, Spain – 86/100
- La Gomera, Spain – 85/100
The Canary Islands are best for sun-safe holidays
The study also shows that the Canary Islands dominate the best weather category. Tenerife is named Europe's sunniest island with 88 out of 100 points, thanks to its even climate and high number of sunshine hours all year round.
The ranking is based on three criteria: weather conditions (35 percent), access to restaurants, cafes and bars (20 percent) and green areas (45 percent), where the extent of nature has had the greatest impact on the final result.
Source: Euronews
