Greek beaches stand out with 624 "Blue Flags"
On Thursday, May 14 2026, we met at the Ploes Floating Venue in Paleo Faliro, for the official announcement of the awards of the International "Blue Flag" Program for 2026. The event was organized by the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature, National Operator of the Program in Greece.
Greece once again achieved 2nd place worldwide among 51 countries, with a total of 658 awarded points: 624 coasts, 17 marinas and 17 tourist boats. This result confirms the continuous effort to maintain high standards of environmental management, safety and quality on the Greek coasts.
The event was attended by representatives of the State, local government, the tourism industry and environmental organizations. ARCHELON was represented by Panagiota Theodorou, Legal & Statutory Issues Coordinator, who also participates in the National Committee for the award of Blue Flags in our country.
During her presentation, Panagiota highlighted the importance of the “Blue Flag” institution for the protection of sea turtle nesting beaches. As she emphasized: “The implementation of environmental criteria and appropriate management measures on the awarded coasts contributes substantially to the preservation of sensitive coastal ecosystems and the turtle’s breeding habitats.”
The President of the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature, Nikos Petrou, explained the new international requirements being formulated for the Program, as well as the transitional two-year award for the period 2026–2027, which will facilitate coastal managers in adapting to the new, stricter criteria that will be implemented from 2028.
ARCHELON continues to collaborate with organizations, local authorities and beach managers, so that the protection of sea turtles and their habitats is effectively integrated into the sustainable management of Greek coasts. The recognition through the "Blue Flag" is an important step in this direction, linking environmental protection with the quality of the country's tourism product.
See the List of award-winning beaches, marinas and tourist boats 2026
Eight Hotels in northern Crete Receive “Turtle-Friendly” Certification from the TUI Care Foundation.
The nesting season has started in Greece: The first sea turtle nests for 2026 are spotted!
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