The Maldives has secured five major honours at the World Travel Awards Asia, Oceania & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2026, held at CROSSROADS Maldives on World Tourism Day, 27 September, as the prestigious regional ceremony returned to the destination for the first time in a decade.

The  Maldives was named Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination 2026, Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Destination 2026, Indian Ocean’s Leading Green Destination 2026 and Indian Ocean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination 2026, while Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC) was recognised as Indian Ocean’s Leading Tourist Board 2026.

The destination’s success was reflected across the wider tourism industry, with more than 15 Maldivian hospitality and tourism brands receiving honours across the Maldives and Indian Ocean categories. The awards recognised Maldivian businesses across resorts, luxury hospitality, aviation, travel and destination management, diving, family and honeymoon travel, private island experiences, superyacht tourism and responsible tourism, demonstrating the breadth of the country’s tourism offering.

The ceremony was attended by Graham Cooke, Founder and President of the World Travel Awards; Honourable Mohamed Ameen, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation alongside tourism industry leaders, partners and distinguished guests.

The five honours add to the Maldives’ extensive record at the World Travel Awards. The destination was named World’s Leading Destination for six consecutive years from 2020 to 2025, while also securing Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination for five consecutive years from 2020 to 2024 and Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Destination for six consecutive years from 2019 to 2024.

The Maldives has also been recognised as World’s Leading Tourist Board in 2022 and 2023, World’s Leading Green Destination in 2024 and 2025, and Indian Ocean’s Leading Tourist Board for three consecutive years from 2021 to 2023. Other honours include Indian Ocean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination in 2019 and 2024, Indian Ocean’s Leading Cruise Destination in 2020, World’s Leading Beach Destination in 2019, and the Global Resilience Award in 2023.

The 2026 gala brought together senior representatives from across the international tourism and hospitality sector, including tourism boards, hotels and resorts, hospitality ownership and investment groups, travel trade media, airlines and aviation stakeholders. With representatives from more than 40 countries in attendance, the ceremony provided a global platform to showcase the Maldives’ tourism offering and hospitality while strengthening industry connections across key markets and sectors. Held on World Tourism Day, the event also placed the Maldives at the centre of regional tourism celebrations and industry engagement.

Speaking at the ceremony, Honourable Mohamed Ameen, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, recognised the work of Visit Maldives in promoting the destination globally and expressed appreciation to the Chairperson, Board of Directors, CEO & Managing Director and staff for their contribution to strengthening the destination brand and expanding its international reach. He also thanked the World Travel Awards team, organisers, sponsors, judges and everyone involved in delivering the ceremony, while highlighting the importance of sustainable, inclusive and resilient tourism. Minister Ameen said, “Tourism has transformed the Maldives over the past fifty-four years. What began with just two resorts in 1972 has evolved into one of the most successful tourism stories in the world. Tourism has become the backbone of our economy, a source of opportunity for our people, and a bridge connecting our island nation to every corner of the globe.”

The successful hosting of the ceremony was made possible through the support of its sponsors and partners. Bank of Maldives served as Title Sponsor, while CROSSROADS Maldives served as Host Partner, welcoming guests to the Maldives’ first and only multi-island integrated lifestyle destination.

The ceremony was also supported by Ooredoo as Digital Partner; Print Lab as Print Partner; Allied Insurance as Insurance Partner; Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) as Aviation Partner; Jalboot as Transportation Partner; Event Maldives as Event Partner; Maldivian as Local Airline Partner; STO Energy as Energy Partner; Ana’s Salon & Spa as Beauty and Makeup Partner; and Rogue by Naju as Styling Partner.

Speaking at the ceremony, Abdulla Yasir, CEO & Managing Director of Visit Maldives Corporation, said, “These five honours reflect the strength and diversity of the Maldivian tourism industry. We are proud to be recognised as the Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination, Leading Dive Destination, Leading Green Destination and Leading Honeymoon Destination, while Visit Maldives has also been named the Indian Ocean’s Leading Tourist Board. These recognitions reflect the standards we continue to uphold and the experiences we strive to deliver as we share the Sunny Side of Life with travellers around the world.”

The five national honours, together with the recognition received by Maldivian tourism and hospitality brands across the ceremony, reflect the strength and diversity of the country’s tourism sector. The awards span destination appeal, diving, sustainability, honeymoon travel and tourism promotion, alongside recognition across multiple areas of the Maldivian visitor experience.

The World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. The Asia, Oceania & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony brought leading destinations, tourism organisations and hospitality brands to the Maldives for one of the programme’s key regional events of 2026.