World · Europe · 58 mins ago
Spain tops Europe’s LGBTQ+ travel ranking as Italy falls to 36th
Spain ranked first among 49 European destinations in the 2026 ranking of safety for LGBTQ+ travellers, scoring 88.7 out of 100.
Malta came second with 88 points, ending a decade at the top.
Italy placed 36th, scoring 24.11 and falling one place from the previous year.
The ranking considers issues including equality, discrimination, hate crimes and policies on gender.
Europe’s average score rose to 43%, while the average for European Union countries was 52%.
Business travel remains difficult for many LGBTQ+ workers: half feel comfortable travelling for work, while nearly 45% say they hide their identity for safety.
These findings point to concerns about safety and inclusion both for tourists and employees on work trips; no next steps were specified.
Spain ranked first in Europe for LGBTQ+ travel safety in 2026, overtaking Malta after a decade.
Italy ranked 36th among 49 countries, with a score of 24.11 out of 100.
The Rainbow Map 2026 recorded an average European rights score of 43%, up 2.75% from 2025.
At an event on LGBTQ+ tourism, figures also highlighted barriers faced by LGBTQ+ people travelling for work.
Half of LGBTQ+ workers said they felt comfortable travelling for work, while nearly 45% said they hid their identity for safety.
- Who
- LGBTQ+ travellers and workers; Spain and Italy are among the countries assessed.
- What
- Spain topped the 2026 ranking of safer destinations for LGBTQ+ travellers, while Italy placed 36th.
- When
- 2026; the figures were released at the opening of the fourth European LGBTQ+ Tourism General Assembly.
- Where
- Europe, across a ranking of 49 states.
- Why
- The ranking assesses factors including equality, non-discrimination, hate crimes, hate speech and gender policies.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Italy’s score later fell by 1.23% compared with this year.
Spain took first place in the ranking, overtaking Malta after ten years at the top.
The figures were released at the opening of the fourth European LGBTQ+ Tourism General Assembly.
- Spain
- Ranked first with 88.7 points out of 100
- Malta
- Ranked second with 88 points
- Italy
- Ranked 36th of 49, scoring 24.11%
- Europe
- Average rights score of 43%, up 2.75% from 2025
- LGBTQ+ workers
- 50% felt comfortable travelling for work; nearly 45% hid their identity for safety
What people are saying
rappresenta un freno e un danno economico colossale per il nostro paese
non possiamo ignorare, perché ci obbliga a comprendere un principio fondamentale: il viaggiatore d’affari non si sposta per svago o per scelta turistica opzionale