The Maldives’ success at the World Travel Awards 2026 extended far beyond the destination’s own accolades, with Maldivian tourism and aviation businesses securing 26 Indian Ocean titles across resorts, hotels, airlines, airports, tour operators, travel agencies and tourism experiences.
Across the 53 Indian Ocean categories announced at the 33rd World Travel Awards, Maldives-linked winners claimed 31 awards overall. With five awards recognising the Maldives at destination and institutional level, a further 26 awards were secured by the Maldivian tourism and aviation trade.
The scale of the achievement is particularly notable when viewed across the region. Excluding the Maldives’ five destination and institutional titles, Maldivian industry winners secured 26 of the remaining 48 Indian Ocean awards, while winners from all other destinations and organisations combined accounted for 22.
The results reflected the strength of the Maldives across virtually every level of its tourism offering. Maldivian properties dominated several of the region’s most prominent hospitality categories, including Indian Ocean’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort, won by Heritance Aarah; Leading Boutique Resort, secured by Kudadoo Maldives Private Island; Leading Dive Resort, awarded to Diamonds Thudufushi; and Leading Family Resort, won by Niva Kurumba Maldives.
The Maldives was particularly prominent across the region’s premium hospitality categories. Conrad Maldives Rangali Island was named Indian Ocean’s Leading Honeymoon Resort and Leading Hotel, while also receiving the Indian Ocean’s Responsible Tourism Award. Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi secured Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Island Resort, and The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort was named Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Resort.
Individual properties and accommodation experiences also took some of the region’s highest luxury honours. The Vakkaru Over Water Residence at Vakkaru Maldives won Indian Ocean’s Leading Hotel Suite, while Velaa Private Residence at Velaa Private Island was named Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Hotel Villa. Velaa Private Island also secured Indian Ocean’s Leading Private Island Resort, while Vakkaru Maldives was named Indian Ocean’s Leading Resort.
The breadth of wins extended to new developments and distinctive resort experiences. .Here Baa Atoll Maldives was recognised as Indian Ocean’s Leading New Resort, OZEN LIFE Maadhoo as Leading Villa Resort, Baros Maldives as Leading Water Villa Resort, and Coco Bodu Hithi as Indian Ocean’s Most Romantic Resort. The Marina at CROSSROADS Maldives was also named Indian Ocean’s Leading Superyacht Marina.
With 26 trade and industry wins compared with 22 across all other winners combined, the World Travel Awards 2026 results demonstrate that the Maldives’ regional strength extends beyond the destination brand itself. From aviation and travel services to private islands, luxury resorts, sustainability and specialised tourism experiences, the Maldivian industry emerged as the most extensively recognised tourism sector across the Indian Ocean categories in 2026.
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