(Posted 19th April 2026)
Nominations are now officially open for the Africa Tourism Awards 2026, inviting outstanding tourism businesses, destinations, and professionals across Africa and the diaspora to be recognised on one of the industry’s most prestigious global platforms.
Now in its second edition as a pan-African platform, the Africa Tourism Awards continues its mission to celebrate excellence, innovation, and impact across the continent’s vibrant tourism ecosystem, while positioning Africa more prominently on the global travel stage.
The 2026 Awards Gala will take place on Sunday, 01st of November 2026 in London, as a high-profile hybrid event, welcoming key decision-makers, investors, tourism boards, airlines, hospitality brands, media, and global travel influencers.
With Africa currently accounting for a relatively small share of global tourism arrivals and receipts, the Africa Tourism Awards is designed not just to recognise and reward excellence across the tourism value chain, but as a strategic platform to promote African destinations to global audiences and influence policy and investment into the sector.
Nominations are free of charge and open to tourism boards, airlines and airports, hotels, resorts, and lodges, tour operators and travel agencies, restaurants and hospitality brands, media, influencers, and content creators and industry professionals and innovators.
Entries will be received via the official website:
www.africatourismawards.com
The awards maintain a credible and transparent evaluation framework designed to reflect both expert opinion and industry participation via a 3-tiered judging process: the judges scores weighted at 40%, Balearica Awards College weighted at 40% and public votes weighted at 20%.
Following nominations, a Top 10 shortlist will be announced in each category. Finalists will undergo a verification and evaluation process, including inspections where applicable, before winners are revealed at the awards dinner.
A key highlight of the 2026 campaign is the Top 10 Campaign, which will showcase shortlisted nominees across digital platforms and a premium publication distributed at major global travel trade shows, including ITB Berlin, Arabian Travel Market, WTM Africa, Africa’s Travel Indaba amongst others.
This initiative ensures that nominees benefit from significant international exposure, positioning them directly in front of global buyers and decision-makers.
ABOUT THE AFRICA TOURISM AWARDS
The Africa Tourism Awards (The Balearica Awards) is a premier platform dedicated to celebrating excellence, innovation, and impact across Africa’s travel and tourism industry. Established to recognise outstanding destinations, organisations, and individuals, the awards spotlight the very best of African tourism on a global stage.
Bringing together industry leaders, tourism boards, airlines, hospitality brands, and innovators, the Africa Tourism Awards serves as both a recognition platform and a powerful marketing tool to promote African destinations to a global audience.
MEDIA CONTACT
Africa Tourism Awards (The Balearica Awards)
Email: hello@africatourismawards.com
Website: www.africatourismawards.com
