Costa Blanca North Just Won Spain’s Best Beaches Award 2026

My Ultimate Guide to the Blue Flag Gems You Can’t Miss This Summer

Let’s grab a cold one and pull up a sun lounger – because the Costa Blanca North has properly smashed it again this year. 🏖️

The Blue Flag awards were announced on 5 May 2026, and once more, our little slice of the Med is laughing. Spain’s still the undisputed world champion with a record haul, but Alicante province is out here flexing with 95 Blue Flags – more than anywhere else in the country. And the North coast (think Denia up to Altea way) is doing the heavy lifting with some proper stunners—clean water, top lifeguards, decent facilities,

So what’s new in 2026

Denia is still the undisputed king with seven beaches keeping their flags. These are the big sandy ones families love:

Les Marines and Les Bovetes – long, golden stretches perfect for building sandcastles the size of Benidorm high-rises.Punta del Raset and Els Molins – handy for the port, ice creams, and that classic “I’ll just have one more beer” vibe.Les Deveses, Marineta Cassiana, and Punta Negra round it out. Rocky bits for snorkelling if you fancy pretending you’re in a David Attenborough doc.

Head a bit further round, and Calpe has gone and bagged five this year, with two fresh ones:

The famous La Fossa (that massive curved beach under the Peñón) – still flying the flag, obviously. Great for swimming and pretending you’re in a postcard.Cantal Roig, L’Arenal-Bol, plus the new kids, Puerto Blanco and Racó. Lovely coves and quieter spots if the main drag gets too lively.

Altea is keeping it classy with four:

Cap Blanc, La Roda, El Bol, and L’Espigó (which has made a welcome comeback). Think whitewashed old town above you, promenade strolls, and water so clear you can see last night’s sangria regrets at the bottom.

Over in Benissa, Cala L’Advocat is a shiny new Blue Flag winner – a cracking little cove that feels properly secret if you time it right. And Javea (Xàbia) is still delivering the dramatic stuff like Cala del Moraig and the returning Arenal – all cliffs, turquoise water, and that “how is this real?” feeling.

Why should you care?

Because these flags aren’t just pretty bits of cloth. They mean the water’s properly tested, the beaches are cleaned, there are facilities for everyone (including disabled access on most), and the locals actually care about keeping it nice. In a summer when half the Med seems to be melting or overcrowded, the North coast still feels like the smarter, slightly more civilised cousin of the south.

Pro tip from someone who’s spent far too many euros on overpriced sunbeds: Go mid-week or early morning in June/September and you’ll have these beauties almost to yourself. Pack the sangria, the tortilla, and a decent book. Or just stare at the sea and pretend you’re not checking work emails.

You can buy beach chairs at carrefour and sometimes Lidl or on the beach front, will save you money in the long run.

The Costa Blanca North didn’t just turn up in 2026 – it properly showed off. So whether you’re a repeat offender like me or planning your first proper escape from the British drizzle, there’s never been a better time to point the sat-nav north of Alicante and find your own little bit of paradise.

Now, tell me in the comments – which one are you adding to the list this summer? I’m personally eyeing up a day at La Fossa followed by tortilla and cold beer in Calpe. Classic. 🍺🌊

Joanne x

Sun, sea, and a suspiciously clean Blue Flag – what more do you want?