Ireland wins ‘most desirable island destination’ award in London

Ireland has won a major travel award in London – the ‘most desirable island destination in Europe’ – based on the “spirit of connection” that makes people want to return. The award was presented to Tourism Ireland at the 24th annual Wanderlust Travel Awards, which took place in the iconic National Gallery.

Wanderlust is a popular travel magazine in Britain and the winners of its annual awards are decided on by an independent panel of judges, as well as by over 200,000 of the magazine’s globe-trotting readers. The awards spotlight the most desirable destinations, tour operators and travel brands.

Ireland took the number one spot in the ‘Most Desirable Island Destination in Europe’ category – beating off tough competition from Malta (which took the silver award) and the Greek Islands (bronze award).

George Kipouros, Wanderlust’s Editor-in-Chief, commented: “Ireland has reclaimed the top European island title thanks to what our readers call its spirit of connection. They write about strangers turning into friends over music and stories, about wild coastlines that invite reflection, and about the way every encounter feels genuine. Ireland’s natural beauty is undeniable, but it’s the human warmth that makes travellers long to return.”

Judith Cassidy, Tourism Ireland’s Acting Head of Great Britain, said: “We are delighted that Ireland has been singled out for this prestigious Wanderlust award. As we look now to 2026, it’s really positive news. Accolades like this help to shine a spotlight on Ireland for all the right reasons. Travellers nowadays have tremendous choice, which makes it more important than ever for us to ensure that Ireland stands out from other destinations.”