The International Blue Flag Jury of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), in collaboration with the Association for Environmental and Consumer Education (ADEAC), has awarded the Blue Flag 2026 awards, which recognise the environmental quality of beaches and ports in 51 countries around the world. For the sixth year running, Sitges has achieved nine of these distinctions, a figure that also places it as the Catalan municipality with the most beaches recognised with this distinction, and the sixth in Spain. The beaches where the blue flag will be flying in Sitges are Les Botigues, Garraf, Aiguadolç, Balmins, Sant Sebastià, La Ribera, L'Estanyol, La Barra and Terramar. The Port Ginesta marina and the port of Sitges Aiguadolç have also been awarded the blue flag.

The Blue Flag award, which is internationally recognised, values and rewards correct environmental management, excellence in water quality, facilities and the optimal provision of services, as well as accessibility and attention to people with functional diversity. It also requires ports to promote the rational use of resources in nautical facilities and activities, and to raise awareness among users of the need to protect the marine environment and navigation.

In total, 101 beaches throughout Catalonia and 24 ports have obtained this recognition. As for the beaches, 27 correspond to the area of Girona, 39 to Barcelona and 35 to Tarragona. Of the 24 ports, 9 are in the Girona area, 8 in Barcelona and 7 in Tarragona. In Spain as a whole, 677 beaches have been awarded the distinction, making the country the first in the world in terms of the number of blue flags.

The Blue Flag programme is present in 51 countries on the five continents. In Spain, the Blue Flag 2026 Jury is made up of 58 people (48 members and 10 observers) from different fields relating to education, health, safety, accessibility, ecology, tourism and law. Thirty-four public and private entities were represented, including Autonomous Communities, different Ministries, Universities, Foundations, Associations and UN Tourism (as an observer).