Brazil has completed one of the main stages of the Blue Flag Programme with 77 candidacies recommended for the 2026/2027 season. The list brings together 64 beaches and 13 marinas across seven states and will now go to the International Jury of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).
In total, the National Jury assessed 83 candidacies, comprising 69 beaches and 14 marinas. Of these, 77 received the recommendation needed to advance in the international process. The figure represents significant growth compared with the previous season, when 60 Brazilian destinations reached the same stage — 17 more candidacies.
It is important to note, however, that national recommendation does not yet guarantee certification. The final result will depend on the international assessment and on proof that the programme's criteria have been met.
Santa Catarina accounts for almost half of the candidacies
Santa Catarina leads the national ranking with 38 nominations — 33 beaches and five marinas. The state alone accounts for almost half of the Brazilian candidacies recommended at this stage.
Among the new entries is the progress of three Florianópolis beaches: Açores, Moçambique and Daniela. Lagoa do Peri Beach was also recommended for certification renewal. Another highlight is Mar Grosso Beach, in Laguna, the first beach on the southern coast of Santa Catarina to reach the programme's international assessment.
In the marine sector, five Santa Catarina facilities were recommended: Tedesco Marina, Iate Clube de Santa Catarina, Marina da Conceição, Marina Itajaí and Marina VillaReal.
Seven states represented
After Santa Catarina, Rio de Janeiro appears with 20 candidacies (19 beaches and one marina). Bahia has nine nominations, while São Paulo takes part with five — four marinas and one beach. Alagoas has three candidacies, Paraná one marina and Ceará one beach.
The national distribution is as follows:
- Santa Catarina: 38 candidacies
- Rio de Janeiro: 20
- Bahia: 9
- São Paulo: 5
- Alagoas: 3
- Paraná: 1
- Ceará: 1
Among the national highlights is Praia do Tombo, in Guarujá, recommended to seek renewal for the 17th consecutive season. In Alagoas, Stella Marina, in Barra de São Miguel, became the state's first marina to advance to the international stage. In Paraná, the Iate Clube de Caiobá marks the first presence of a Paraná yacht club among the recommended candidacies.
What the Blue Flag assesses
The Blue Flag is a voluntary international environmental award for beaches, marinas and tourism vessels. To achieve and maintain the recognition, destinations must meet criteria related to water quality, environmental management, environmental education, safety, infrastructure, accessibility, services offered to users and compliance with applicable legislation.
More than a flag raised during the season, the programme establishes a continuous process of management, monitoring and improvement of coastal and nautical environments. In practice, certification also helps to qualify tourist destinations, stimulate infrastructure investment, increase user safety and strengthen the image of cities and businesses committed to sustainability.
ACATMAR takes part in the National Jury
The Brazilian assessment is carried out by a panel made up of representatives from public bodies, environmental organisations, and institutions linked to tourism, coastal management, water rescue and the marine sector. Among the participating institutions is ACATMAR, which contributes to the analysis of candidacies relating to beaches, marinas and nautical facilities, alongside federal bodies, environmental organisations and tourism institutions.
The Blue Flag Programme is coordinated in Brazil by the Instituto Ambientes em Rede, the FEE's official representative in the country.
The next decision will be international
The 77 recommended candidacies will now be examined by the International Jury of the Foundation for Environmental Education. The international meeting that will define the awarded destinations for the 2026/2027 season in the Southern Hemisphere is scheduled for September, with the official announcement expected in October.
Regardless of the final outcome, the advance of 77 candidacies shows that environmental management, safety and destination quality are gaining ever more space in coastal tourism and in Brazil's Ocean Economy.
By: Redação Mundo Mar
Photo: Divulgação
