Thirteen beaches along the Yorkshire Coast have been recognised for their high standards and excellent facilities, securing prestigious Blue Flag and Seaside Awards for 2026.
Beaches across the Yorkshire Coast are celebrating after being recognised among the best in the country in the 2026 Blue Flag and Seaside Awards.
In total, thirteen coastal spots across the region have been honoured for the quality of their sites, the way they are managed, and the facilities they offer to visitors.
Nationally, one hundred and twenty-eight sites have been presented with awards this year. The national total is made up of one hundred and twenty-six beaches, alongside one marina and an inland bathing water.
The prestigious Blue Flag, which is described as the world's most recognised award for beaches, marinas, and inland bathing waters, requires sites to meet exceptionally high standards.
Across the country, sixty-three sites met these rigorous standards, of which sixty-one are beaches.
Announcing the results, the award organisers said:
"The successful sites that have been awarded the Blue Flag and/or the Seaside Award have been announced! Many congratulations to all of the sites that have been accredited in 2026."
Locally, three beaches across the region have achieved the Blue Flag Award for 2026. Two of these are managed by East Riding of Yorkshire Council, while one falls under the care of North Yorkshire Council.
The regional Blue Flag winners are:
- Hornsea, managed by East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
- Whitby, managed by North Yorkshire Council.
- Withernsea, managed by East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
In addition to the Blue Flag honours, a further one hundred and six sites nationwide are proudly displaying Seaside Awards. Across the country, forty-one of these locations have also achieved the Blue Flag.
On the Yorkshire Coast, ten beaches were awarded the Seaside Award, which also acknowledges excellent management and visitor facilities.
Whitby achieved a dual victory, securing both the Blue Flag and the Seaside Award for North Yorkshire.
The full list of the ten regional Seaside Award winners includes a mix of popular destinations across both the East Riding of Yorkshire and North Yorkshire.
The successful Seaside Award beaches in the region are:
- Bridlington North, in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
- Bridlington South, in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
- Cayton Bay, managed by North Yorkshire Council.
- Filey, managed by North Yorkshire Council.
- Robin Hoods Bay, managed by North Yorkshire Council.
- Runswick Bay, managed by North Yorkshire Council.
- Sandsend, managed by North Yorkshire Council.
- Scarborough North Bay, managed by North Yorkshire Council.
- Whitby, managed by North Yorkshire Council.
- Wilsthorpe, in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
The awards guarantee that visitors to these Yorkshire Coast destinations can expect clean, safe, and well-managed environments during their seaside visits in 2026.
For East Yorkshire the awards include Bridlington South’s first Seaside Award since 2022.
Hornsea, Withernsea and Wilsthorpe all recorded ‘excellent’ water quality results as part of the awards, with Bridlington North recording ‘good’ and Bridlington South ‘sufficient’.
Councillor Paul West, East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said:
“I’m extremely proud that our beaches have once again won Blue Flags and Seaside Awards to show they are among the best in the country.
“For Hornsea and Withernsea to be able to fly Blue Flags for the 2026 season is a superb achievement, and for Bridlington’s two beaches to earn Seaside Awards, alongside Wilsthorpe, proves that water quality progress is being made.
“We already know we have a fantastic coastline in the East Riding – and these are the icing on the cake.”
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