A new European LGBTQ+ travel ranking puts Spain just ahead of Malta on legal protections, while revealing a much wider gap between countries. The findings, presented at the European LGBTQ+ Tourism Forum, also spotlight the unease many LGBTQ+ employees feel on work trips. Here’s what the figures can - and can’t - tell you when planning travel.

Essential takeaways

  • Spain edges ahead: Spain scored 88.7 out of 100, narrowly beating Malta’s 88, according to results presented at the forum.
  • Europe’s average remains modest: The reported Rainbow Map average was 43 per cent across Europe and 52 per cent among EU countries.
  • Italy sits well below average: Italy ranked 36th among 49 countries, with a score of 24.11 per cent.
  • Work travel raises concerns: Forum figures indicated that half of LGBTQ+ employees felt comfortable travelling for business, while nearly 45 per cent said they felt pushed to conceal their identity.
  • A legal score isn’t a safety guarantee: The Rainbow Map compares laws and policies, not every hotel, neighbourhood or traveller’s personal experience.

Spain takes the lead, but the wider picture is uneven

Spain has moved narrowly ahead of Malta in the Rainbow Map 2026 results presented at the European LGBTQ+ Tourism Forum. Spain scored 88.7 out of 100, compared with Malta’s 88, ending Malta’s reported decade at the top. The close result is striking, but the broader story is less about a photo finish than the very different protections available across Europe. (Sources: ILGA-Europe, Rainbow Map 2026; ELTA, European LGBTQ+ Tourism Forum.)

ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map assesses laws and policies relating to areas including equality, non-discrimination, hate crime and gender-related protections. The results presented at the forum put Europe’s average at 43 per cent, up 2.75 percentage points from 2025, while the EU average was 52 per cent. Those figures show some movement in a positive direction, but they also make clear that progress isn’t shared evenly. (Sources: ILGA-Europe, Rainbow Map 2026; ELTA, Rainbow Map 2026: Why LGBTQ+ Rights Are Also a Tourism Issue.)

What the Rainbow Map can tell travellers

A country’s position can offer useful background when you’re comparing destinations, particularly if legal protections are part of your decision. Iceland, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Luxembourg were also listed among the leading countries in the results shared at the forum. Still, a policy ranking is a starting point, not a complete guide to what a visit will feel like on the ground. (Sources: ILGA-Europe, Rainbow Map 2026; ELTA, European LGBTQ+ Tourism Forum.)

The map measures laws and policies; it doesn’t rate individual hotels, local services or the way every visitor is treated. So it’s sensible to pair it with current destination guidance and information about accommodation and local support. That extra check matters because a strong national score can’t promise a perfect stay, just as a weaker score doesn’t describe every local interaction. (Sources: ILGA-Europe, Rainbow Map 2026; ELTA, Rainbow Map 2026: Why LGBTQ+ Rights Are Also a Tourism Issue.)

Italy’s low score puts inclusion in the spotlight

Italy ranked 36th out of 49 countries, with a score of 24.11 per cent, according to the results presented at the forum. That’s below both reported averages, despite Italy’s status as one of Europe’s major tourism destinations. It’s a useful reminder that cultural appeal and a country’s legal equality framework are different measures. (Sources: ILGA-Europe, Rainbow Map 2026; ELTA, Rainbow Map 2026: Why LGBTQ+ Rights Are Also a Tourism Issue.)

ELTA president Alessio Virgili raised concerns about the possible economic consequences of Italy’s position, arguing that weaker equality indicators could affect tourism competitiveness. The forum material didn’t quantify any financial loss, so the economic impact shouldn’t be treated as a settled figure. But the wider point is worth noting: traveller confidence and a destination’s reputation can matter alongside its food, art and postcard-ready streets. (Sources: ELTA, Rainbow Map 2026: Why LGBTQ+ Rights Are Also a Tourism Issue; Initaly.it, report on LGBTQ+ tourism.)

Business travellers face a different kind of pressure

Work trips can bring a sharper challenge than holidays, because employees often have less say over where they go. Figures presented at the forum indicated that only 50 per cent of LGBTQ+ workers felt comfortable travelling for business; 23 per cent reported anxiety, and nearly 45 per cent said they felt compelled to conceal their identity. (Sources: Booking.com, The Challenges Weighing on LGBTQ+ Business Travellers; ELTA, European LGBTQ+ Tourism Forum.)

That’s why inclusive travel planning isn’t only a question for holidaymakers. Employers and travel managers can review destination and accommodation choices, provide relevant support and protect employees’ privacy, without asking them to disclose more than they want to. A business trip should be about the work, not an added calculation over whether it feels safe to be yourself. (Sources: Booking.com, The Challenges Weighing on LGBTQ+ Business Travellers; ELTA, Rainbow Map 2026: Why LGBTQ+ Rights Are Also a Tourism Issue.)

A practical way to use the rankings

If you’re planning a trip, use the Rainbow Map as one piece of the picture: check current travel advice, look into your accommodation and consider the kind of support available at your destination. For work travel, employees can ask their company how it handles destination choices, hotel approvals and confidential assistance. These simple checks won’t answer everything, but they can make planning feel less like guesswork. (Sources: ILGA-Europe, Rainbow Map 2026; Booking.com, The Challenges Weighing on LGBTQ+ Business Travellers.)

The forum, organised by ELTA with Roma Capitale, brought leisure and corporate travel into the same conversation. That’s a welcome shift: inclusion doesn’t stop at the hotel lobby or begin only when someone books a holiday. For travellers and employers alike, clear information and thoughtful planning are practical steps towards a more confident journey. (Sources: ELTA, European LGBTQ+ Tourism Forum; ELTA, Rainbow Map 2026: Why LGBTQ+ Rights Are Also a Tourism Issue.)

Use the rankings as context, then check the details that matter for your own trip.

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