Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa, a luxury four-star seaside resort in West Cork, has been named Europe’s Leading Island Resort for 2026. The hotel received the honour at the World Travel Awards ceremony in Montenegro on Saturday night, 17 October.
The resort sits between Inchydoney’s two Blue Flag beaches, just outside the heritage town of Clonakilty. It opened on 17 June 1998, is home to Ireland’s first Thalassotherapy Seawater Spa, and has welcomed Irish and international visitors to West Cork for more than 25 years.
On the Wild Atlantic Way, guests can surf, watch whales, kayak and take outdoor yoga, and spend days around West Cork and Cork City. The family-owned hotel supports the local community. Local food provenance is central to its restaurant, with many ingredients sourced from producers across the region. Irish art, furniture and craftsmanship feature throughout the property.
The accolade follows Ireland’s Leading Hotel 2025, awarded to the resort at last year’s World Travel Awards. The ceremony recognises excellence in global travel, tourism and hospitality, with voting by industry professionals and consumers.
Owner Des O’Dowd said being named Europe’s Leading Island Resort was an incredible honour for everyone at Inchydoney, and that European recognition after last year’s national hotel award was something they were enormously proud of. He said the team’s warmth, care and commitment to guests are at the heart of the experience, and pointed to West Cork’s coastline, food producers, craftspeople and community. He said the whole team could be proud and would celebrate at Inchydoney.