Kenya’s Coast is firmly on the World Travel Awards 2026 shortlist, with destinations, beach resorts, private villas, serviced apartments, safari properties and the Port of Mombasa recognised across the Kenya and Africa categories.
Voting for the Africa region closes on 17 July, giving residents, travellers and supporters of coastal tourism a final chance to back nominees from Diani, Mombasa, Watamu, Malindi, Kilifi, Lamu and Taita Taveta.
For the Coast, the nominations speak to more than individual hotels. They show the depth of a region that has long shaped Kenya’s travel identity, from Diani’s beach resorts and Watamu’s oceanfront stays to Mombasa’s conference hotels, Kilifi’s private villas, Lamu’s island escapes and Taita Taveta’s safari circuit.
In the Kenya categories, the Coast stands out most clearly in Kenya’s Leading Beach Resort 2026. The shortlist includes Baobab Beach Resort & Spa, Diamonds Malindi, Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa, Diani Sea Resort, Hemingways Watamu, Kinondo Kwetu, Mnarani Beach Club, Ocean Sports Resort Watamu, PrideInn Flamingo Beach Resort & Spa, PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort, Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa, Swahili Beach and Voyager Beach Resort.
The list reflects the range of the coastal hospitality scene. Diani remains one of Kenya’s most established beach destinations, Watamu continues to attract travellers drawn to the ocean, and Mombasa’s resort scene remains central to the country’s leisure and family holiday market.
But the Coast is not only being recognised for its beaches.
PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort, Convention Centre & Spa is listed in the conference hotel category, underlining Mombasa’s role as a meetings and events destination. The Maji Beach Boutique Hotel features in the boutique hotel category, while Diamonds Leisure Beach & Golf Resort, Hemingways Watamu, Kinondo Kwetu, Leopard Beach Resort & Spa and Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa appear in the resort category.
Mombasa Air Safari is among the nominees for Kenya’s domestic safari carrier category, while Sirai Beach represents Kilifi in the luxury private villa category. In Taita Taveta, Salt Lick Safari Lodge and Taita Hills Safari Resort & Spa are listed in the Kenya safari lodge category, linking the coastal travel story to the wider Tsavo and Taita Taveta safari circuit.
The Africa-wide categories give the region an even broader stage.
Diani Beach is nominated for Africa’s Leading Beach Destination 2026, placing one of Kenya’s best-known beach destinations alongside some of the continent’s most recognised coastal escapes.
Coastal properties also feature strongly in Africa’s hotel and resort categories. Baobab Beach Resort & Spa, Diamonds Malindi and Diani Sea Lodge are listed in Africa’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort, while Baobab Beach Resort & Spa, Diani Sea Resort, Hemingways Watamu and Swahili Beach appear in Africa’s Leading Beach Resort.
Some of the Coast’s more specialised stays are also on the list. Billionaire Resort & Retreat and The Majlis feature in Africa’s Leading Boutique Resort. The Residences at Leopard Beach Resort & Spa appears in Africa’s Leading Hotel Residences, The Cliff Villa at Alfajiri Villas is listed in Africa’s Leading Luxury Hotel Villa, and Cowrie Shell Beach Apartments appears in Africa’s Leading Serviced Apartments.
Chale Island Resort and Manda Bay are included in Africa’s Leading Private Island Resort, while Ocean Sports Resort Watamu appears in Africa’s Leading Sports Resort. Sirai Beach features again in Africa’s Leading Luxury Private Villa, and Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary is listed in Africa’s Leading Private Game Reserve.
The Port of Mombasa is also nominated for Africa’s Leading Cruise Port 2026, an important mention for a city that continues to build its place in regional cruise tourism.
Taken together, the nominations show why the Kenya Coast remains one of the country’s most complete travel regions. It is not just a beach destination. It is a place of ocean life, heritage, food, family travel, conferences, private island stays, serviced apartments, luxury villas, cruise arrivals and safari connections.
Readers who would like to support the coastal nominees can vote through the official World Travel Awards portal before voting closes on 17 July.
To vote, users need to register on the World Travel Awards website, verify their email address, log in and select their preferred nominees in the relevant Kenya and Africa categories.
Vote here: World Travel Awards Voting Portal
View the Kenya nominees here: World Travel Awards Kenya Nominees 2026
View the Africa nominees here: World Travel Awards Africa Nominees 2026
