Planning a beach holiday? The 50 Blue Flag beaches for 2026/27

Fifty South African beaches have full Blue Flag status for the 2026/27 summer season, with another 20 beaches on the programme as pilot sites (WESSA). Five marinas and seven tourism boats were also certified, and 19 coastal spots got Green Coast status. The awards were handed out at Grotto Beach in Hermanus on 8 October 2026.

Western Cape has 27 of the 50 full-status beaches, KwaZulu-Natal has 15 and the Eastern Cape has eight, according to WESSA's official site list (WESSA list). No Durban (eThekwini) beach is on it.

What does a Blue Flag beach mean for you?

A Blue Flag is an international eco-label. To get one, a beach has to meet standards for water quality, environmental management, safety, accessibility and environmental education (WESSA). In South Africa the programme is run by WESSA (the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) and judged nationally and internationally (City of Cape Town).

The status isn't permanent. Beaches have to reapply every year and keep meeting the criteria (SAnews). A pilot site is in a trial period while it's assessed against the same criteria (City of Cape Town).

Which beaches have full Blue Flag status in 2026/27?

All 50, by municipality (WESSA list):

Western Cape

• Cape Town: Bikini Beach, Camps Bay, Clifton 4th, Fish Hoek, Llandudno, Melkbosstrand, Muizenberg, Silwerstroomstrand
• Overstrand: Grotto Beach, Kleinmond, Castle Beach, Hawston, Onrus
• Hessequa: Lappiesbaai, Gouritzmond, Stilbaai-Wes, Witsand, Jongensfontein, Preekstoel
• George: Herold's Bay, Victoria Bay, Wilderness
• Bitou: The Dunes, The Waves, Singing Kettle, Nature's Valley, Lookout Beach

Eastern Cape

• Kouga: Dolphin Main Beach, Cape St Francis Bay Beach
• Nelson Mandela Bay: Hobie Beach, Humewood Beach, Kings Beach
• Ndlambe: Kariega Beach, Kelly's Beach, Middle Beach (Kenton-on-Sea)

KwaZulu-Natal

• Ray Nkonyeni: Hibberdene, Marina Beach, Southport, Trafalgar, Umzumbe, St Michaels
• Umdoni: Pennington, Bazley, Rocky Bay, Preston, Umthwalume
• KwaDukuza: Salt Rock Main Beach, Thompson Bay, Willard Beach, Club Med (Tinley Manor)

Hessequa, which includes Stilbaai and Witsand, is the only municipality where every designated swimming beach has full status this season (WESSA). Grotto, Humewood and Marina Beach have now held a Blue Flag for 25 years.

Which beaches are pilot sites?

These 20 are working towards full status (WESSA list):

• Cape Town: Chapman's Peak Beach, Big Bay, Strand, Strandfontein
• George: Leentjiesklip
• Bitou: Robberg 5
• Nelson Mandela Bay: Bluewater Bay, Wells Estate
• Ray Nkonyeni: Port Edward, Mtwentweni, Lucien Beach, Ramsgate
• Umdoni: Scottburgh
• KwaDukuza: Tinley Manor Main Beach
• Mandeni: Tugela Mouth, Dokodweni
• Buffalo City: Kidds Beach, Gonubie, Keysers Beach
• Port Nolloth: McDougalls Bay

What's new at the beaches this summer?

Cape Town says several of its beaches, including most of its Blue Flag beaches, will have amphibious wheelchairs this season so people with limited mobility can get into the sea (City of Cape Town). It's the fifth season in a row that eight Cape Town beaches have full status.

Nelson Mandela Bay has set aside R5.6 million this financial year for beach maintenance and upgrades, and Kings Beach hosts the Lifesaving World Championships from 25 November to 13 December 2026 (SAnews).

How do you stay safe at the beach?

Swim only where lifeguards are on duty, the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality says (SAnews). Cape Town says its lifeguards are already deployed at designated swimming beaches (City of Cape Town).

WESSA wants 100 Blue Flag beaches in South Africa by 2030 (WESSA).