Cape Town's beaches set to shine at the 2025/26 Blue Flag awards
The City of Cape Town, a long-time participant in the Blue Flag programme, is expected to retain its flagship beaches.
Image: Supplied
South Africa’s top coastal destinations will be recognised later this month as the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) announces the 2025/26 Blue Flag and Green Coast sites. Cape Town is once again expected to feature prominently among the country’s coastal champions.
The annual Blue Flag Awards Ceremony will take place on October 31 at the Royal St Andrew’s Hotel in Port Alfred, bringing together more than 120 delegates from over 30 municipalities, businesses and organisations across South Africa.
The Blue Flag programme, managed locally by WESSA and internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), is among the world’s most respected eco-labels, recognising beaches, marinas and tourism boats that meet strict global criteria for water quality, environmental education, management and safety.
“The Blue Flag programme is more than just a mark of quality; it is a commitment to people and planet,” said Cindy-Lee Cloete, WESSA CEO. “Each awarded site reflects local action for global impact, demonstrating how communities and municipalities can work together to safeguard our shared coastal heritage.”
WESSA Coastal Programmes Senior Manager Mike Denison said this year’s submissions had shown continued enthusiasm for sustainable coastal management. “More than 50 submissions for beaches, along with five marinas and eight tourism boats highlight the growing appetite for sustainable coastal management across South Africa,” he said.
The City of Cape Town, a long-time participant in the Blue Flag programme, is expected to retain its flagship beaches such as Camps Bay, Clifton 4th, and Muizenberg, which consistently meet international standards for safety and environmental management. Each participating site undergoes independent water-quality testing, on-site audits and both national and international reviews before accreditation is confirmed.
. South Africa’s top coastal destinations will be recognised later this month as the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) announces the 2025/26 Blue Flag and Green Coast sites pic supplied
Image: supplied
In addition to the full Blue Flag sites, the programme also highlights Pilot Sites working towards accreditation, a process that promotes education, accessibility and continuous improvement in coastal care.
While Cape Town’s beaches remain a cornerstone of the city’s tourism identity, environmental watchdogs have recently raised concerns over water quality in parts of the peninsula.
An independent investigation earlier this year found instances of bacterial contamination at several popular beaches, prompting renewed calls for ongoing vigilance in protecting coastal waters. The City has maintained that official testing continues to show high compliance with international standards.
As WESSA prepares to celebrate the nation’s coastal custodians, Cape Town’s beaches are once again set to raise their Blue Flags, symbols of excellence, sustainability and shared responsibility for the city’s natural heritage.