Lisbon, May 21, 2026 (Lusa) – Portugal has 73 "Zero Pollution" beaches in 2026, eight fewer than in 2025, across 34 regions, with Grandola leading with six beaches free from microbiological contamination, the environmental association Zero announced on Thursday.
In a statement, Zero – Sustainable Earth System Association explained that a "Zero Pollution" beach is an area where “testing did not detect any microbiological contamination in bathing waters over the past three bathing seasons, and its classification remained 'excellent’ during this period.”
Zero added that the 73 beaches represent 11% of the total 671 existing bathing waters, marking a decrease of eight beaches compared to the 81 classified in 2025.
Grândola (six) and Porto Santo (five) have the highest number of beaches with the least contaminated waters.
The association said two river beaches hold the “Zero Pollution” award – the Vilar reservoir in Moimenta da Beira and the Alfaiates reservoir in Sabugal – noting they had reached this quality standard years ago.
Zero reported that beaches in the Lagos, Moimenta da Beira, Sabugal, Setúbal and São Vicente districts had joined the list, while Caldas da Rainha, Caminha, Ílhavo, Nazaré, Porto Moniz, Povoação, Santa Cruz, Sines, Sintra and Tomar no longer have any "Zero Pollution" beaches.
The list saw 31 coastal areas exit and 23 new ones enter, leaving 45 “Zero Pollution” bathing waters in mainland Portugal, 21 in the Azores and seven in Madeira.
The northern region includes one beach in Matosinhos and three in Viana do Castelo.
The central region features the beaches of Sabugal and Moimenta da Beira.
The western zone includes Alcobaça and Torres Vedras with four beaches each, followed by Lourinhã with two and Peniche with one.
The Lisbon and Tagus Valley region has one beach in Mafra, another in Setúbal, and two in Sesimbra.
The Alentejo region has six beaches in Grândola, four in Aljezur, and two in Odemira and Santiago do Cacém.
The Algarve coast has 10 “Zero Pollution” beaches, with Olhão and Tavira holding three each, Faro two, and Vila do Bispo and Lagos one each.
The Azores have “Zero Pollution” beaches in Angra do Heroísmo, São Roque do Pico, Vila do Porto, Madalena, Praia da Vitória, Santa Cruz da Graciosa, Horta, Lajes das Flores, Lajes do Pico and Ponta Delgada.
Madeira has seven beaches, with five in Porto Santo, one in Calheta and another in São Vicente.
Meanwhile, Zero appealed to the Portuguese Environment Agency “to continue improving specialised and public information regarding beach advisories and bans, highlighting the institution's 'Info Água' portal.”
The association compiled this "Zero Pollution" list in the same year that Portugal will have 438 beaches, marinas and vessels with a Blue Flag (an international eco-credential), eight fewer than in 2025.
RAZF/LYT // AYLS
Lusa
