Priority Pass Excellence Awards 2026: The Best Airport Lounges in the World Right Now
Priority Pass has revealed its Excellence Awards 2026 winners, based on over 700,000 member reviews. Portland's Escape Lounge took Global Lounge of the Year. Here's a full breakdown of every winner, what makes each one stand out, and how to access them.
Priority Pass Excellence Awards 2026: The Best Airport Lounges in the World Right Now
Priority Pass just released the results of its 18th annual Excellence Awards — and this year's winners tell a story about where airport lounges are heading. Based on more than 700,000 member ratings and reviews collected across the past year, the awards recognize the best-performing lounges in the Priority Pass global network across five regions, plus a brand-new "One to Watch" category for 2026.
The big headline: a Portland, Oregon lounge beat out the entire world. For the first time in the program's 18-year history, a lounge at Portland International Airport (PDX) took the Global Lounge of the Year title — which says as much about the direction of the industry as it does about the specific lounge. More on that in a moment.
This guide covers every winner across all categories, what makes each one stand out, how the awards work, and what the 2026 results tell us about where the best lounge experiences are heading.
How the Priority Pass Excellence Awards Work
Before diving into the winners, it's worth understanding what these awards actually measure. This isn't a panel of judges selecting their favorites — it's an entirely data-driven process based on real member reviews.
Priority Pass collects ratings from members after every lounge visit, scoring across six criteria: quality of facilities, standard of customer service, food and beverage selection, comfort, ambience, and overall member satisfaction. The 2026 awards drew on more than 700,000 individual member ratings from across the global network of 1,800+ lounges, making it one of the largest crowdsourced lounge evaluations in the industry.
Lounges are ranked within their regional category, with the top performers in each region named Lounge of the Year winners. The global winner is drawn from the full pool of top-rated lounges across all regions.
For 2026, Priority Pass also introduced a new "One to Watch" category, recognizing lounges that showed the most significant improvement in member ratings over the past 12 months — a way of spotlighting rising stars rather than only established favorites.
The 2026 Winners: Full Breakdown
🏆 Global Lounge of the Year: Escape Lounge — Portland International Airport (PDX), USA
Region: North America | Also wins: North America Regional Lounge of the Year
The Escape Lounge at Portland International Airport is the 2026 Global Lounge of the Year — and it's a genuinely surprising pick. Portland isn't a major hub on the level of JFK, LAX, or Heathrow. But that's almost the point. What PDX's Escape Lounge represents is a complete commitment to local identity over generic airport-lounge standardization, and travelers responded overwhelmingly.
Portland International opened a brand-new state-of-the-art terminal in 2024 that has since been widely celebrated for its design-forward aesthetic and deep connection to the Pacific Northwest's natural and cultural environment. The Escape Lounge leaned fully into that ethos. The space incorporates locally sourced food and beverages, regional artwork and materials, and a layout designed to deliver both calm and productivity — zones that feel genuinely distinct, not just rearranged furniture.
The food and beverage program features local ingredients and Pacific Northwest culinary inspiration, an area where many airport lounges default to generic buffet offerings and fall flat. The result is a space that feels like an extension of Portland itself rather than a deviation from it.
Tom Waldron, Chief Experiences Officer at Escape Lounge Portland, described the win as "an incredibly proud moment," crediting the team's focus on "creating spaces that feel more than just part of the airport journey — vibrant, welcoming environments shaped by a true sense of place."
Highly Commended: Escape Lounge — Kansas City International Airport (MCI), USA
🌏 Asia Pacific Lounge of the Year: Lounge Fukuoka — Fukuoka International Airport (FUK), Japan
Lounge Fukuoka at Fukuoka International Airport took the Asia Pacific regional title for an approach that mirrors what Portland did in North America: absolute commitment to place.
The lounge is designed with a bright, open layout that gives close-up views of the runway and parked aircraft — a feature that consistently rates highly among frequent travelers who genuinely enjoy the aviation environment rather than trying to escape it. The aesthetic is serene and wood-toned, promoting calm rather than stimulation.
Where Lounge Fukuoka truly distinguishes itself is in its dining program. The lounge serves local Fukuoka specialties including Tonkotsu Ramen (the dish most closely associated with the city) and Kashiwa Rice, alongside seasonal local sake and Costa Coffee. Fukuoka is well-known in Japan as a food city, and the lounge takes that identity seriously. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 9:15 p.m. with a complimentary bar.
Lounge Section Manager Yuji Shin noted that the team's goal is to let travelers "experience the spirit of Fukuoka, Kyushu and Japan" — a philosophy that produced the highest-rated lounge in the entire Asia Pacific region.
Highly Commended: Kyra Lounge — Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
🇦🇹 Europe Lounge of the Year: Vienna Lounge — Vienna International Airport (VIE), Austria
Vienna Lounge is a defending champion — it has now taken the European regional title for consecutive years, which speaks to the consistency of its execution rather than a single standout moment.
Located near the C and D gates in Terminal 1 at Vienna International Airport, the lounge is open daily from 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. It's designed to reflect the character of Vienna itself — the elegance, the culinary tradition, the sense of refined European hospitality. Julian Jäger, Joint CEO and COO of Vienna Airport, described it as translating "Vienna's destination DNA — from its elegance and hospitality to its renowned culinary standards — into a premium travel experience."
For Priority Pass members transiting through Vienna, this is among the most reliable and highly regarded lounge options in the entire European network.
Highly Commended: No.1 Lounge — Jersey Airport (JER), United Kingdom
🇯🇲 Latin America & Caribbean Lounge of the Year: Club Kingston — Norman Manley International Airport (KIN), Jamaica
Club Kingston at Kingston's Norman Manley International Airport took the top honor in Latin America and the Caribbean — a win that reflects the growing quality of lounge offerings in a region that has historically received less attention in these rankings.
The lounge is open daily from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and offers a notably broad range of premium amenities: shower suites, a curated photo gallery featuring local artwork, local dishes, and spa treatments available for an additional charge. The combination of cultural representation (the gallery, local cuisine) with practical premium amenities (showers, spa) is exactly the kind of blend that rated highly in 2026 member reviews.
For travelers connecting through Kingston — a growing hub for Caribbean routes — Club Kingston represents a genuine premium experience in a market where that was previously harder to find.
Highly Commended: Advantage VIP Lounge — Viracopos International Airport (VCP), Campinas, Brazil
🇿🇦 Middle East & Africa Lounge of the Year: Bidvest Premier Lounge — O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), Johannesburg, South Africa
Bidvest Premier Lounge at Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport won the Middle East and Africa regional award, cementing Johannesburg's position as home to one of the best lounge experiences in Africa.
Located in domestic Terminal B, the lounge operates daily from 4:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and offers extensive food options, a complimentary bar, and well-designed spaces for both working and relaxing. Bonga Mhlongo, Lounge Operations Executive, described what sets the space apart as "genuine hospitality and a strong passion for what we do" — a reflection of the service-oriented approach that scored highly in member reviews on customer service criteria.
O.R. Tambo is a major African hub for both regional and intercontinental connections, making this lounge accessible to a large and diverse range of Priority Pass members passing through the continent.
The New "One to Watch" Category: Rising Stars of 2026
Brand new for 2026, the One to Watch category recognizes lounges that showed the most significant improvement in member ratings over the past 12 months — future leaders rather than established champions. These are the lounges that may well appear in the main Lounge of the Year categories in the coming years.
EMEA One to Watch: VIP Lounge Angelo D'Arrigo — Vincenzo Bellini Catania Airport (CTA), Catania, Italy. Catania's airport, serving Sicily and a rapidly growing travel market, has dramatically improved its lounge offering over the past year.
Asia Pacific One to Watch: I.A.S.S Superior Lounge (KoCoo) — Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT), Japan. Tokyo Narita's refreshed KoCoo Lounge has rapidly improved its ratings among international Priority Pass members.
Americas One to Watch: Advantage VIP Lounge — São Paulo/Guarulhos–Governor André Franco Montoro International Airport (GRU), Brazil. São Paulo's main international airport is home to this fast-rising lounge, which also received a Highly Commended mention in the main Latin America regional category.
Complete 2026 Winner Summary
| Category | Winner | Airport Code |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 Global Lounge of the Year | Escape Lounge | PDX (Portland, USA) |
| North America Regional | Escape Lounge | PDX (Portland, USA) |
| North America Highly Commended | Escape Lounge | MCI (Kansas City, USA) |
| Asia Pacific Regional | Lounge Fukuoka | FUK (Fukuoka, Japan) |
| Asia Pacific Highly Commended | Kyra Lounge | HKG (Hong Kong) |
| Europe Regional | Vienna Lounge | VIE (Vienna, Austria) |
| Europe Highly Commended | No.1 Lounge | JER (Jersey, UK) |
| Latin America & Caribbean Regional | Club Kingston | KIN (Kingston, Jamaica) |
| Latin America & Caribbean Highly Commended | Advantage VIP Lounge | VCP (Campinas, Brazil) |
| Middle East & Africa Regional | Bidvest Premier Lounge | JNB (Johannesburg, SA) |
| One to Watch — EMEA | VIP Lounge Angelo D'Arrigo | CTA (Catania, Italy) |
| One to Watch — APAC | I.A.S.S Superior Lounge (KoCoo) | NRT (Tokyo Narita, Japan) |
| One to Watch — Americas | Advantage VIP Lounge | GRU (São Paulo, Brazil) |
What the 2026 Results Tell Us About the Industry
The 2026 winners aren't just a list of good lounges — they're a signal about where the entire airport hospitality industry is headed. Three clear themes emerge from the results.
"Sense of Place" Is Now the Defining Standard
Every winner in 2026 was recognized specifically for feeling like an extension of its destination rather than a generic airport space. Portland for Pacific Northwest creative culture. Fukuoka for Kyushu culinary identity. Vienna for European elegance. Kingston for Caribbean hospitality and local art. This is a deliberate departure from the standardized, interchangeable lounge aesthetic that dominated airport design for decades.
Collinson International CEO Christopher Evans put it directly: "Travellers today expect versatility, quality, and genuine local experience, and our partners are delivering on all three." The data from 700,000 member reviews confirms it — travelers are rating authenticity above luxury standardization.
Local Food and Beverage Is the #1 Differentiator
In every winning lounge, the food program was specifically mentioned as a distinguishing factor. Tonkotsu Ramen at Fukuoka. Pacific Northwest local ingredients at Portland. Viennese culinary standards in Austria. Jamaican local dishes in Kingston. The era of generic buffet items and pre-packaged sandwiches as acceptable lounge fare is clearly ending among the highest-rated spaces.
Smaller Markets Can Win
Perhaps the most interesting signal from 2026 is that the global winner is in Portland, not New York or London or Singapore. A mid-size US airport with a relatively recent terminal beat every major international hub. This suggests that the quality of the lounge itself — and the commitment of the team operating it — matters more than the prestige of the airport location. Rising markets like Catania, São Paulo, and Kingston appearing in the One to Watch and Highly Commended categories reinforces this pattern.
How to Access the Award-Winning Lounges
All of the 2026 Lounge of the Year winners are accessible through the Priority Pass network, meaning you can visit them with a Priority Pass membership — whether through a credit card benefit or a standalone membership.
Standalone Priority Pass membership tiers:
- Standard: $99/year + $35 per visit
- Standard Plus: $329/year, 10 free visits then $35
- Prestige: $469/year, unlimited visits (guests $35 each)
Credit card Priority Pass access is included with cards such as Chase Sapphire Reserve, American Express Platinum, and many international bank cards. Note that credit card versions (Priority Pass Select) exclude restaurant and non-lounge experiences but include all standard lounge access.
Before visiting any lounge, verify current hours and access terms on the Priority Pass website or app — hours and policies can change, particularly for international locations.
The Bottom Line: What Makes a World-Class Lounge in 2026
The Priority Pass Excellence Awards 2026 offer the clearest data-driven answer yet to what makes an airport lounge truly excellent: it's not the square footage, the number of shower suites, or the brand name on the door. It's whether the space feels genuinely considered — whether the food reflects where you are, whether the design feels intentional, whether the service reflects genuine care.
Portland's Escape Lounge didn't win because it's the biggest or the most luxurious. It won because 700,000 travelers, in aggregate, felt better about being there than anywhere else in the Priority Pass global network. That's a meaningful result — and a useful guide for anyone planning their next trip and wanting to know where to seek out a genuinely exceptional pre-flight experience.
Check the Priority Pass app before your next flight. You might be more surprised than you'd expect by what's available at your terminal.
For more lounge guides, check out Priority Pass vs LoungeKey: 2026 comparison, best credit cards for lounge access, and are airport lounges worth it in 2026.
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About Bary
Bary is a veteran aviation professional whose career as a pilot spanned multiple airlines and many decades of industry change. Now retired in Liverpool, New York, he draws on a lifetime of flight experience to inform his writing. At 75, he shares practical insights, technical knowledge, and behind-the-scenes perspectives shaped by thousands of hours in the cockpit, giving readers an authentic look into the world of aviation.