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Koh Samui voted best island in the world for 2026
· Luxy Samui
Travel + Leisure readers ranked Koh Samui first among the world's islands for 2026, ahead of the Maldives.
Koh Samui is the best island in the world for 2026, according to the readers of the American magazine Travel + Leisure. The result of its World's Best Awards was published on 7 July 2026. Samui received a reader score of 95.64 out of 100 and took first place for the first time.
The top five
The margin was small. The Maldives came second with 95.38. The first five places were:
- 1. Koh Samui, Thailand
- 2. Maldives
- 3. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
- 4. Bali, Indonesia
- 5. Phuket, Thailand
Thailand therefore has two islands in the top five. The Seychelles, Fiji and Sri Lanka follow. The Greek island of Paros, which was first in 2025, fell well down the list this year, as Time Out noted.
Why readers chose Samui
Time Out's report says readers praised the island's high-end places to stay, its jungle and waterfalls and its reputation for wellness. It also recalls that the third season of The White Lotus was filmed on the island, which brought new attention.
Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports, quoted by The Nation, linked the result to more than beaches. It mentioned nature, culture, local character and food.
A second award two weeks earlier
This was the second prize of the summer. On 25 June 2026, The Nation reported that Koh Samui had come first in the best islands category of the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2026. In the same awards, Samui International Airport came second among airports in the region, behind Changi in Singapore. Five Samui resorts were placed in the related hotel ranking: Cape Fahn, Four Seasons, Kimpton Kitalay, Anantara Lawana and Centara Reserve.
What the government plans to do
Officials said they want to use the recognition to improve how tourism is managed on the island. The priorities listed by the ministry include visitor safety, better public facilities, action against unlicensed operators, higher quality standards, development that respects the environment and a larger share of income for local people. These are stated intentions. No budget or timetable was given in the reports we read.
A reader award measures opinion, not visitor numbers. It does not say how many people will come. It does show that people who have visited the island rate it very highly.
What it means for villa owners
Awards like this one raise expectations. Guests who choose the island that readers rank first in the world expect a home in excellent condition, fast answers and honest photos. The government's plan to act against unlicensed operators is also a reminder to keep paperwork in order. For owners who live abroad, a local team makes this easier. Learn how we work on our page about villa management in Koh Samui.
