Lounges provide a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of a hectic airport - often offering a touch of luxury to your journey.

Some take it a step further and aim to create an experience for the traveller, whether that's incorporating local design or including regionally-inspired food and beverages, serving as an extension to the destination. 

Priority Pass, an airport lounge programme, has announced the winner of the Lounge of the Year, as well as regional categories, for the Priority Pass Excellence Awards 2026.

The awards are allocated after consideration of over 700,000 member ratings and reviews.

Factors including quality of facilities, customer service, food and beverage selection as well as comfort, ambience and overall member satisfaction are all considered.  

Global Lounge of the Year - Escape Lounges at Portland International Airport, United States

Located in the state of Oregon, Portland International sees hundreds of thousands of passengers pass through every month.

Escape Lounges provides just that - an escape from the chaos of the major travel hub - and blends contemporary design with a strong sense of local identity.

According to the awards, it curates an experience for travellers that 'feels distinctly rooted in its surroundings'. 

One review on Google gushes how the space has 'extensive local wood incorporated in its design, along with many local artists' work featured' while others praise the food and drink on offer, which are inspired by the region. 

Another reads: 'As a frequent traveller and visitor of airport lounges, the Escape Lounge in PDX is by far one of the best. If you get a chance to stop in it is a great place to grab a drink, small bite, and relax before your flight.'

Commenting on the win, Tom Waldron, chief experiences officer for the lounge, said: 'Winning Global Lounge of the Year with Priority Pass is an incredibly proud moment for our Portland team. 

'This recognition reflects our commitment to creating spaces that feel more than just part of the airport journey - they're vibrant, welcoming environments shaped by a true sense of place. 

'From locally inspired food and drink to the energy our teams bring every day, we're focused on delivering a personalised experience that travellers genuinely look forward to. We're grateful to Priority Pass and, most importantly, to our guests for making this possible.'

Regional winners

North America

Escape Lounges at Portland International Airport takes the crown for North America, meanwhile, Escape Lounges at Kansas City was highly commended. 

Guests rave about the amount of food available and one person describes it as 'spotless, fresh, and very comfortable'. 

Asia Pacific

Japan's Lounge Fukuoka, in Fukuoka Airport, was awarded the best for Asia Pacific and reviews praise it for boasting 'beautiful decorations showcasing the Japanese garden art in a miniature manner'.

Others comment on the wide selection of food available, raving about the quality too. 

Kyra Lounge in Hong Kong was awarded highly commended and offers complimentary drinks and buffets. 

One review said: 'This was my first time visiting this lounge, and I was pleasantly surprised by the wide variety of food available. As I had an early morning flight, I didn't get the chance to try their alcoholic drinks, but I've heard their cocktails are quite good.

'I especially appreciated that they offered bee hoon (rice vermicelli) and siu mai, which were a nice touch. The location is also very convenient, making it an easy choice before a flight.'

Europe 

Vienna Lounge in Austria's Vienna International Airport was named the European lounge winner.

Located in terminal one, the lounge has over 1,000 Google reviews and one traveller described it as 'one of the best lounges I've been in'.

A surprising UK entry was also noticed and highly commended - No.1 Lounge in Jersey.

One holidaymaker was particularly surprised by the quality of the lounge and wrote: 'As a world traveller I had the chance experience the lounge in Jersey. I must admit this is the best lounge I have been for a card holders.

'And I wouldn't expecting this as jersey is not the biggest island! So very surprised! The welcoming and the staff is like 5* hotel I was so happy , they always keeping place nice and clean.

'Good selection of the drinks and food plus very nice smell in the lounge. I recommend to everyone who's visiting the beautiful island.'

Latin America and the Caribbean

Club Kingston in Jamaica was declared as the winner of the Latin America and Caribbean category. 

'Small, well-maintained, comfortable lounge. Friendly and helpful staff. A good selection of local snacks, hot meals, and beverages (warm, cold, soft, alcoholic). The escort from the lounge to the boarding gate is a nice touch,' one traveller penned. 

Meanwhile, Advantage VIP Lounge in Campinas, Brazil was highly commended.

Middle East and Africa

The Bidvest Premier Lounge in O.R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa was named the winner for the Middle East and Africa. 

Many reviewers describe it as the 'best' lounge they've visited, and one wrote: 'I stopped by this lounge during my three-hour layover at OR Tambo Airport. 

'It's one of the nicer Priority Pass lounges at this airport. The space is clean and comfortable, and the food and drink options are decent. Overall, it's a good place to relax before your next flight.'

'Now in its 18th year, the Priority Pass Excellence Awards continue to showcase the very best of our global network, and each year, our partners raise the bar even higher,' says Christopher Evans, CEO of Collinson International, which owns Priority Pass.

'With demand for premium travel experiences at an all-time high, travellers are increasingly looking to make every moment of their journey more meaningful and memorable.

'What stands out to me is the high number of partners from across the globe delivering leading, flagship lounges that are redefining what a true sense of place means.'

He added: 'Travellers today expect versatility, quality, and genuine local experience, and our partners are delivering on all three. The Lounge of the Year and One to Watch categories recognise the partners who consistently go above and beyond to deliver exceptional moments that truly enhance the journey for our members. Congratulations to this year's winners.'