Voting closes today, 27 October, for the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards 2026, the accolades promoted by British travel magazine Wanderlust. San Marino has made the shortlist in the “Most Desirable Destination” category and now awaits the outcome, which will be announced on 4 November in London during a ceremony held as part of the World Travel Market.
The Secretariat of State for Tourism has drawn up a summary of the nomination, highlighting the visibility the Republic has gained among international audiences.
“Making the shortlist for the award represented an important opportunity for San Marino to present itself to an international audience of travellers, reaching a public attentive to discovering authentic destinations characterised by a thousand-year history, culturally significant heritage and a deeply recognisable identity,” the statement reads.
According to figures cited by the Secretariat, in the 2025 edition more than 200,000 readers cast a combined total of 4.8 million votes across the various categories. San Marino’s nomination came just months after another promotional initiative that saw the Republic featured on Lonely Planet.
“The nomination in the ‘Most Desirable Destination’ category gave the Republic the chance to strengthen its positioning in foreign markets and to consolidate its image as a destination capable of offering a distinctive tourism experience, in which history, culture, traditions, landscape and events combine to create a recognisable and competitive offering,” the statement continues.
Secretary of State for Tourism Federico Pedini Amati underlined the value of the nomination and thanked those who supported it: “Today, with voting coming to a close, marks a symbolic moment in a journey that has allowed San Marino to feature in a prestigious international showcase.
Being selected for the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards shortlist meant having the opportunity to tell the story of our Republic to an international community of travellers, showcasing its uniqueness, history, cultural heritage and the many experiences it can offer to those who choose to visit.
I would like to thank the Tourism Office for the work carried out, everyone who supported our nomination and all those who worked to raise the profile of Mount Titano, including our highly active consulate in London. Tourism promotion also happens through occasions like these, which allow us to reach new audiences and strengthen San Marino’s recognisability on international markets.
We await the announcement of the results with confidence, mindful of our size and, above all, the size of the countries competing alongside us. Regardless of the final outcome, taking part in an award of this significance represents a valuable opportunity for our tourism sector and a further incentive to continue promoting the Republic.”
