April 23, 2026 – Conde Nast and Hvar, almost synonymous in the world of luxury travel, as Croatia’s premier island and its leading hotel group are once again nominated for the prestigious annual Conde Nast Traveler Readers Awards.
There are many ways to describe the island of Hvar, famed for its beauty, sunshine, culture, lavender, beaches, wine and nightlife, but one that slips off the tongue easily is that it is one of the 10 most beautiful islands in the world. Although this is oft quoted, few know the origins of the assertion of the island’s beauty on the global scene.
Walk along the waterfront of Jelsa, just off the main square, and you will see a big map of the island, and also a list of the ten most beautiful islands in the world. The list dates back to 1997, when Hvar was included in the prestigious Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers Awards, one of the most important recognitions in the North American travel industry.
Hvar and the annual Readers Awards have been intertwined ever since, with the island’s premier hotel group, Suncani Hvar Hotels, also a regular nominee with several of their portfolio of properties since their extensive renovation dating back to 2006. Indeed, on more than one occasion, Hvar was named the Best Island in Europe, and the island seems to have a special place in the hearts of the influential travel magazine.
Almost 30 years after generating the term ‘Among the 10 most beautiful islands in the world,’ the Conde Nast readers’ love for Hvar shows no sign of abating, as the island has once more been nominated for the award of best island, while no less than four of its hotels recognised in the 2026 nominations.
The timing of such a strong endorsement of Hvar and its hotels comes at a time of positive change for Hvar and its relationship with the important American market. The island has successfully shed its party image in recent years, steering the destination upmarket, with a focus on families and couples, as well as developing an impressive active tourism offer.
And the American market has noticed. Last year, the Americans were the number one visitors, both in terms of visits and in overnight stays, a trend which is set to continue this year, especially as the USA will be accessible as never before, with the first direct flights from New York to Split due to start on April 30. Coupled with a fast speedboat transfer, travel time from the Big Apple to Paradise will be down to as little as 10 hours.
It promises to be a great season for the island, and its hotel offer will be boosted by a renovated Hotel Amfora and the opening of 4-star Sirena Resort in an idyllic bay on the edge of the town.
You can still vote for the nominees, as follows: click here for the island of Hvar, here for hotels Riva Marina, Palace Elisabeth and Adriana, and here for Amfora in the resort section. You can learn more about the hotels and their current offers on the official website, as well as more about this magical island on the Hvar Tourist Board official website.
Want to get a flavour of what Hvar Town is like in season these days? Check out my visit last summer in the video below.
