The Accessible Beach, Beach for All! Program was created in 2004 and has been developed on the ground since 2005, within the framework of an institutional partnership, at the level of the Central State Administration, which brings together the Institute for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, I.P. (IDiPD), then the National Secretariat for the Rehabilitation and Integration of Persons with Disabilities (SNRIPD) and, subsequently, the National Institute for Rehabilitation, I.P. (INR), the Portuguese Environment Agency, I.P. (APA), then the Water Institute (INAG), and Turismo de Portugal, I.P. (TP).

Until 2007, this partnership also included the Institute for Employment and Vocational Training, I.P. (IEFP).

At the level of the Regional Administration, the environmental entities responsible for monitoring and supervising water resources are involved in the implementation of the Programme:

• on the mainland, the Hydrographic Regions Administrations of the APA;
• in the Autonomous Regions of Madeira and the Azores, the Regional Secretariats with the same responsibilities, through the respective Regional Directorates.

At local government level, municipalities with beaches officially designated as bathing waters are involved, within the scope of Article 4.º of Decree-Law No. º 135/2009, of 3 June, in collaboration with private concessionaires of these beaches. The identification of bathing waters and the qualification of bathing beaches for 2026 were carried out by means of Ordinance No. º 204-A/2026/1 of 30 April.

The main objective of this Programme is to promote compliance with accessibility legislation, in particular with the technical standards approved by Decree-Law No º 163/2006 of 8 August 2006, Law No º 46/2006 of 28 August 2006 on the prevention and prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of disability and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified by Portugal in 2009.

It is intended that more and more Portuguese beaches ensure accessibility conditions and services that enable their use and enjoyment, with equity, dignity, safety, comfort, independence and the greatest possible autonomy, by all people who wish to visit them, regardless of their age and any difficulties of locomotion or other disabilities that, temporarily or permanently, condition their mobility.

Mandatory requirements

The mandatory compliance requirements that determine the attribution of the classification of "accessible" to a beach, allowing the elevation of the respective award, are the following:

• Easy and barrier-free pedestrian access from the surrounding public road to an accessible entrance to the beach;
• orderly parking with parking spaces reserved for vehicles carrying persons with a parking card for persons with disabilities, located as close as possible to that entrance and connected to it by a barrier-free pedestrian path;
• Network of accessible pedestrian paths on the beach, completely free of obstacles and interruptions, starting at the accessible entrance and including treadmills on the beach, where there is one, or in other cases, a paved, firm, stable and continuous path;
• Where there are gradients, the steps must be supplemented by gentle ramps with handrails and/or mechanical lifting facilities accessible to persons with reduced mobility, such as lifts or lift platforms;
• connection of the network of accessible paths to the sunbathing and shade area — sun hats, awnings, culms or tents — and to a location as close to the water as possible;
• Sanitary facilities and first aid station adapted to the needs of persons with reduced mobility;
• Presence of lifeguard;
• Information to the public, available at the entrance to the beach and on the municipality's website, detailing the accessibility conditions and support services available for people with restricted mobility.

Recommended Best Practices

Some examples of other good practices are indicated which, although not mandatory, significantly improve the conditions for these people to enjoy the beaches and are therefore recommended with a view to continuous improvement of the Programme:

• amphibious equipment for bathing and/or walking on the beach for persons with reduced mobility, such as wheelchair users, walkers or Canadians;
• Accessible dressing rooms, showers, water fountains and foot washers;
• Shadowed reception and support spaces for persons with restricted mobility and persons accompanied by assistance dogs;
• personalised reception and guidance of visually impaired persons;
• accessible beach bars, restaurants and shops;
• accessible and inclusive recreational and pedagogical activities;
• public information made available in alternative and accessible formats, including suitable for blind or low-sighted persons;
• colour identification systems for colour blind people, applied on state-of-the-sea flags and in containers for separate collection of waste;
• Tactile maps of the beach, with information in Braille, located at the entrance of the bathing area;
• Systems that allow the routing and access to the bath autonomously for blind people;
• Security alert systems accessible to deaf people.

Developments

The Program has maintained a significant adherence on the part of municipalities and beach concessionaires, although there is still a considerable way to go to achieve the desired final objective.

Make coastal and inland beaches accessible, allowing all those who wish to visit them to enjoy them freely, with equity and safety.

In the 2026 bathing season, the Programme covers 239 beaches, which represents around 35.6% of the 671 officially designated as bathing waters.

The following table shows the history of accessible beaches:

Bathing season	Mainland	Azores	Wood	Total
2026	216	17	6	239
2025	220	16	7	243
2024	220	17	7	244
2023	217	18	7	242
2022	207	18	8	233
2021	198	17	8	223
2020	177	17	7	201
2019	189	17	9	215
2018	189	16	9	214
2017	194	16	12	222
2016	183	14	12	209
2015	179	14	11	204
2014	171	14	9	194
2013	162	10	7	179
2012	162	15	7	184
2011	153	14	8	175
2010	142	9	7	158
2009	139	9	6	154
2008	109	9		118
2007	92	5		97
2006	74	2		76
2005	48	1		49

Accessible Beaches 2026

List of award-winning beaches

In the 2026 bathing season, 239 beaches were awarded, of which 60 are river or lake bathing areas and 179 are coastal or transitional, corresponding to 25.1% and 74.9%, respectively, of the total number of Accessible Beaches.

In 214 beaches, corresponding to 89.5% of the total, bathing support equipment is available for people with restricted mobility. On 149 beaches, corresponding to 62.3% of the total, bathing support service is also available.

“Accessible Beach, Beach for All!” 2026

List of award-winning beaches Accessible Beach Program, Beach for All! 2026, consult HERE

You can also consult the pages about the Program on the websites of the Portuguese Environment Agency, I.P. (includes an interactive map with the geographical location of the awarded beaches) and the Turismo de Portugal, I.P..

Documents available for download (update of the documents to be made available for version 2026, namely):

• Beach Accessible 2026_Application form
• Annex 1_2026
• Annex 2_2026
• Annex 3_2026
• Annex 4 – Municipality’s Statement of Commitment 2026
• Award rules 2026

Contacts

Email: INR-praia.acessivel@inr.mtsss.pt