Travelers have thousands of airport lounges worldwide to relax in before or after a flight. Just the Priority Pass lounge network has over 1,900 lounges. Most offer great food, drinks, and other amenities. But some lounges sit above others in terms of quality and offerings. The Priority Pass Excellence Awards<\/a> named the best airport lounges in 2026, specifically among Priority Pass lounges<\/a>.<\/p>\n This year's winners are based on over 700,000 reviews from Priority Pass members. There are five categories: regional winners (including an overall global winner), highly recommended lounges (a.k.a. runners-up), Pioneer of the Year winners focusing on innovation, All-Star of the Year winners focusing on customer service, and One to Watch for lounges with significant improvements.<\/p>\n Note that two categories, Pioneer of the Year and All-Star of the Year, have delayed awards. We will update this article when the winners are announced.<\/p>\n Winner: Escape Lounges, Concourse D, Portland OR International Airport – Oregon, United States<\/p>\n Escape Lounges at Portland International Airport is a vibrant space where you can escape the hubbub of the terminal to work, relax, or socialize. The lounge offers freshly-prepared local food, including vegan and gluten-free options, and complimentary drinks at the bar. Access is available from 4:30 a.m. until midnight daily.<\/p>\n A new category is for One-to-Watch lounges. This category recognizes lounges that have made the most significant improvements to their overall experience across the Priority Pass global network, as reflected in reviews. Here are the winners this year:<\/p>\n Many factors go into the perfect airport lounge. The most common things travelers look for are comfortable seats, good food and drinks, showers, quiet work locations, and overall convenience. Other things to consider include the overall lounge layout, window views, temperature control, bathroom and shower amenities, preventing overcrowding, the quality of meals and cocktails, noise levels, etc.<\/p>\n Furthermore, the artistic presentation of the lounge or art installations, the food and drink displays, and, of course, the behavior of the staff all go toward a relaxing and comfortable experience before or after your flight.<\/p>\n Of course, great lounges aren't the only benefits of a Priority Pass membership. The membership also gives access to great restaurants, complimentary terminal hotels, swimming pools, and even golf<\/a>. Just to recap, the Priority Pass costs $99 to $469 annually, depending on the tier. However, there are plenty of ways you can get a discounted or free Priority Pass membership<\/a> \u2014 and it starts with having the right credit card in your wallet.<\/p>\n $395<\/p><\/div> Excellent<\/p><\/div><\/div>Overall global winner 2026<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Regional winners 2026<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Highly commended lounges 2026<\/span><\/h3>\n
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“One to Watch” winners 2026<\/span><\/h3>\n
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What Makes an Airport Lounge Great?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Our Take<\/span><\/h2>\n
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