Lion’s Head, one of Cape Town’s most recognisable landmarks, overlooks the Atlantic Seaboard. Cape Town was named Africa’s Leading City Destination and Africa’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination at the 2026 World Travel Awards.
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Cape Town has another reason to brag after walking away with two top titles at the World Travel Awards.
The Mother City was named Africa's Leading City Destination 2026 and Africa's Leading Meetings & Conference Destination 2026 at the ceremony in Zanzibar on Friday night.
Often called the Oscars of Tourism, the World Travel Awards are decided by a global vote of travel professionals, making a win less a trophy than a verdict.
And the two awards recognise very different sides of Cape Town - one is a vote for things that have made the city a favourite with visitors: Table Mountain, the Atlantic Coastline and its food and creative scene.
The other looks at what sits behind Cape Town's ability to host major conferences and events, its venues, hotel capacity and the logistics needed to accommodate thousands of delegates.
And there are signs of more people making the trip.
Visitors arriving at Cape Town International Airport from elsewhere in Africa increased by 17% in 2025, while foreign investor spending in the city was 18% over the same period, according to Cape Town Tourism.
That growth feeds directly into Cape Town's tourism economy with visitor spending supporting hotels, restaurants, transport operators, attractions and the thousands of people who work in the sector.
Cape Town Tourism CEO Enver Duminy described taking both titles as a significant achievement.
"Winning one of these is a good night. Winning both is a statement," he said.
Duminy said business tourism was important because visitors coming to Cape Town for conferences also spend money outside the conference room.
They stay in hotels, eat at restaurants and visit attractions, while some return to the city with family, friends or colleagues.
Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth and Tourism James Vos said business travellers were also valuable because they tended to visit during the week and outside the traditional holiday season.
"Every visitor who chooses Cape Town supports a job here," Vos said.
Cape Town currently has direct connections to 31 international destinations and the City wants to grow that number by attracting more flights.
The two African titles also mean Cape Town is not finished competing just yet.
It now advances to the World Travel Awards Grand Final later this year, where it will go up against regional winners from around the world.
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