The most beautiful airports in the world, revealed for 2026

The world’s most beautiful airports have been revealed for 2026, with bases in India and the United States dominating the list.

The list has been put together by Prix Versailles, an organisation that hosts a series of architectural competitions, including for railway stations, campuses and arenas.

All seven airports that made the list were chosen due to their extraordinary architectural ambition.

The United States and India were the most awarded, with two airports each making the list, while hubs in China, Germany and Cambodia were also recognised.

Pittsburgh International airport was praised for its large undulating roofline that echoes the nearby Allegheny Mountains, which are upheld by 38 steel columns shaped like trees reminiscent of the region’s forest.

Glass walls complete the nature-inspired airport, allowing the space to be flooded with light, while four outdoor terraces that are under construction will soon allow travellers to have space for fresh air.

The United States’ other awarded airport is San Diego International airport, specifically the Terminal 1 building.

Its most iconic feature is a 244-metre-long curved glass facade that spreads natural daylight while tempering heat and glare.

The judges also praised an innovative system that allowed the ticketing hall to be built without structural columns, which makes the space feel more open and has shrunk the building’s carbon footprint by 30 per cent.

Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International airport’s Terminal 2 building was also on the list, with judges stating that “there are few airports that embrace a land so magnificently” with its nod to the “living spirit” of Northeast India.

The building was lauded for its sweeping vaulted bamboo ceilings in organic shapes, referencing Assam’s sacred landscapes and indigenous architectural traditions.

In contrast, Navi Mumbai International airport Terminal 1, also on the list, uses futuristic-inspired architecture while also incorporating organic motifs.

The ceiling, made up of geometric shapes, extends inward into a column to make it look like giant lotus flowers are propping up the roof.

China’s Guangzhou Baiyun International airport Terminal 3 made it onto the list for its light-filled layout with fluid, organic curves, as well as its sequence of terraces, atriums and gardens for transiting passengers to enjoy.

The terminal is also home to the highest open-air public observation deck at a Chinese airport.

Over in Cambodia, Techo International airport in Phnom Penh was chosen for its overarching roof canopy that prioritises short walking distances from the drop-off zone to the boarding areas.

The judges said that the airport has a modular roof which undulates, echoing the architecture of Cambodia’s palaces and temples, while inside ceilings are inspired by traditional basket weaving and seem to be actually woven out of bamboo and rattan.

Finishing off the list, Frankfurt airport’s Terminal 3 was praised for being one of Europe’s largest infrastructure projects, sitting on 1.3 square kilometres of land, roughly equivalent to the size of Frankfurt’s city centre.

Piers, boarding gates and lounges emulate the streets and squares of a city, while spaces are bathed in natural light, creating a soothing atmosphere.

Jérôme Gouadain, secretary general of the Prix Versailles, said the seven airports were chosen for their innovation.

“They resolve the apparent conflict between the increasing frequency of travel and the need for speed – both central to an airport’s purpose – on the one hand and, on the other, the singularity of a form of tourism that aims to be accessible and that values people’s time in places that, in this day and age, can no longer be described as mere ‘transfer’ spaces,” he said.

Prix Versailles World’s Most Beautiful Airports List 2026

Read more: Your nominations for Europe’s worst airport