Safe travel over the summer of 2026

Spain breaks Malta’s decade-long hold on the Rainbow Map top spot As the rules-based international order fractures and democracy is under pressure, Spain’s top ranking stands as proof that political courage remains the most powerful answer. Read more in our press release.

“This year’s Rainbow Map tells two stories at once.

One of genuine courage, in Spain, in courtrooms, and in leaders who are choosing to stand with their communities rather than scapegoat them.

And one of real and growing danger that cannot be underestimated. The question every government in Europe must now answer is which story they want to be part of.”

Katrin Hugendubel, Deputy Director of ILGA-Europe The Rainbow Map ranks 49 European countries on their respective legal and policy practices for LGBTI people, from 0-100%. It is supported by our Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of LGBTI People in Europe and Central Asia, which gathers and presents qualitative data, illustrating how these laws and policies impact politics, society, and the daily lives of LGBTI people.

The data for both the Rainbow Map and the Annual Review is verified by over 250 experts across the region, including activists, legal professionals, and policy specialists.

Spain sits on top of the ranking for the first time. The government has followed through on its commitments set out in the 2023 LGBTI and trans laws by adopting equality action plans for LGBTI and trans rights, establishing an independent authority for equal treatment, and fully implementing the depathologisation of trans people in the healthcare system.

Malta drops one place to 2nd in the ranking with a score of 88%. While the slide in the ranking is technically due to Spain’s rise, it also reflects Malta’s stagnation and lack of continuous reform. The country still lacks a comprehensive anti-discrimination framework, which could be addressed through the Equality Bill that was tabled in 2019 and has been stalled since.

Iceland retains the 3rd place in the ranking, but gains two points, resulting in a total score of 86%. The government renewed its equality action plan, reaffirming its commitment to legal progress. Some measures set in the action plan have started being implemented, such as a training framework for asylum caseworkers in cooperation with the LGBTI organisation.

The three countries at the other end of the Rainbow Map scale are Russia (2%), Azerbaijan (2%), and Turkey (5%).

Romania has a 19% score and drops one place to 42nd, remaining as the lowest ranked EU member state, followed by Bulgaria (20%) and Poland (22%).