Best and worst countries to be LGBTQ+ in Europe in 2026 revealed
Spain is now Europe’s LGBTI hot spot (Getty Images | ILGA-Europe)
Malta is no longer Europe’s LGBTQ+ rights hot spot, after Spain has won the title in ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map for 2026.
In ILGA-Europe’s 18th annual Rainbow Map, 49 countries in Europe were ranked on laws and policies which affect the LGBTI community.
Spain’s move to the top spot comes after the country introduced new legal protections, a new independent equal treatment and non-discrimination authority, and a fully functioning depathologisation of trans identities in healthcare, among other achievements.
Sadly, positive moves with legal policies do not mirror the lived experience of those in the LGBTI community. In Spain, assaults on LGBTI people have risen from 7% to 22% in just two years, off the back of rising hate speech against the community.
Deputy Director of ILGA-Europe Katrin Hugendubel said: “Spain’s number one ranking is a strong example of what becomes possible when a government makes a deliberate choice to advance equality rather than retreat from it. We see this same spirit in leaders like Zohran Mamdani in New York, who are refusing to bow to the authoritarian pressure of this moment and choosing instead to stand with their communities. Of course more needs to be done in Spain, but this is a reminder that political courage is a choice, and that governments who make it can effectively push back.”
Joining Spain in the top five countries in Europe are Malta, Iceland, Belgium and Denmark.
Unsurprisingly, given the torrent of anti-trans debate, the UK is midway down the list, with a score of just 44%. Even less surprising is Russia’s position at the bottom of the 49 countries. Russia and also Azerbaijan were given scores of just 2%.
Meanwhile, countries including Finland, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Luxembourg had largely positive scores.
Joining Russia and Azerbaijan at the bottom of the ranking were countries including Turkey, Belarus, Armenia, Georgia, Monaco, Romania and Ukraine – though Italy was ranked in 36th place.
Hugendubel concluded: “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.”
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