The second LGBTQ+ Travel Safety Survey was completed between December 2025 and May 2026 by ITB Berlin in collaboration with A3M Global Monitoring and Diversity Tourism. The survey involved 69 travel experts and travellers who evaluated safety, social acceptance, and legal conditions across 28 countries. Combined with data from the previous year, assessments now cover 46 countries and territories, providing comparative analysis over two years.
High Ratings for Canada, Netherlands, Spain, and Austria; US Sees Decline
Canada and the Netherlands received the highest overall ratings for LGBTQ+ social acceptance and respectful treatment, including positive interactions with police and authorities, and public displays of affection. Spain and Austria also maintained strong reputations
as LGBTQ+ friendly destinations. In contrast, the United States showed a notable decline in social acceptance. Respectful treatment by society fell from 35% in 2025 to 17% in 2026, police respect dropped from 39% to 17%, and the perceived ability to report hate crimes safely decreased from 52% to 33%. Despite this, the perception of accessible LGBTQ+ safe scenes in the US rose from 61% to 83%, indicating a growth of urban safe spaces.
Regional and Emerging Risks: Germany and Digital Threats
Within Germany, the survey revealed uneven social acceptance. Urban areas were considered more open and safe, while rural regions exhibited higher levels of conservative attitudes, with
perceptions of no-go zones increasing from 65% in 2025 to 71% in 2026. The survey also identified rising digital risks, including scams and attacks on LGBTQ+ travellers via dating apps and social media platforms, affecting travellers in both repressive and liberal countries. Political developments affecting transgender safety were highlighted, as well as greater traveller caution regarding legal status and social acceptance.
LGBTQ+ Risk Map 2026 Highlights Global Legal Progress and Setbacks
A3M Global Monitoring’s updated LGBTQ+ Risk Map 2026 accompanied the survey release, documenting worldwide legal and safety trends. Positive legal progress was noted in Canada, the Netherlands, Austria, China, and Colombia. Conversely, Niger, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Kazakhstan, and Belarus
tightened restrictions limiting LGBTQ+ rights, visibility, or association. This map supplements the survey’s qualitative insights by detailing evolving legislative landscapes affecting travel safety.
Implications for Travel Planning and Industry Response
The survey indicates that LGBTQ+ travellers increasingly factor legal conditions, social acceptance, and safety into trip planning beyond traditional considerations like price and infrastructure. Local expertise and professional networks play key roles in providing reliable information and facilitating safe interactions, especially in countries with complex legal or social environments. Continued collection of reliable data and international cooperation are presented as essential measures for enhancing future LGBTQ+ travel safety and guiding the tourism industry’s response.
