Ballynahinch Castle Hotel and Estate has been named winner of the Green Tourism and Entertainment Award at the Green Awards 2026, recognised earlier this year for a holistic and deeply considered approach to sustainable tourism that combines investment in renewable energy and low carbon infrastructure with an active commitment to land stewardship, habitat restoration, and guest engagement.

The award, announced on 24 February 2026 at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, reflects an estate that understands sustainability in tourism as something that must be embedded in the land itself, not just in the operations that sit on it.

The breadth of Ballynahinch's programme is what gives it particular distinction. On the infrastructure side, investment in on-site renewables, advanced water treatment, and low carbon heating has driven waste and emissions down to levels well below sector norms. On the land, the restoration of native woodlands and habitats alongside the removal of invasive species demonstrates an organisation taking its environmental responsibilities seriously at an ecological level, not just an operational one.

Guest engagement adds a further layer of substance to the submission. By bringing visitors into the sustainability journey rather than keeping it behind the scenes, Ballynahinch has made environmental stewardship part of the experience itself, reinforcing that responsible tourism and exceptional hospitality are not in tension but are in fact complementary.

Judges were emphatic in their praise. "Investment in on-site renewables, advanced water treatment, and low carbon heating sits alongside deep care for the land, from restoring native woodlands and habitats to removing invasive species. With waste and emissions dramatically reduced to levels well below sector norms, and strong engagement with guests to share the journey, this estate shows how environmental stewardship can enhance both place and experience. Thoughtful, ambitious, and deeply rooted in nature, it sets a powerful standard for green tourism and entertainment," the panel stated.

As the Green Awards near their two-decade milestone, Ballynahinch Castle Hotel and Estate joins a cohort of winners demonstrating that the most credible sustainability programmes in tourism are those rooted in a genuine relationship with the natural environment that surrounds them.

For the complete 2026 winners list, category insights, and organisation profiles, visit the official Green Awards website and subscribe to the newsletter.