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Published today, ILGA-Europe’s 18th annual Rainbow Map, ranking 49 European countries on laws and policies impacting LGBTI people, ends Malta’s ten year reign with Spain taking the top position. Spain’s rise to the top reflects a combination of achievements, including a fully functioning depathologisation of trans identities in healthcare, new legal protections, new national LGBTI and trans strategies, a new independent equal treatment and non-discrimination authority, and a determined fightback against far-right attempts to dismantle national trans protections.

Spain’s No’1 ranking is more than a measure of policy progress. At a moment when authoritarian forces are pressing in on European democracy from east and west, and when LGBTI rights are being heavily weaponised as a political tool, Spain’s forward momentum is a good example of what democratic leadership can look like. 

Katrin Hugendubel, ILGA-Europe's Deputy Director, said: “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.” 

Rainbow Map 2026 higlights: 

• Spain reaches the top of the ranking for the first time, replacing Malta after 10 years in the lead.
• Sweden moves up three places and takes the 9th spot in the ranking.
• The average score for Europe is 43%, while the average EU score is 52%.
• Belarus drops one place in the ranking and is now 46th out of 49 countries.
• Russia has been at the bottom of the ranking since 2024.
• Romania drops one place and is now 42th out of 49 countries, remaining as the EU country with the lowest score.

Visit the interactive Rainbow Map website to learn more about the situation for LGBTI rights across 49 countries. 

Thank you for supporting ILGA-Europe and being part of positive change for LGBTI equality. Thanks to donors like you, ILGA-Europe continues to monitor, protect and advance LGBTI inclusive law and policy alongside frontline activists across the region. 

Links:

• https://rainbowmap.ilga-europe.org/