Nothe Fort, the Etches Collection and Swanage Carnival make this year's Dorset Tourism Awards finalist list. Winners are named in Bournemouth on 22 October.

The finalists for the 2026 Dorset Tourism Awards have been published, and businesses from Weymouth, Dorchester, Purbeck, Bridport and the Blackmore Vale fill most of the list. Winners are announced at a ceremony at the Marsham Court Hotel in Bournemouth on Thursday 22 October.

The awards drew 131 completed entries this year, up more than 22% on last year. “It is wonderful to see so many Dorset businesses recognising the value of entering,” awards director Nell Barrington said when the entry figures were announced in June. The full finalist list is on the awards website; locations below are as the organisers give them.

Weymouth and Portland

  • Nothe Fort, run by Weymouth Civic Society, large visitor attraction of the year
  • Bowleaze Cove Holiday Park & Spa, holiday park of the year
  • Coastal Vibes Cruises, Ringstead Bay Camping and Southside Funfair, three of the four finalists for new tourism business of the year
  • The Upwey Wishing Well Tea Room and Water Gardens, cafe or tearoom of the year
  • Our Place in Portland, self catering accommodation of the year
  • Bagwell Farm Touring Park at Chickerell, camping and caravanning park of the year

Dorchester and the west

  • Dorset Museum & Art Gallery is shortlisted in three categories: accessible and inclusive tourism, international tourism, and large visitor attraction
  • The King’s Arms, Dorchester, and Summer Lodge Hotel at Evershot, both hotel of the year
  • Greenwood Grange, near Dorchester, in three categories: dog friendly business, international tourism and self catering
  • The Brace of Pheasants, pub of the year
  • Peppina Sicilian Bakery at Poundbury, restaurant and casual dining
  • Cherries Abbey Farm at Abbotsbury, cafe or tearoom of the year
  • In Lyme Regis, Fossilwise’s fossil walks and Lyme RIB Rides, which is also up for new tourism business
  • Golden Cap Holiday Park at Chideock and Monkton Wyld Holiday Park at Charmouth
  • West Bay Discovery Centre at Bridport, small visitor attraction

Purbeck

  • Corfe Castle, run by the National Trust, large visitor attraction
  • The Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life and Dorset Adventure Park, both small visitor attraction
  • Kingston Country Courtyard near Corfe Castle, in three categories: business events venue, regenerative tourism and wedding venue
  • Birds of Poole Harbour, whose osprey cruises are up for active and learning experience, and the charity itself for regenerative tourism
  • The Priory at Wareham, hotel of the year
  • Ulwell Holiday Park, holiday park of the year
  • Swanage Carnival and Swanage Folk Festival, two of the four finalists for tourism event or festival of the year

North and east Dorset

  • The Grosvenor Arms at Shaftesbury, restaurant and casual dining
  • Abbots Court at Blandford Forum, wedding venue of the year
  • Stock Gaylard Estate at Sturminster Newton and The Old Forge at Compton Abbas, the two glamping finalists
  • Museum of East Dorset in Wimborne, accessible and inclusive tourism and small visitor attraction
  • Merley House Events at Wimborne, business events venue and wedding venue

Businesses in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole compete in the same county-wide awards, and several are shortlisted alongside the names above, including the ceremony’s own venue, the Marsham Court Hotel.

What happens on the night

The ceremony at the Marsham Court Hotel runs from 6pm to midnight on 22 October. Alongside the category winners, several awards are announced only on the night, including innovative employer, outstanding contribution to Dorset tourism, wellness and spa experience, and a winner of winners. Tickets are £95 plus VAT for finalists and £125 plus VAT standard, and online booking closes on 2 October.

The shortlist lands in a busy month for the county’s visitor economy. Dorset’s first Destination Management Plan was launched at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery on 9 September, a ten-year framework for growing year-round tourism jointly funded by Dorset and BCP councils.

What it means for you

The shortlist doubles as a vetted list of days out, meals and stays across the county, judged this year from 131 entries. If you want to be at the ceremony itself, online booking closes on 2 October. And if you run a tourism business, the organisers announce the next round of entries on the awards website. For ideas closer to home, see our guide to things to do in Dorset.

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