Moldova Is Shortlisted for the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards 2026 — Here’s How to Vote – Guidemoldova.com Blog | Travel tips, guides, and insights for visiting Moldova

Moldova has officially been shortlisted for the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards 2026, the UK’s largest reader-voted travel awards, now marking their 25th anniversary. It’s a milestone moment for a country that, until recently, barely registered on the international travel radar — and proof that the story of Moldova as an authentic, uncrowded European destination is finally reaching the travelers who matter most.

Two categories, one big opportunity

Moldova has been shortlisted in two categories this year:

Most Desirable Country in Europe
Most Desirable Emerging Destination

Both categories put Moldova alongside some of the continent’s most talked-about destinations — a strong signal that our vineyards, our Soviet-and-Orthodox skyline, and our famously warm hospitality are winning over travelers who’ve actually been here.

The Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards are organized by Wanderlust, the UK’s longest-running independent travel magazine, and decided entirely by public vote rather than a judging panel. Last year alone, more than 200,000 readers cast close to 5 million votes, and this year’s edition is expected to draw even more. A shortlist spot here isn’t a small industry nod — it’s recognition from thousands of real travelers and travel writers who shape where people go next.

This nomination also reflects years of quiet work: welcoming journalists and content creators into the country, opening up wine cellars and monasteries to visitors, and slowly building the infrastructure — tours, guesthouses, transport — that turns curiosity about Moldova into an actual trip. We’re especially grateful to the Wanderlust team for visiting Moldova and choosing to share its story with their readers. Their coverage has introduced Moldova to thousands of travelers who might otherwise never have considered it, and that kind of support is hard to overstate for a destination still writing its first chapters on the world stage.

How to vote for Moldova

Voting takes just a couple of minutes, and every single vote counts:

Go to the official voting form on wanderlustmagazine.com – https://www.wanderlustmagazine.com/about-us/our-awards/2026-wanderlust-travel-awards/
At Question #2, select Moldova under Most Desirable Country in Europe.
At Question #11, select Moldova under Most Desirable Emerging Destination.
Answer the remaining questions and click Submit to cast your vote.

You don’t need to have visited Moldova to vote — you just need to believe it deserves the spotlight.

Awards like this rarely go to the destinations with the biggest marketing budgets — they go to the ones readers genuinely fall for. A win, or even a strong showing, would put Moldova in front of exactly the kind of travelers who read guides like this one before they book a flight: curious, independent, and looking for somewhere that hasn’t been flattened by mass tourism yet.

So take two minutes, cast your vote, and share this with anyone who’s ever asked you, “Wait, you’ve actually been to Moldova?” Every vote helps one more traveler discover it for themselves.

Voting is open now through 27 October 2026.