Here are all the winners of the 2026 TPG Awards

The TPG Awards are back. For the eighth year in a row, we’re pleased to recognize the best in the travel industry, including credit cards, loyalty programs, airlines, hotels and cruise lines.

This year, we have divided the awards into four categories covering different stages and locations of travel: planning (“in the wallet”), flying (“in the air”), staying (“on the ground”) and cruising (“on the water”). The list includes mainstream credit cards like the Travel Rewards Credit Card of the Year, as well as new entrants like two Innovation Awards and a new Best Everyday Rewards Program honor.

This year, we awarded a total of 38 trophies, including 6 awards based on a data-driven approach (see our full methodology for selecting winners on this page).

Read on for the complete list of 2026 TPG Awards winners.

in your wallet

It’s no surprise that we at TPG love credit cards, so for our first category, we’re digging deep into our pockets. This includes not only the best card products, but also the standout features, partnerships and card launches from the previous year.

Here is the full list of winners:

There are some familiar names on this list, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which won the honor of best travel rewards card for the eighth year in a row. Our team also named the American Express Platinum Card the Best Premium Card of the Year, just surpassing Chase Sapphire Reserve® (See Rates & Fees) — though you can check out our full analysis in this story .

The American Express Platinum Card was also named the best card for lounge access, one of our data-driven awards this year. The card’s extensive lounge footprint, especially domestically, puts it ahead of other premium cards on the market for the second year in a row.

Learn more: American Express Platinum and Business Platinum Lounge Guide

There were also a number of new developments in the card space last year, including the launch of Alaska Airlines’ Atmos Rewards Summit Visa and Chase’s Sapphire Reserve for Business, both of which won Best New Card awards (BTW, also Earned a spot in my wallet). Meanwhile, the launch of 1:1 transfers between Citi Appreciation Rewards and American Airlines AAdvantage was named the best new transfer partnership as Citi prepares to become the exclusive issuer of American Airlines co-branded cards at some point this year.

We even had a first-time winner in this group, with Wells Fargo’s Signature Card taking home the honors as the top no-annual-fee card thanks to a host of benefits including no minimum transfer limits, solid bonus categories, cell phone protection and waived foreign transaction fees.

For full details on the winners in this category, check out our full analysis here.

up in the air

Our next category involves the best options for taking to the skies, including top airport experiences, best in-flight products and best value loyalty programs. We also recognized two operators for their outstanding innovations over the past year.

Here are the winners:

There’s a lot to love on this list, including a pair of incredible new lounges that opened last year. Additionally, we saw Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club win the award for Best Credit Card Lounge Network, another data-driven award. Chase’s growing network of lounges, coupled with great amenities and generous guest policies, is just seven short of the American Express Centurion Lounge What percent of a point.

Meanwhile, American Airlines swept two data-driven airline loyalty awards, earning honors as the top airline loyalty program and best elite status among U.S. airlines. First, American Airlines AAdvantage is one of the few programs still using a published partner flight award chart and is consistently rated the best value domestic airline currency in our monthly evaluations. Additionally, AAdvantage Executive Platinum remains a (small) step ahead of other airlines’ respective top status tiers, largely due to confirmable upgrades and luxury perks like access to Oneworld Airlines’ first-class lounges.

Finally, it is worth noting the two winners of this year’s Innovation Awards. United has long been known for its unique route strategy, but last year it hit a new high with new flights to Mongolia, Nuuk, Greenland, and even Adelaide, Australia, winning the Route Strategy Innovation Award. Alaska Airlines won the Airline Loyalty Innovation Award with the launch of its Atmos rewards program, which includes a new premium card and the ability to choose your own path to elite status.

For more details on these winners, check out the analysis below:

on the ground

Once you’ve arrived, there are a variety of loyalty programs and accommodations to suit almost any traveler’s needs – including some brand new or completely refurbished accommodation options.

Here is the complete list of winners:

Unlike airlines, our two data-driven hotel rewards are divided into two different programs. Marriott Bonvoy, named the top hotel loyalty program for the second year in a row, has a global footprint, offers a range of co-branded cards with generous rewards and a relatively simple path to membership. However, Hyatt Worldwide stays at the top of the hotel elite category with perks such as an industry-leading confirmed upgrade program, a great breakfast deal (for up to two adults and two children), and guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout.

We also recognized Bilt Rewards, another program in this category, as a top everyday rewards program thanks to its array of partnerships with Lyft rides, neighborhood parking, Walgreens shopping, and more. But next year the plan may become more balanced more It’s worth it, as it has launched three new credit cards and will soon allow members to earn points on their mortgages.

For more information, check out details on these winners in this story.

on the water

Our fourth category is dedicated to the cruise industry, which continues to see huge demand and innovation, not just for new ships, but also exciting new itineraries and adventure offerings.

Here are this year’s cruise winners:

The launch of MSC World America caused a stir in the cruise industry and won our Best New Ocean Ship award. The 20-deck behemoth became the world’s largest non-Royal Caribbean cruise ship when it launched in April, and TPG was aboard the ship to experience it firsthand. The giant cruise ship can accommodate nearly 9,000 passengers and crew, is divided into seven different areas, and features 19 dining options, a Formula 1 simulator and even a water swing.

At the other end of the size spectrum is the AmaMagdalena, a 60-passenger boat from AmaWaterways that begins sailing on Colombia’s Magdalena River in March 2025 and was our pick for Best New River Boat.

You can see full details of our cruise-related winners in this story.

bottom line

The TPG Awards are back again as we present 38 accolades to the top travel and loyalty providers that continue to deliver exceptional value and luxury experiences to the TPG audience. Last year saw exciting developments across the travel industry with a range of new product launches, while some long-standing favorites continue to shine.

Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and hope that 2026 will be another banner year for our audience to leverage these brands (and others) for unforgettable travels.

Each year, the TPG Awards recognize excellence in credit cards, loyalty programs and travel. Please click here Learn more about the selection process and methodology for the 2026 TPG Awards winners.