Priority Pass names Portland's Escape Lounge the world's best lounge for 2026

Priority Pass announced the winners of its 2026 Excellence Awards on May 4, and the Escape Lounge at Portland International (PDX) was named Global Lounge of the Year, according to Priority Pass's announcement. The winners are chosen from more than 700,000 member ratings and reviews, which Priority Pass says cover facilities, service, food and drink, comfort, ambience and overall satisfaction.

The global winner: Escape Lounge, Portland

Priority Pass says the Portland lounge stood out for an experience rooted in its city: locally inspired food and drink, regional materials and artwork, and a layout that allows both relaxation and focus. Tom Waldron, the lounge's chief experiences officer, called the win "an incredibly proud moment for our Portland team."

For planning, Lounge Frog's listing for the Escape Lounge puts it on Concourse D between gates D8 and D10, open daily from 04:30 to midnight. It admits Priority Pass, LoungeKey and Escape Lounges members, and our listing notes it also sells walk-up entry at roughly $30 to $45 a person. Lounge Frog rates it 4.4 out of 5, and lists it as opening in 2025.

Regional winners and highly commended

• North America: Escape Lounge, Portland won. Escape Lounge, Kansas City was highly commended (Kansas City listing).
• Asia Pacific: Lounge Fukuoka in Japan won. Kyra Lounge in Hong Kong was highly commended. Lounge Frog lists two Kyra lounges at Hong Kong, at Gate 23 and Gate 40; Priority Pass doesn't say which one it means.
• Europe: Vienna Lounge in Austria won. No.1 Lounge in Jersey was highly commended.
• Latin America and the Caribbean: Club Kingston in Jamaica won. Advantage VIP Lounge in Campinas, Brazil was highly commended.
• Middle East and Africa: Bidvest Premier Lounge in Johannesburg, South Africa won. We list several Bidvest Premier lounges at Johannesburg, and the announcement doesn't say which one it means.

One to Watch

New this year, the One to Watch category recognizes lounges that have improved significantly over the past 12 months, as reflected in member ratings. The winners are the VIP Lounge "Angelo D'Arrigo" in Catania, Italy for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, KoCoo Lounge for Asia Pacific, and the Advantage VIP Lounge in São Paulo for the Americas. The announcement doesn't name KoCoo's location or the São Paulo airport; we list Advantage VIP Lounges at both Guarulhos and Congonhas.

Getting in

The awards cover lounges in the Priority Pass network, and Priority Pass hasn't published hours, fees or guest rules alongside them. Check each lounge's page before you go, and see our Priority Pass page for the cards that include membership. Lounge Fukuoka, Club Kingston, No.1 Lounge Jersey and KoCoo Lounge aren't in Lounge Frog's directory yet.