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Two of India's airports just landed two spots on the World's Most Beautiful Airports List 2026 – a list compiled by the prestigious Prix Versailles: Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) and Terminal 2 of Guwahati's Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBIA). Both saw their first appearance on the coveted global list. Here’s how they got there:
Navi Mumbai | Maharashtra, Central India
The airport’s Terminal 1 stays with you for its striking lotus-inspired design, blended with futuristic architecture, public art and, most importantly, functionality. These petals are not decorative; they are modelled to channel wind and light. Navi Mumbai International Airport is one of India’s most ambitious plans that's bound to grow, because the design is technically modular and based on the notion of expanding.
Guwahati | Assam, Northeast India
Over in Assam, Terminal 2 of Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport has earned praise for its bamboo orchid-inspired theme. The species is the region's most iconic flower. The terminal’s biophilic, sustainable design ups its functionality massively, and through visual nods representing the Northeast's culture and its breathtaking natural landscape, the airport feels like a destination in itself.
There’s more. Prix Versailles will announce three overall World Title winners from this year's shortlist soon.
What’s Prix Versailles?
The annual architecture and design awards, presented at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, celebrate airports that ace more than just aesthetics. Contenders get points for architecture that turns heads, the legit sustainability of the structure, passenger experiences, and the airport’s local identity.
This year, the Indian duo, both operated by Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), is sharing space with standout airports from China, Germany, Cambodia and the US.
The full list
1. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Terminal 3 in Guangzhou, China
2. Frankfurt Airport, Terminal 3 in Frankfurt, Germany
3. Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport, Terminal 2 in Guwahati, India
4. Navi Mumbai International Airport, Terminal 1 in Mumbai, India
5. Techo International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
6. Pittsburgh International Airport in Pittsburgh, USA
7. San Diego International Airport, Terminal 1 in San Diego, USA