Spain’s Top 25 Hospitals Named by Forbes: Madrid Sweeps Top Three, La Fe Leads Valencia

The publication Forbes España has published its list of the 25 best hospitals in the country—a ranking that features both public and private clinics.

First place went to Madrid's Jiménez Díaz Foundation University Hospital. In 2026, the clinic received its Comprehensive Cancer Centre accreditation, the highest European guarantee of an integrated approach to cancer treatment, and opened its own medical training centre. In Newsweek's World's Best Hospitals 2026 ranking, the clinic climbed 30 spots to claim 9th place in Spain.

Second on the list is Madrid's La Paz University Hospital, a leader in pediatric transplantology. In 2025, it performed Spain's first pediatric heart transplant following a controlled circulatory arrest. Rounding out the top three is the capital's "12 de Octubre" clinic, which in 2026 successfully performed the country's first simultaneous bowel and pancreas transplant, as well as its first robotic surgery on a three-month-old infant.

The sole representative of the Valencian Community in the top ten is La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital, which came in 10th place. The clinic remains a national benchmark in pediatric liver transplants, congenital heart defects, and rare diseases, while its health research institute coordinates over 50 research groups. By the end of 2025, La Fe held 30 national reference center accreditations (CSUR)—the fourth-highest figure in the country. According to the Hospital Excellence Index, it is ranked as the best hospital in the Valencian Community and the 6th best in Spain.

Forbes' methodology evaluates quality of care, leadership across specific specialities, implementation of advanced technologies, scientific output, and participation in clinical trials. Among private centres, Forbes highlighted the University of Navarra Clinic, which placed 78th in Newsweek's top 100 global hospital rankings. The clinic excels in oncology, cardiology, neurosurgery, surgery, precision medicine, and advanced therapies.