2026 World's Best Beaches List Just Announced, Featuring One Coveted U.S. Destination

It’s always summer somewhere, and if you’re looking to get your beach on, a new list has ranked the top spots in the world for a tropical getaway.

The website World’s 50 Beaches released its Best of list for 2026, a list the outlet calls a “culmination of countless days spent by our judges, Beach Ambassadors and World’s 50 Beaches team exploring beaches all over the world.”

The final list is based on specific criteria, including the wildlife, crowd size, how unique the landscape is, how easy-to-enter and calm the water is, and the odds of having a “perfect beach day.”

Their goal with the ranking? To “inspire others to embark on their own beach adventures, to explore the wonders of nature, and to experience the joy that can be found along the world's most stunning shorelines.”

Ready to start planning?

What's the #1 Beach on the List?

While dozens of countries made the cut, the #1 spot on the list is Entalula Beach in the Philippines (pictured above).

Located in Palawan, the outlet calls the beach “one of those places you have to see to believe,” praising its limestone cliffs, white sand, and remote location, meaning fewer visitors.

Only reachable by boat, Entalula is considered “very far off the beaten path and is in a pristine state.” The listing, however, does warn of typhoons in the area from June through October, suggesting travel there from December through April.

“It remains one of the most exceptional beaches we’ve experienced,” said judges and travel photographers Kelly Carrio and Ruben Perez.

The Only US Beach on the List

Looking for somewhere a little closer to home? There’s one beach in the continental United States that made the ranking, with Siesta Beach in Florida coming in at #28.

Located on Siesta Key, this spot is known for its extremely fine and powdery white sand, “which stays cool to the touch even under the hot Florida sun.”

“The gentle slope of the beach, combined with the shallow, calm waters, makes it ideal for swimming and wading, providing a safe and enjoyable environment for families,” adds the website.

Again, prospective visitors should keep an eye on the weather, as hurricanes blow through the area from June through November. High winds can also lead to less-than-ideal beach days, with choppy, rougher water.

Also on the list is Flamenco Beach in Culebra, Puerto Rico, a US territory. Two beaches in Mexico, Playa Balandra in La Paz and Playa Xpu-Ha—located near Playa del Carmen and Tulum—also aren’t too far to travel.

Caribbean beaches also include Grace Bay in Turks & Caicos, Canto de la Playa in the Dominican Republic, Seven Mile Beach in the Cayman Islands, and The Baths, on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands.

More Beaches from the Top 10

While the Philippines came in #1, the rest of the Top 10 is made up of coastal paradises from all around the world.

In second place was Fteri Beach on Kefalonia, Greece (pictured above), known for its white cliffs and secluded cove. That was followed by Wharton Beach in Australia in third, Nosy Iranja in Madagascar at fourth, and East Beach, Vomo Island in Fiji, rounding out the top 5.

The top of the list also includes spots in Turkey, Maldives, Cambodia, and Donald Duck Bay in Thailand, named after a rock resembling the Disney character.

Still need more vacation inspo? Check out the full list right here for all 50 of The World's Best Beaches.