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It’s beach season, baby, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to book a last-minute summer getaway. There are plenty of gleaming coasts out there just waiting for you to sunbathe, swim and snorkel until your heart’s content, and a lot of them stay warm all year round.
Handily, aptly named Beach.com has just unveiled its list of the planet’s most impressive beaches, based on extensive research into each spot’s climate, water quality, popularity and more.
How are the world’s best beaches decided?
Compiling this ranking is no walk on the beach – researchers used everything from expert nominations and in-depth analysis of almost 100,000 reviews to data from the EU program and even NASA to produce this list.
The results include stretches of coast from 14 different countries across four continents, from rugged beaches in Europe to sweeping expanses of sand in Central America.
What is the world’s best beach for 2026?
Topping the Beach.com ranking for 2026 is Trunk Bay, an idyllic beach in the US Virgin Islands known for its twinkling cyan waters and powdery white sand.
If you’re a keen snorkeller, there’s a 200-metre snorkel trail taking in the area’s vibrant corals and sea life. It costs $5, takes between 30 minutes and an hour, and there are underwater plaques to explain all the different kinds of species.
Following closely in second place is the acclaimed Elafonissi Beach in Crete, which is known for its candyfloss-coloured sand and was named the best in Europe by TripAdvisor this year. Third? That went to the stunning Grace Bay Beach in Turks and Caicos, a spot famed not only for its beauty but also for safe swimming thanks to its offshore barrier reef.
The planet’s best beaches in 2026, according to Beach.com
- Trunk Bay, St. John, US Virgin Islands
- Elafonissi Beach, Chania, Crete, Greece
- Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands
- Flamenco Beach, Culebra, Puerto Rico, USA
- Golden Horn Beach, Brač, Croatia
- Palolem Beach, Goa, India
- Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands
- Playa Balandra, La Paz, México
- Praia da Falésia, Algarve, Portugal
- Eagle Beach, Oranjestad, Aruba
- Gulf Shores Public Beach, Gulf Shores, Alabama, USA
- Boulders Beach, Cape Town, South Africa
- Playa de Cofete, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain
- Falasarna Beach, Crete, Greece
- Huntington Beach, California, USA
- Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
- Magens Bay Beach, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
- Mont Choisy Public Beach, Mont Choisy, Mauritius
- Spiaggia Su Giudeu, Sardinia, Italy
- Tropic of Cancer Beach, Exuma, Bahamas
- Balos Beach, Crete, Greece
- South Beach Park, Vero Beach, Florida, USA
- Cas Abao Beach, Curaçao
- Baby Beach, Aruba
- Playa de Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
To peruse the list in more detail, head to Beach.com’s official website.
🏖️ Discover Time Out’s list of the world’s best beaches.
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