Tripadvisor Drops Its 2026 Beach List—and a New Way to Rank the Coast
Tripadvisor’s latest Travelers’ Choice rankings name a new global No. 1 beach, expand U.S. honors, and introduce a category spotlighting unusually distinctive coastal landscapes.
Photo: Fabio Fistarol / Unsplash
Tripadvisor has released its 2026 Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Beaches, with Isla Pasion in Cozumel, Mexico, taking the top global ranking based on traveler reviews collected over the past year. The annual list evaluates millions of reviews and ratings submitted between Nov. 30, 2024, and Dec. 1, 2025, highlighting coastal destinations across multiple categories, including world rankings, U.S. beaches, and a newly introduced “One of a Kind” designation.
The Mexico winner sits just off Cozumel’s coast and is known for protected coral reefs and limited-access day trips, reinforcing the continued popularity of destinations that blend marine biodiversity with controlled visitor flow. Greece placed two beaches in the global top three—Elafonissi Beach in Crete and Balos Lagoon near Kissamos—while Aruba, Portugal, Thailand, Italy, Australia, and South Africa also appeared in the top 10.
The awards come as beach-driven itineraries continue to span everything from secluded island stops to urban shorelines. La Jolla Cove in California ranked as the top beach in the United States, noted for its protected underwater park and consistent wildlife sightings, including sea lions and migrating gray whales. Florida and Hawaii remain heavily represented in the U.S. rankings, with Clearwater Beach, Waikiki Beach, and Lanikai Beach all returning to the list.
“For many travelers, the beach is the main event,” said Laurel Greatrix, chief communications officer at Tripadvisor. “Based on millions of trips, reviews, and opinions, these awards highlight the very best beaches in the world—making it easier to decide where to go and how to spend your time once you’re there.”
New for 2026 is the “One of a Kind” category, which highlights coastal environments defined by unusual natural features rather than traditional sun-and-sand appeal. South Africa’s Boulders Beach Penguin Colony leads that list, recognized for its endangered African penguin population. Other entries range from volcanic black-sand shores at Waiʻanapanapa State Park in Hawaii to the tidal formations of Hopewell Rocks in Canada and the lagoon landscapes of Brazil’s Lençóis Maranhenses National Park.
Tripadvisor calculates the awards using both the quality and quantity of traveler reviews, rather than editorial selection. The methodology places equal emphasis on lesser-known locations alongside established beach destinations, resulting in a list that spans private-island excursions, protected marine reserves, and accessible city beaches.
The full rankings, including global and regional categories, are now live on Tripadvisor’s platform, with additional tour and activity recommendations tied to each destination.
