Poipu Beach on Kauai Island in Hawaii was voted by coastal science expert Stephen P. Leatherman (also known as "Dr. Beach"), as the most beautiful beach in the United States in 2026. This annual list is built by him based on 50 different evaluation criteria.
Poipu Beach stands out with its crescent-shaped shape, surrounded by many green patches and facing a small island off the coast. In this year's ranking, second place belongs to St. Andrews State Park in Panama City, Florida.
Hawaii and Florida continue to dominate in the top 10. The list also includes Caladesi Island State Park in the Dunedin/Clearwater area of Florida and Wailea Beach on Maui Island in Hawaii. A representative of the Northeast United States in the top 5 is Main Beach in East Hampton town in eastern Long Island, New York.
Stephen P. Leatherman said that many beaches in Maine, Connecticut and other Northeastern states often do not meet the requirements because the water is too cold. However, Coast Guard Beach in Cape Cod, Massachusetts still ranks 10th. Tourists have to take bicycles or shuttle buses to get to this beach, which is highly appreciated for its pristine beauty and the increasing appearance of seals in recent years.
Some beaches on the list are located in private resorts. Kaunaoa on Hawaii Island, also known as Mauna Kea Beach, is a typical example. Although located in the Mauna Kea Beach Resort, this beach is still open to the public through public access.
Mr. Stephen P. Leatherman, currently teaching at Florida International University in Miami, said that temperature and water clarity are very important factors in the scoring process. He received many feedbacks from tourists wondering why beaches in Washington, Northern California or Oregon do not appear in the rankings, even though these are places he appreciates for their scenery.
According to him, the main reason is that the water temperature is too cold. High tide is also a factor that causes many beaches to be removed from the list because the water becomes cloudier. He said that tourists often like to see their feet when going into the water.
This year's ranking also removed 3 beaches due to environmental issues. Coronado Beach in San Diego is eliminated for the 2nd consecutive year due to the serious impact of the Tijuana River wastewater. Mr. Leatherman said this situation is having a heavy impact on the entire region.
Two other beaches no longer on the list are Lighthouse Beach in Outer Banks, North Carolina due to erosion, and Cape Florida State Park in Miami due to large amounts of sargassum seaweed drifting ashore, reducing natural beauty.
Mr. Leatherman announced the annual ranking in 1991. The set of criteria includes 50 factors such as water and sand quality, wave size, beach shape, cleanliness and rainfall.
He also said that beaches that once reached the highest positions will be "retired" from the rankings to create opportunities for other locations, even though their quality has not declined at all.
