As the self-proclaimed “ultimate global authority on beaches,” The World’s 50 Best Beaches has revealed its annual rankings for 2026. Driven by The World’s 50 Best Beaches team’s first-hand, year-round exploration as well as collaboration with over 1,000 elite travel professionals worldwide, the list highlights the planet’s most spectacular beaches.
Heading the 2026 list is Entalula Beach in, Palawan, the Philippines, described as “an overlooked slice of heaven… that one of those places you have to see to believe.”
“It is set apart by its towering limestone cliffs that rise sharply behind a stretch of soft white sand, creating one of the most visually striking settings in the region and the world,” the guide continues. “Compared to nearby beaches, it sees fewer visitors, and that space is felt immediately on arrival. The water is exceptionally clear, with calm conditions that make it easy to swim and simply take it all in. With access only by boat, it remains quieter and helps preserve its more natural feel. It’s the contrast of majestic cliffs, clear water, and amazing seclusion that gives Entalula its edge as a place that feels both dramatic and calm at the same time.”
Entalula emerged from lengthy list of global nominations that were assessed across eight essential criteria: unique characteristics, wildlife, untouched nature, natural soundtrack, ease of water entry, frequency of calm conditions, lack of overcrowding, and consistency of idyllic settings.
Some other highlights:
- The 2026 release follows a 2025 list that drove over 50 million views across 700 major media outlets in 74 countries.
- After Entalula Beach, rounding out the top three were Fteri Beach in Greece and Wharton Beach in Australia (photo below).
- Greece, Thailand and Australia are hotspots in 2026 with three beaches each on the list.
- Beaches from Fiji, Cambodia and Colombia appear on the annual list for the first time.
- Last year’s winner, Cala Goloritze, moves to the Best of the Best list.
To maintain a continually evolving global guide, The World’s 50 Best Beaches employs a “Best of the Best” Hall of Fame. Former #1 beaches are permanently retired from the annual voting pool. Rather than competing year after year, these unparalleled destinations graduate to the “Best of the Best” archive. This ensures the annual Top 50 remains a space for fresh, world-class discoveries, while honouring past winners with the ultimate lifetime distinction.
“Being recognized by millions of travellers and global media as the definitive authority on beaches is a responsibility we take incredibly seriously,” said Tine Holst, Co-Founder of The World’s 50 Best Beaches. “To uphold that uncompromising standard, we’ve elevated our methodology for 2026. For the first time, our core team is personally visiting and evaluating hundreds of beaches year-round. By combining this new level of on-the-ground verification with the insights of our 1,000 industry experts, we take tremendous pride in sharing this list of the world’s most incredible beaches.”
See the full list HERE.
If you enjoyed or found this story useful, we’d appreciate if you would forward it to a colleague or friend who may also enjoy it. If, on the other hand, a friend shared it with you, welcome! You can get all the latest travel news and reviews from Travel Industry by simply clicking HERE.