This Region Was Just Named the No. 1 Beach Destination in the World for 2026

"The islands of the Caribbean officially supplanted the East Coast of the United States for American travelers seeking fun in the sun, according to a new study by Beach.com, which provides booking services for vacations and experiences. In fact, more than one in three Americans ranking the region as their top choice. When choosing a beachy getaway, the study found travelers highly valued the recommendations of family and friends along with social media inspiration and information on websites and blogs. American travelers are actually 23 percent more likely to use social media to discover new coastal destinations now than last year."

""The Caribbean's continued growth is a testament to the strength of our regional collaboration and the enduring appeal of our destinations," the CTO's Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper said in a statement earlier this year. "Despite geopolitical uncertainty and global economic challenges, our sector has shown remarkable resilience. To maintain this momentum, we must double down on strategic investments, innovative partnerships, and sustainable practices that protect our people, our culture and our environment.""

The Caribbean became the most preferred beach region for American travelers in 2026, chosen by more than one in three respondents. East Coast beaches ranked second, followed by West Coast beaches, the Pacific Islands, and the U.S. Gulf Coast. Travelers rely heavily on recommendations from family and friends, social media inspiration, and information on websites and blogs when selecting a beach destination. Social media use to discover coastal destinations rose by 23 percent compared with last year. More than 34 million international tourists visited the Caribbean in 2024, about 16.8 million of whom were from the United States. Continued growth depends on regional collaboration, strategic investments, innovative partnerships, and sustainable practices.

Read at Travel + Leisure