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

The Caribbean is now the most preferred beach region in the world for American travelers in 2026, according to a new study.

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.

East Coast beaches came in second on the list when it came to preferred beach vacations, followed by West Coast beaches. The Pacific Islands and the U.S. Gulf Coast rounded out the top five.

To come up with its report, Beach.com surveyed more than 1,000 Americans in November about their 2026 travel plans.

More than 34 million international tourists visited the Caribbean in 2024, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), which represents dozens of destinations in the region. Visitors from the U.S. represented the largest share of those tourists at about 16.8 million.

“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 is also a convenient option for many American travelers due to its close proximity to the contiguous U.S. It is easy to reach with many direct flights available and major airlines constantly adding new ones to popular spots like Grand Cayman, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Anguilla, and more.

Enjoy the near-perfect weather of Aruba, the large resorts or quiet islands of the Bahamas, the stunning white sand beaches of Grand Cayman, the understated opulence of St. Bart’s, and more.

This year, Travel + Leisure readers ranked Anguilla the top Caribbean island in the 2025 World’s Best Awards, followed by Dominica, St. Lucia, and both Exuma and Eleuthera in the Bahamas.