Global ranking of the best beaches for 2026

The 2026 'World’s 50 Best Beaches' list, compiled by a panel of judges, has placed Entalula Beach in the Philippines at number one. Fteri Beach on the Greek island of Kefalonia secured the second position globally and was voted the number one beach in Europe by over 1,000 professionals. Wharton Beach in Australia ranked third. Greece achieved significant representation in the European list, with seven beaches included: Fteri (1st), Porto Katsiki (5th), Porto Timoni (9th), Voutoumi (22nd), Hovolo (29th), Sarakiniko (31st), and Elafonisi (44th). Fteri is noted for its secluded location, accessible primarily by boat or a challenging hiking trail, which helps limit mass tourism. Other notable European entries include Cala Macarella in Spain and Cala dei Gabbiani in Italy. The list serves as a guide for international travel destinations based on natural scenery and landscape quality.