MIAMI BEACH — South Beach landed at No. 17 on Condé Nast Traveller’s list of the 20 best beaches in the Americas, part of the magazine’s 2026 Readers' Choice Awards.

The Miami Beach destination scored 83.67, ahead of Playa del Amor in Mexico’s Marieta Islands (84.94) and behind Cannon Beach, Oregon (82.13), which sits one spot lower at No. 18. Cape May Beach, New Jersey, closed the list at No. 20 with 80.20.

Hanauma Bay in Hawaii took the top spot with a score of 96.67. Tulum Beach in Quintana Roo, Mexico, was second (96.29), followed by Clearwater Beach, Florida (95.33), Gulf Shores State Beach, Alabama (95.00) and Playa Balandra in Baja California, Mexico (94.86).

Eleven of the 20 beaches are in the United States, including three in Hawaii. Mexico has six, with four in Quintana Roo and Baja California alone.

Brazil has two, Baía do Sancho at Fernando de Noronha (No. 12) and Praia de Pipa (No. 8). Canada has one, Greenwich Beach in Prince Edward Island (No. 19).

In Florida, Clearwater Beach (No. 3) ranked well above South Beach. They are the only two Florida beaches on the list.

South Beach is known for its Art Deco hotels, nightlife and people-watching, and it draws visitors year-round.