Delray Beach wins USA TODAY’s best beach in Florida for third straight year

By AI, Created 4:26 PM UTC, May 28, 2026, /AGP/ – Delray Beach was named the Best Beach in Florida in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for the third year in a row, reinforcing its status as a top destination on the state’s Atlantic coast. The beach also extended its Blue Flag streak to four years, underscoring its environmental and safety credentials.

Why it matters: - Delray Beach’s repeat win strengthens its tourism brand at a time when Florida beaches compete for national attention. - The city’s Blue Flag status adds another layer of credibility for travelers focused on clean water, safety and environmental standards. - The recognition helps spotlight the downtown area, where visitors can move from the beach to dining, shopping and events on foot.

What happened: - Delray Beach was named the Best Beach in Florida in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for the third consecutive year. - USA TODAY editors and a panel of travel experts built a shortlist of Florida beaches, then the public voted daily through May 18. - The 2026 top 10 list put Delray Beach first, ahead of Treasure Island Beach, Clearwater Beach, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Panama City Beach, St. Pete Beach, Barefoot Beach Preserve, Destin, Surfside Beach and Fort Lauderdale Beach.

The details: - Delray Beach is known for two miles of sand, natural dunes, blue water and a walkable downtown near the ocean. - Florida has more than 825 miles of beaches and averages 230 days of sunshine a year. - Laura Simon, executive director of the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority, said the three-year streak reflects the shoreline, walkable beach environment, downtown culture, dining and hospitality. - Stephanie Immelman, president and CEO of the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce, said visitors can spend the day on the Blue Flag beach and then walk to restaurants, boutiques, galleries and year-round events. - Delray Municipal Beach is one of only three beaches in the continental United States to receive Blue Flag certification for the 2026 season. - Delray Beach has held the Blue Flag designation for four straight years: 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. - Blue Flag certification goes to beaches that meet environmental, safety and clean-water standards. - USA TODAY 10Best began in 1999 and became part of the USA TODAY family in 2013. - The Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority was established in 1971 to strengthen downtown’s economic vitality. - The DDA is an autonomous city agency that advocates, facilitates, plans and executes business development and markets the downtown district. - The DDA is based at 350 SE 1st Street in Delray Beach. - The Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce includes more than 800 businesses and professional firms. - The Chamber has served for nine decades as a business hub connecting stakeholders across government, technology, health care, education, economic development, tourism, arts, culture and nonprofits.

Between the lines: - The award is not just about the shoreline. It also rewards a beach destination that pairs natural assets with an easy downtown experience. - Public voting means the result reflects both traveler loyalty and local visibility, not just a judge-only ranking. - The Blue Flag distinction gives Delray Beach a measurable quality marker that can matter to families, international travelers and repeat visitors.

What’s next: - Delray Beach can use the back-to-back national recognition to support tourism marketing heading into the 2026 travel season. - The DDA and Chamber are likely to keep leaning on the award and Blue Flag status in destination promotion. - Readers can learn more about the award at USA TODAY’s 10Best beach page and about the brand at USA TODAY 10Best.

The bottom line: - Delray Beach now has a three-year winning streak, a four-year Blue Flag run and a stronger claim as one of Florida’s most marketable beach towns.