Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Wrightsville Beach Rank Among “Best Beaches in North Carolina” in USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Contest
USA TODAY 10Best Shines Spotlight on New Hanover County’s Island Beaches
Wilmington, N.C. – Thursday, June 1, 2026: Just in time for peak travel season, three New Hanover County island beaches are once again featured among the “Best Beaches in North Carolina” in a recent USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice travel award contest.
Over a four-week period, readers of USA TODAY voted daily for their favorite beaches to determine the winners. After the votes were tallied Carolina Beach (#5), Wrightsville Beach (#9), and Kure Beach (#10) ranked among the top ten “Best Beaches in North Carolina.” Winners were announced on Wednesday, May 27.
“As we kick off summer in Wilmington and our island beaches, we are delighted that each of our three island beaches are once again among USA TODAY’s Readers’ Choice winners for the 10 best beaches in North Carolina.” states Kim Hufham, president/CEO of the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority.
Nominees for all categories of USA TODAY 10Best awards are chosen by a panel of relevant experts that are displayed on the associated contest page. All voting is digital and the 10Best Readers’ Choice Award contest is accessible on the 10Best.com website. For a list of the top 10 Best Beach in North Carolina winners, visit https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/best-beach-in-north-carolina.
The New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority (TDA), d/b/a Wilmington and Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau, markets and develops the county and its communities’ leisure and group travel experiences for economic growth and quality of place. For visitor information about Wilmington and its island beaches and to request or download a free 2026 Official Visitors Guide, visit WilmingtonAndBeaches.com.
