Miss USA 2026 is set for its historic 75th anniversary finale on August 27, with 51 state and district titleholders competing for the national crown at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami. The final is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, and the reigning titleholder, Audrey Eckert of Nebraska, is expected to crown her successor at the end of the competition.
The 2026 edition has already generated considerable attention ahead of the crowning ceremony. The pageant celebrates its Diamond Anniversary under the theme “75 Years of Icons,” bringing together representatives from every U.S. state and Washington, D.C.
This year’s competition also arrives with several important developments. The planned television return to The CW was canceled shortly before the event because of unresolved contractual and production issues. The Queen Beauty Network will instead stream the competition.
With the final only days away, here is what U.S. viewers need to know about the contestants, schedule, reigning titleholder, broadcast change and major developments surrounding this year’s competition.
When Is the Miss USA 2026 Final?
The national final is scheduled for Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET.
The competition is taking place at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida. The venue is hosting the 75th anniversary celebration as contestants compete for the national title.
The pageant week began with several events before the main coronation. The current published schedule includes the state costume presentation on August 24, the Miss USA preliminary competition on August 25 and the final on August 27.
The schedule at a glance:
| Event | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| State Costume Presentation | August 24 | 7 p.m. ET |
| Miss USA Preliminary Competition | August 25 | 12 p.m. ET |
| Miss Teen USA Final | August 26 | 8 p.m. ET |
| Miss USA Final | August 27 | 8 p.m. ET |
The 2026 schedule places the Miss USA finale at the center of a week-long celebration in Miami.
Where Is the 2026 Pageant Being Held?
The 75th anniversary final will take place at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County.
The center is located at 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. The final will conclude the national competition after the contestants complete the preliminary stages.
The Miami location is also central to the anniversary programming surrounding the event. The official event information lists August 24 through August 27 as the dates for the 2026 Miss USA and Miss Teen USA activities.
The final ceremony will determine the 75th Miss USA titleholder.
How Many Women Are Competing?
There are 51 contestants in the national field.
Each U.S. state has a representative, while Washington, D.C., provides the additional delegate. That creates the traditional 51-person field for the national competition.
The contestants have backgrounds spanning numerous professions and personal experiences. Recent profiles have highlighted women who work as nurses, engineers, business professionals and military members.
Contestants have also brought a wide range of causes to the competition. Their platforms include subjects such as education, mental health, cancer awareness, veterans’ affairs and women’s wellness.
The national field includes:
- Alabama — Samantha Havenstrite
- Alaska — Holly Huber
- Arizona — Kaitlyn Humphrey
- Arkansas — Anna Claire Hay
- California — Acacia McBride
- Colorado — Jordyn Owen
- Connecticut — Jaeden Hamelly
- Delaware — Julia Hatoum
- District of Columbia — Kennedy Lucas
- Florida — Aileen Cerchiara
- Georgia — Jade Kircus
- Hawaii — Darja Bassut
- Idaho — Katie Tetreault
- Illinois — Vivica Lewandowski
- Indiana — Eniolá Oke
- Iowa — Madeline Erickson
- Kansas — Madilynn Becker
- Kentucky — Brijet Finister
- Louisiana — Ella Clark
- Maine — Mykala Green
- Maryland — Holly Plank
- Massachusetts — Kayshauna Montaño
- Michigan — Amber Uhler
- Minnesota — Rachel Betterley
- Mississippi — Victoria Cantu
- Missouri — Madison Beck
- Montana — Lisbeth Fernández
- Nebraska — Emily Lenser
- Nevada — Natalie Bode
- New Hampshire — Samantha LaBonne
- New Jersey — Katarina Lengyel
- New Mexico — Cara Rgnonti
- New York — Jenna Dykstra
- North Carolina — Myla Hadley
- North Dakota — Sophia Richards
- Ohio — Kayelin Tiggs
- Oklahoma — Annamaria Thomas
- Oregon — Claire Wildey
- Pennsylvania — Elizabeth Voight
- Rhode Island — Victoria Cuartas
- South Carolina — Victoria Vesce
- South Dakota — Lexus Paulson
- Tennessee — Sydney Grace Young
- Texas — Alexis Fuetsch
- Utah — Alayzia Christopher
- Vermont — Katherine McQuade
- Virginia — Justus Kelley
- Washington — Ellise Kakazu
- West Virginia — Alanna Lynch
- Wisconsin — Olivia Lulich
- Wyoming — Melanie San Roman
The contestant field has been documented in recent coverage of the competition, with Myla Hadley now representing North Carolina after a late change involving that state’s title.
Audrey Eckert Will Crown the New Miss USA
Audrey Eckert of Nebraska enters the final days of her reign as the current Miss USA.
Eckert won the 2025 national competition and has held the title throughout the past year. She is scheduled to crown the 2026 winner during the final ceremony in Miami.
Her reign has included appearances and events connected with the Miss USA organization. She also competed at the 2025 Miss Universe competition after winning the national title.
The 2026 final will bring her reign to its conclusion.
Until the winner is announced, Eckert remains the reigning Miss USA. No contestant can officially be called Miss USA 2026 before the August 27 coronation.
The 75th Anniversary Is a Major Part of the Event
The 2026 competition marks the 75th Miss USA pageant.
Organizers are celebrating the milestone as a Diamond Anniversary, with the theme “75 Years of Icons.” The event is also bringing former Miss USA winners back to Miami for anniversary activities.
More than 40 former titleholders are expected to take part in the commemorative events surrounding the competition.
The anniversary adds historical significance to this year’s competition because the eventual winner will become the titleholder associated with the 75th edition.
The organization has positioned the celebration as a look at the pageant’s history while also focusing on the contestants competing for the next national crown.
The CW Will Not Broadcast Miss USA 2026
One of the biggest changes occurred just days before the competition.
The Miss USA Organization and The CW had previously announced plans for the pageant to return to broadcast television in 2026. That plan was scrapped shortly before the scheduled broadcast.
The CW confirmed that it would not air the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA competitions after discussions with the Miss USA Organization. The network cited its decision to “forego” the broadcasts after careful consideration.
The Miss USA Organization separately explained that a contractual issue involving production arrangements could not be resolved in time. The organization said its team worked to find a way to maintain the planned CW broadcast but could not reach mutually acceptable terms.
The change means viewers should not expect the August 27 final on The CW.
Instead, the event will stream through the Queen Beauty Network.
How to Watch the Miss USA 2026 Final
The Queen Beauty Network, also known as QBN, is carrying the competition after the CW plans fell through.
The published schedule places the Miss USA final at 8 p.m. ET on August 27. QBN is providing access through its website, mobile app, Apple TV and other supported platforms.
The current viewing information is:
Date: Thursday, August 27, 2026
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Venue: Adrienne Arsht Center, Miami
Streaming: Queen Beauty Network
The Miss USA organization has also listed the competition as a worldwide live event, although its official event page currently indicates that viewers should check back for the viewing link.
That means fans should verify the latest streaming instructions before the final begins.
A Late Change in the North Carolina Delegation
North Carolina enters the national competition with a different representative than originally expected.
Brittany Boltinhouse initially won the Miss North Carolina USA 2026 title. On August 5, however, the Miss USA Organization announced that she was no longer the state titleholder.
The organization said the decision followed conduct that it determined violated its standards. Chairman and CEO Thom Brodeur also stated that the organization does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia or language that strips people of their identity.
Myla Hadley, who had been the first runner-up, subsequently assumed the North Carolina title and is now listed as the state’s representative in the national field.
The development came shortly before the national pageant, making Hadley’s transition to the national stage unusually fast.
The change also attracted significant attention because it happened during the final weeks of preparation for the 75th anniversary competition.
The Contestants Are Preparing in Different Ways
The women entering the final have followed their own approaches to preparing for the competition.
Recent interviews with contestants revealed a range of personal rituals and routines. Some use music to stay focused, while others rely on family traditions, sentimental items or personal reminders.
Miss Michigan USA Amber Uhler, for example, has used photographs connected with her weight-loss journey as a source of motivation. Miss Wisconsin USA Olivia Lulich and her family avoid discussing a potential victory because they consider it bad luck.
Other contestants have their own methods for managing nerves.
Miss Arizona USA Kaitlyn Humphrey relies on a personal music playlist, while Miss Massachusetts USA Kayshauna Montaño has a post-preliminary candy ritual. Miss New York USA Jenna Dykstra uses a motivational song and mantra as part of her preparation.
These individual routines offer a glimpse at the preparation taking place away from the stage.
What Makes the 2026 Competition Different?
The 2026 edition combines a major anniversary with a rapidly changing media environment.
The 75th anniversary is the most obvious distinction. Former titleholders are returning, and organizers are using the Diamond Celebration to emphasize the competition’s history.
At the same time, the planned return to broadcast television has fallen through at the last moment. That forces viewers back to streaming for the second consecutive year.
The contestant field also reflects the changing backgrounds of women entering national pageants. Recent profiles have highlighted professionals from health care, engineering, business, military service and other fields.
The result is a competition that combines traditional pageant elements with contestants who bring professional careers, personal experiences and community causes to the national stage.
What Happens After the Winner Is Crowned?
The woman who wins the national crown will become the new Miss USA and succeed Audrey Eckert.
The winner’s responsibilities will extend beyond the Miami ceremony. The national titleholder will represent the organization during the coming year and take part in public appearances and other official activities.
The national victory also carries an international opportunity, with the new Miss USA expected to represent the United States at the Miss Universe competition later in the year.
That makes the August 27 result important beyond the immediate pageant.
For the 51 contestants, the final represents the culmination of months of preparation at the state and national levels.
The Final Decision Is Still Ahead
As of August 24, the 2026 national winner has not been crowned.
The competition remains scheduled for August 27, with 51 contestants still in the field and Audrey Eckert preparing to pass the crown to her successor.
The final will also close the pageant’s 75th anniversary celebration in Miami.
For viewers, the most important details are now clear: the national final takes place Thursday, August 27, at 8 p.m. ET, the event will be held at the Adrienne Arsht Center, and the Queen Beauty Network will provide the live stream after The CW dropped the broadcast.
The next Miss USA will emerge only after the final competition reaches its conclusion.
Who will leave Miami with the 75th Miss USA crown? Share your pick in the comments and keep following the latest confirmed updates as the historic final approaches.