By: Valentina Palm
May 7, 2026
The ‘Miss America’ pageant’s 105th edition will take place at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, thanks in part to developer Stephen Ross.
WEST PALM BEACH — The Miss America pageant is coming to Palm Beach County for the next three years
Robin Fleming, owner of the Miss America Organization, announced on May 7 that the pageant’s 105th edition will take place at the county Convention Center from Aug. 28 through Sept. 7.
The Miss America Teen pageant will take place at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts.
Fleming shared the news during an event in West Palm Beach for National Travel and Tourism Week by Discover The Palm Beaches, the county’s tourism agency. County Commissioners Marci Woodward, Joel Flores and Bobby Powell attended the event and applauded the Miss America’s announcement.
“The Palm Beaches are not just welcoming Miss America as this is our new home,” Fleming said during the event at the Hilton hotel at Palm Beach International Airport. “You’re helping to find the future of female leadership.”
The announcement marks four consecutive years that the pageant has taken place in Florida. Miss America held its 2025 at the Walt Disney Theater at the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts in Orlando.
A key player in bringing the pageant to West Palm Beach was Stephen Ross, the city’s leading developer, Fleming said.
“Certainly, this is a conversation that started a year ago with Stephen and Lynn Ross, who, when they found out that I was heading up Miss America, they said, ‘Why are you not in the Palm Beaches?’ ” Fleming said.
“As you know, Stephen Ross is such a big investor into West Palm Beach, so they sort of lit the spark.”
What is Miss America pageant? How does it differ from Miss USA?
Miss America was established in 1921 as the country’s “Inter-City Beauty Contest” in Atlantic City, New Jersey. A group of businessmen created the pageant, but the event is now operated as a nonprofit whose ownership was tied in a lawsuit with Wellington developer Glenn Straub.
Women between the ages of 18 and 28 compete in the Miss America pageant. The winner receives a $50,000 cash scholarship and becomes a “global ambassador for the Miss America Opportunity,” according to the organization.
Contestants participate in a live contest before judges, in which they can speak about their achievements and perform either in a talent show or by giving a 90-second speech, according to USA TODAY.
The event includes an evening gown and fitness segments. A swimsuit portion ended in 2018, when the organization announced an effort to move away from judging candidates on their physical appearances.
Miss America did not announce this year’s judges at the May 7 event.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/entertainment/events/2026/05/07/miss-america-west-palm-beach-florida/89964089007/