When is Miss USA 2026? How to watch?
When is Miss USA 2026? How to watch?
Juan Carlos Castillo, USA TODAY NETWORKFri, July 31, 2026 at 11:27 AM UTC
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The 75th edition of the Miss USA is around the corner.
At least 54 contestants for the 2026 Miss Universe pageant have already been selected. The U.S. will crown its delegate this August. Whoever wins will represent the country at the international competition in November.
Here's what to know:
When is the 2026 Miss USA? How to watch?
The Miss USA final is set to be celebrated on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. The competition will air live at 8 p.m. ET on The CW from the Ziff Ballet Opera House in Miami, The CW announced.
The costume show is scheduled for Aug. 24. The preliminary competition is scheduled for Aug. 25.
When is the 2026 Miss Universe?
The 2026 Miss Universe final is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 24 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The national costume show will take place on Nov. 21, followed by the preliminary competition on Nov. 22.
Why has the Miss USA been celebrated late in recent years?
Because registration, events, interviews typically start around 30 days before the final, the 2026 Miss USA winner will have roughly two months to prepare. In contrast, Miss Venezuela 2026 was crowned in December 2025, giving her nearly a year of preparation. Both Miss USA and Miss Venezuela are two of the biggest powerhouses in the pageant.
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Last year, Miss USA, Audrey Eckert, was crowned roughly one week before the Miss Universe pageant started in Thailand. She placed top 30.
Reportedly, leadership shakeups, resignations, and major changes within the Miss USA organization have caused planning disruptions, delaying the Miss USA pageant.
Typically, a Miss USA winner is crowned several months ahead of the international pageant. During those months, the contestant takes intense runway, projection, makeup, and oratory classes, while also attending multiple dress fittings.
What is the purpose of the preliminary competition? How do the judges choose the Miss USA, Miss Universe winner?
In pageants, the preliminary competition is when the finalists are chosen.
The Miss Universe preliminaries have three components: the closed-door interview, the swimsuit runway, and the evening gown runway. The interview is intended to evaluate the contestants’ oratory skills. The runway shows evaluate stage presence, projection, and runway or catwalk skills.
On the final night, the event begins with the announcement of the top scores from the preliminary competition — these are the finalists.
Juan Carlos Castillo is a New Jersey-based trending reporter for the USA Today network. He covers weather, and national events focusing on how they affect New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: When is Miss USA 2026? How to watch?
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
