Miss World 2026

Replacements

Leading up to the opening ceremony, a number of national franchises replaced their delegates: Ashma Kumari of Nepal was replaced by her national successor Luna Luitel;^[11][12] Lauryane Dilo of Guadeloupe was replaced by Annaëlle Ibo;^[13][14] Rongfei Gan of China was also replaced by Yifei Dong;^[15][16] and Marigona Musshabani of Kosovo was replaced by Blair Isufi.^[17]

A number of national titleholders also withdrew from this edition and were replaced, including Soriya Khorn of Cambodia, who was replaced by Leakena In;^[18][19] and Carly Wilson of Northern Ireland, who withdrew from the pageant due to health issues, being replaced by her first runner-up Amelie Moore.^[20][21] Jade Glab of the United States deferred her participation to the next edition and was replaced by her first runner-up, Mary Sickler.^[22][23]

Debuts, returns, and withdrawals

This edition will mark the debut of Eritrea, French Guiana, the Maldives, Mozambique and Pakistan.^{[24][25][26][27]} Returning countries for this edition included Malawi which last took part in 2012;^[28] Kosovo in 2014;^[29] the Cook Islands and Laos in 2019;^[30] The Bahamas in 2021; and Guinea-Bissau, Morocco, South Korea and Tanzania in 2023.^[31][32][33]

Monika Harutjunjan of Armenia, Samantha Quenedit of Ecuador, and Nadiratou Afolabi of Togo withdrew from the competition.^{[34][35][36][37][38]} Mari-Ann Rõuk of Estonia stepped down to focus on her studies and was replaced by her first runner-up, Henel Vare. However, Vare also withdrew.^[39][40][41]

Madagascar withdrew from the competition due to their respective national organization failing to appoint a delegate, organize a national pageant, or retain the Miss World franchise.^[42] Bhutan was also set to compete, but withdrew following the postponement of Miss Bhutan 2026.^[43]

Placements

Format

For the competition, the 111 contestants are divided into four continental groups: Africa, Americas and Caribbean, Asia and Oceania, and Europe.^[50] Together, the fast-track challenges and selection committee select ten delegates from each group to advance to the Top 40 quarterfinals. Five delegates from each group, including fast-track winners and finalists, then advance to the Top 20. Afterward, they are trimmed down to 12, composed of the top two finalists per continental group, Beauty With a Purpose, and People's Choice. The Top 6 finalists will be composed of the top performing candidates per continental group and the winners of the latter two events, at which point the winner and her two runners-up will be named.^[50]

Broadcast

The finals will be broadcast live on YouTube.^[50]

Beauty With a Purpose

On 31 August, the Beauty with Purpose presentations spotlighted social service projects led by contestants. Four continental winners will be named and advance to the Top 40 of the competition. However, the Top 2 for this challenge will eventually advance into the Top 12, with the overall winner fast tracking to the Top 6.^[51]

•   Advanced to the Top 6 via the Winner of Beauty With a Purpose.
•   Advanced to the Top 12 via the Top 2 in Beauty With a Purpose.
•   Advanced to the Top 40 via Beauty With a Purpose.

Head-to-Head Challenge

Nha Trang hosted the Head-to-Head Challenge at the Khanh Hoa Children’s Palace on 22 and 24 August 2026, during which all contestants introduced themselves and gave speeches about their projects. Five shortlisted contestants from each continental group competed in the second round, from which the four continental winners will be determined, and will automatically advance to the Top 40.^[52] The four continental winners will then competed in the final round, from which the overall challenge winner is determined, and will automatically advance to the Top 20.^[48]

•   Advanced to the Top 20 via Winner of the Head-to-Head Challenge.
•   Advanced to the Top 40 via Head-to-Head Challenge.

Multimedia Challenge

The Multimedia Challenge was done via the official Miss World app where the contestants engaged with viewers worldwide to showcase their creativity in documenting their pageant journeys. 20 finalists were announced via the Miss World social media channels last September 1 with four continental winners advancing to the Top 40 competition and the overall winner advancing to the Top 20.^[53][47]

•   Advanced to the Top 20 via Winner of the Multimedia Challenge.
•   Advanced to the Top 40 via Multimedia Challenge.

People's Choice Award

The People’s Choice Award is a public voting challenge at the Miss World 2026 competition. In the first round, contestants compete within four continental regions: Africa, Americas and Caribbean, Asia and Oceania, and Europe. The contestant receiving the highest number of votes in each region becomes the continental winner and advances directly to the Top 40. In the second round, votes from the first round are carried forward and voting continues on a worldwide basis. The two contestants with the highest combined vote totals, regardless of their region, advance directly to the Top 12. The overall winner of the People’s Choice Award is then determined and advances directly to the Top 6. Voting is conducted through Eventista, the official voting platform for the competition.^[44]

•   Advanced to the Top 6 via the Winner of People's Choice Award.
•   Advanced to the Top 12 via the Top 2 in People's Choice Award.
•   Advanced to the Top 40 via the Continental Winners of People's Choice Award.

Sports Challenge

Haiphong hosted the Sports Challenge at the Dream Dragon Resort on 19 August 2026.^[54] The winner automatically advanced to the Top 40.^[49]

•   Advanced to the Top 40 via Sports Challenge.

Talent Challenge

In the Talent Challenge, continental qualifier contestants will showcase their skills in music, dance, and art. The winner of the segment will advance to the overall Top 10 of her respective continental group.^[55][46]

•   Advanced to the Top 40 via Talent Challenge.

Top Model Challenge

Dragon Beach Square in Haiphong hosted the Vietnam Beauty Fashion Fest XVI on 18 August, with the event incorporating the first round of the Top Model Challenge.^[54] From the first round, sixty contestants will participate in the second round of the Top Model Challenge, which took place on 27 August in Nha Trang. The top 60 finalists then competed in two rounds, wearing designs by local brands.^[56] From these sixty contestants, four continental winners will be named, who will automatically advance to the Top 40. In the live final, the overall winner from this challenge will advance into the Top 20.^[57][58][45]

•   Advanced to the Top 20 via Winner of the Top Model Challenge.
•   Advanced to the Top 40 via Top Model Challenge.