Miss America 2026 was the 98th Miss America pageant, held inside the Walt Disney Theater, located at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida, alongside the Miss America's Teen 2026 competition on September 6 and 7, 2025, respectively. This was the first time since 2018 that it returned to its traditional September schedule.
At the end of the event, Abbie Stockard of Alabama crowned Cassie Donegan of New York as her successor. It is the eighth victory of New York in the pageant.
Results
Placements Placement ContestantMiss America 2026 – Cassie Donegan1st Runner-Up – Sadie Schiermeyer2nd Runner-Up – Paris Richardson3rd Runner-Up – Audrey Kittila4th Runner-Up – Emma TerryTop 11 – Kennedy Holland – Nitsaniyah Fitch – Ariana Rodriguez – Maria Derisavi – Anna Leah Jolly – Zoe Schiederich
Awards
Preliminary Awards Award ContestantsEvening Gown Illinois – Nitsaniyah Fitch Maryland – Maria Derisavi District of Columbia – Katie WadmanTalent Arkansas – Kennedy Holland New York – Cassie Donegan Utah – Jordyn BristolFitness Florida – Paris Richardson Tennessee – Zoe Scheiderich Colorado – Gabby Gramont
Quality of Life Results ContestantsWinnerFlorida – Paris Richardson1st Runner-UpSouth Carolina – Sarah Kay Wrenn2nd Runner-UpAlabama – Emma TerryFinalistsNew York – Cassie DoneganMississippi – Anna Leah JollyRhode Island – Alexia RodriguesMichigan – Hannah Palmer
AHA Go Red for Women Leadership Award Results ContestantsWinnerSouth Carolina – Sarah Kay WrennRegionalAlabama – Emma TerryNew Hampshire – Xanthi RussellIllinois – Nitsaniyah FitchOregon – Mya CashMissouri – Courtney RoweNew York – Cassie Donegan
"Show Us Your Shoes" Award State ContestantsHawaiiEmalia DalireLouisianaGabrelle McLeodWyomingAnna-Claire Musick
Contestants
+ The confirmed contestants are as follows: State/District Contestant Age Hometown Placement Notes Alabama Emma Terry 22 Hoover 4th runner-up 1st runner-up at Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen 2020, later assumed title after Marcelle LeBlanc won Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2022 Alaska Suparat Prasannet 27 Lake Hood Arizona Tiffany Ellington 25 Peoria Arkansas Kennedy Holland 21 Metro Top 11 California Rachel Axt 24 Clovis 2021 National American Miss California Colorado Gabby Gramont 22 Fort Collins Connecticut Cayla Kumar 22 Hamden Previously Miss New York's Outstanding Teen 2018 Delaware Hailey Mack 19 Ocean View District of Columbia Katie Wadman 24 Logan Circle Previously Miss Iowa USA 2021 Florida Paris Richardson 23 Gainesville 2nd runner-up Georgia Audrey Kittila 22 Atlanta 3rd runner-up Hawaii Emalia Dalire 19 Kane'ohe Previously Miss Hawaii Teen Volunteer 2024 Idaho Ellie Daniels 18 Bonneville Illinois Nitsaniyah Fitch 26 Windy City Top 11 Indiana Kinley Shoemaker 20 Metropolitan Previously Miss Indiana Teen USA 2023 Iowa Lydia Fisher 22 Tanglewood Previously Miss Iowas's Outstanding Teen 2017 Kansas Emily Rugg 26 Meadowlark Kentucky Ariana Rodriguez 20 Bardstown Top 11 Louisiana Gabrelle McLeod 21 Cane River Maine Paige Lessard 24 York County USA National Miss Maine Teen 2019 2021 National Elite Miss Maryland Maria Derisavi 22 St. Mary's County Top 11 Previously Miss Maryland Teen USA 2021 Massachusetts Khailah Griffin 26 Cambridge Michigan Hannah Palmer 24 Spirit of the State Minnesota Emma Vrieze 20 Glacial Waters Mississippi Anna Leah Jolly 23 Capital City Top 11 Missouri Courtney Rowe 23 Kansas City Montana Haley Tate 25 Missoula Nebraska Makinzie Gergory 25 Old West Balloon Fest Nevada Abigail Bachman 27 Henderson Miss Nevada Volunteer 2024 New Hampshire Xanthi Russell 23 Lilac State New Jersey Belle Nicholas 27 Seashore Line New Mexico Madyson Kettler TBD Corrales New York Cassie Donegan 27 Manhattan Winner Originally first runner-up, but assumed the title after original winner Mina Liang resigned the title three days after she was crownedPreviously Miss Virginia's Outstanding Teen 2013 North Carolina Sophia Kellstrom 26 Davidson County North Dakota Kennedy Delap 24 Central Dakota Ohio Olivia Fosson 24 Ohio River Oklahoma Tessa Dorrell 22 Broken Arrow Oregon Mya Cash 23 Lane County Pennsylvania Victoria Vespico 25 Northeastern Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Diann Reyes-Basilio 20 San Juan Rhode Island Alexia Rodrigues 25 Warwick South Carolina Sarah Wrenn 24 Lake Murray Previously Top 10 at Miss South Carolina 2024 as Miss Greenville County, Top 10 at Miss South Carolina 2023 as Miss Capital City, and 3rd Runner-Up at Miss South Carolina 2022 as Miss Greenville County; also previously Top 10 at Miss South Carolina Teen 2017 as Miss Greater Easley Teen and Top 10 at Miss South Carolina Teen 2018 as Miss Spartanburg Teen South Dakota Jamee Katner 21 Siouxland Tennessee Zoe Scheiderich 22 Music City Top 11 Texas Sadie Schiermeyer 22 Richardson 1st runner-up Mother Arian Archer was previously Miss Texas 1994. First legacy to hold the state crown. Utah Jordyn Bristol 26 Timpanogos Vermont Sophia Parker 26 Addison County Virginia Madison Whitbeck 20 Arlington Washington Amber Pike 24 Snohomish West Virginia Courtney Bearer 23 Morgantown Wisconsin Willow Newell 22 Racine The first Black woman to win the title of Miss Wisconsin. Wyoming Anna-Claire Musick 27 Cheyenne
Notes
References
External links Event homepage