Pensacola Beach Lifeguards Return to Towers on Casino Beach Feb. 28

The Pensacola Beach Lifeguards will return to their towers Saturday, Feb. 28 for the 2026 lifeguard season. Initially, Casino Beach will be staffed from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week. The lifeguards will shift their hours to 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. starting Sunday, March 8 to reflect Daylight Saving Time. As summer approaches, staffing will increase to cover up to eight towers, with increased staffing to begin Memorial Day weekend.

In preparation for the 2026 season, Pensacola Beach hired 10 new lifeguards and welcomed 65 returning lifeguards to a rigorous training program, including over 60 hours of open water training, emergency medical training and more.

Last season, Pensacola Beach Lifeguards performed 359 rescues from drowning and assisted swimmers experiencing distress. They also attended to 130 major medical incidents and assisted in locating 48 missing persons. Lifeguards made contact with beachgoers 439,629 times during the 2025 season, providing information about rip currents, beach condition flags and several other safety tips.

Pensacola Beach Flag System and Safety Information

Escambia County Public Safety encourages residents and visitors to follow all Pensacola Beach rules and exercise caution when visiting the beach and swimming in the Gulf, especially when lifeguards are not present. Follow the posted beach condition flag warnings. Click here to watch our lifeguards explain the flag system on Pensacola Beach.

• Check beach conditions before you go at PensacolaBeachLifeguards.com or on the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards Facebook page. Beach conditions can also be found 24/7 at MyEscambia.com/pensacolabeach.
• Know how to escape from a rip current. Watch our rip current video and learn how to break the rip's grip, which can pull even the strongest swimmer out to sea.
• Glass containers are not allowed on the beach.
• The west side of the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier is an alcohol-free zone.
• Open containers are not allowed off the boardwalk or outside any establishment.
• No alcohol can be consumed in any parking lot on Santa Rosa Island.
• Dogs other than service animals are not permitted on any beaches except in designated dog parks. View complete rules and boundaries for Pensacola Beach dog parks here. 

Sign Up for Pensacola Beach Surf Warning Flag Text Alerts

Text "PBFLAGS" to 888-777 to sign up for text alerts about Pensacola Beach surf flag conditions.

Once registered, a confirmation text from Everbridge Nixle Alerts will be sent, along with a welcome message from the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards. Respond to the text message with your email address to receive email alerts. Text "STOP" to 888-777 to discontinue receiving daily notifications.

For more information about Pensacola Beach Lifeguards, visit the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards page on MyEscambia.com and follow the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards on Facebook and Instagram.