The 1997 Beach Volleyball World Championships, were held from September 10 to September 13, 1997, in Los Angeles, California (United States). It was the first official edition of this event, after 10 unofficial championships between 1987 and 1996.

Men's competition

Final ranking (top sixteen)

• A total number of 56 participating couples

Rank	Name Athletes	Seed
	Rogério Ferreira and Guilherme Marques (BRA)	9
	Canyon Ceman and Mike Whitmarsh (USA)	3
	Dain Blanton and Kent Steffes (USA)	2
	Paulão Moreira and Paulo Emílio Silva (BRA)	4
5.	Eduardo Bacil and José Loiola (BRA)	1
	Adam Johnson and Karch Kiraly (USA)	5
	Zé Marco de Melo and Emanuel Rego (BRA)	6
	Ian Clark and Troy Tanner (USA)	10
9.	Mike Dodd and Rob Heidger (USA)	7
	John Child and Mark Heese (CAN)	11
	Eric Fonoimoana and Brian Lewis (USA)	14
	Martin Laciga and Paul Laciga (SUI)	16
	Julien Prosser and Lee Zahner (AUS)	18
	Roberto Lopes and Franco Neto (BRA)	20
	Dax Holdren and Todd Rogers (USA)	21
	Duda Macedo and Fred Souza (BRA)	25

Women's competition

• A total number of 45 participating couples

Final ranking (top sixteen)

Rank	Name Athletes	Seed
	Sandra Pires and Jackie Silva (BRA)	3
	Lisa Arce and Holly McPeak (USA)	1
	Shelda Bede and Adriana Behar (BRA)	2
	Karolyn Kirby and Nancy Reno (USA)	12
5.	Mônica Rodrigues and Adriana Samuel (BRA)	4
	Barbra Fontana and Linda Hanley (USA)	7
	Liz Masakayan and Elaine Youngs (USA)	8
	Siomara de Souza and Magda Lima (BRA)	11
9.	Natalie Cook and Kerri Pottharst (AUS)	5
	Maike Friedrichsen and Danja Müsch (GER)	6
	Adriana Bento and Ana Richa (BRA)	9
	Karrie Poppinga and Angela Rock (USA)	10
	Rebekka Kadijk and Debora Schoon-Kadijk (NED)	13
	Krista Blomquist and Christine Podraza (USA)	14
	Laura Bruschini and Annamaria Solazzi (ITA)	16
	Eva Celbová and Sona Novaková (CZE)	18