Hey, Hey, holy mackerel! We’ve done it again Chicago! For the 10th consecutive year, Chicago has been named the Best Big City in America by readers of Condé Nast Traveler.
Ten years. Ten victories. And a pretty convincing answer to anyone who wonders what makes this city so special.
The Windy City claimed the top spot in the magazine’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, finishing ahead of San Francisco, Boston, New York City and six other major American destinations. No other city has achieved a decade-long winning streak in the Best Big City category.
So what is it about Chicago that keeps travelers coming back?
Maybe it’s that first glimpse of the skyline rising above Lake Michigan. Or standing on the Chicago Riverwalk, looking up at some of the most extraordinary architecture in the world. Perhaps it’s an afternoon at the Art Institute, an evening at a neighborhood theater, or discovering a little restaurant that becomes a lifelong favorite.
Chicago doesn’t have just one defining attraction. It has an entire city full of them.
And unlike some destinations that depend on a handful of famous landmarks, Chicago’s character extends well beyond downtown.
There’s the unmistakable personality of its neighborhoods, from the murals and Mexican cultural heritage of Pilsen to the restaurants and music venues of Uptown, the historic streets of Bronzeville and the independent shops and galleries of Andersonville.
Each neighborhood tells a different story. Together, they make Chicago a city that never runs out of stories to tell.
Then there’s the food. Chicago may be famous for deep-dish pizza and Italian beef, but its culinary reputation extends far beyond those hometown favorites. Michelin-starred restaurants, James Beard Award-winning chefs, neighborhood bakeries and family-owned establishments reflect the extraordinary range of cultures that call this city home.
And let’s not forget the music.
Chicago helped shape the blues, gave birth to house music and continues to be a powerhouse for jazz, gospel, hip-hop and countless other musical traditions. From the Chicago Blues Festival and Lollapalooza to intimate neighborhood clubs, music is woven into the city’s identity.
For film and television audiences, Chicago has another kind of magic.
The city has starred in countless productions, from The Blues Brothers, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Home Alone to The Bear and NBC’s One Chicago dramas. Its streets, bridges, neighborhoods and skyline are instantly recognizable to audiences around the world.
But Chicago is more than a beautiful backdrop. Major production facilities, including Cinespace Studio, CineCity Studios, The Fields Studios, and Chicago Studio City,, along with the smaller but long-established Essanay Studio and Lighting Company, provide the soundstages, equipment and infrastructure supporting Chicago-made film, television and commercial production.
Chicago’s filmmaking roots stretch back more than a century, when the city was a pioneering center of American motion picture production, turning out silent films featuring some of cinema’s earliest stars and helping shape the emerging film industry.
Behind today’s productions are generations of talented actors, filmmakers, technicians, designers, musicians and craftspeople who have helped build one of the country’s most enduring creative communities.
That creative spirit is part of what makes Chicago special. This is a city that makes things, builds things, invents things and isn’t particularly interested in being anybody else.
Ten years at the top
The recognition comes as part of Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, which attracted nearly 800,000 votes across travel categories worldwide. Chicago earned the No. 1 ranking among America’s big cities for an unprecedented 10th consecutive year.
“This historic recognition belongs to the entire city of Chicago,” said Kristen Reynolds, president and CEO of Choose Chicago.
The recognition also carries considerable economic weight. Chicago welcomed 56.8 million visitors in 2025, generating a record $21.5 billion in visitor spending and supporting more than 135,000 jobs throughout the region.
To commemorate the milestone, the city proclaimed October 10, 2026, Best Big City Day, while Choose Chicago launched its “A Perfect 10” campaign celebrating a decade at the top.
America’s top 10 big cities for 2026
According to Condé Nast Traveler readers:
- Chicago, Illinois
- San Francisco, California
- Boston, Massachusetts
- New York City, New York
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Oakland, California
- Portland, Oregon
- Nashville, Tennessee
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- San Diego, California
There’s no place quite like Chicago
Of course, Chicago isn’t perfect. No great city is. It has challenges, frustrations, bitter winters and plenty of problems that deserve attention.
But there’s something about Chicago that statistics and rankings alone can’t capture.
It’s the neighborhoods where generations of families have built their lives. The artists who keep creating. The small businesses that become community institutions. The extraordinary lakefront that belongs to everyone. The people who show up for one another.
It’s a city with history, character, ambition and a healthy sense of humor about itself.
And perhaps that’s the real secret behind ten consecutive years as #1. Chicago has never needed to be anything other than itself.
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