Santa Fe Along With Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans, Chicago, Honolulu and More Shake Up America’s Travel Rankings as Travel + Leisure Reveals Best U.S. Cities 2026

Image generated with Ai

Santa Fe, Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans, Chicago, Honolulu and other leading U.S. destinations have shaken up America’s travel rankings after dominating Travel + Leisure’s Best U.S. Cities 2026 list with their cultural richness, historic attractions, culinary experiences and visitor appeal. Based on reader votes in the magazine’s annual World’s Best Awards, Santa Fe claimed the No. 1 position, while traditional tourism giant New York City fell to eighth place, revealing a major shift in traveller preferences toward smaller cities offering authentic experiences, local charm and memorable hospitality.

The ranking was revealed as part of Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards, an annual list determined through reader voting. While New York remains a global tourism powerhouse, smaller cities dominated this year’s results, with travellers highlighting destinations offering unique character, history, local experiences, and welcoming atmospheres.

Santa Fe, New Mexico, emerged as the No. 1 city in the United States, replacing previous favourites and earning recognition for its artistic heritage, cultural identity, architecture, and year-round visitor appeal. Charleston, South Carolina, which topped the previous year’s ranking, slipped to second place but continued receiving strong praise from travellers.

Santa Fe Captures America’s Top Travel Honour With Art, Culture and Historic Charm

Santa Fe secured the highest position in Travel + Leisure’s Best U.S. Cities 2026 ranking, earning appreciation for its combination of creative energy, culinary experiences, and historic surroundings.

Located at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe has a population of just over 90,000 residents. Despite its smaller size compared with major American cities, it has developed a strong reputation as a cultural destination attracting visitors throughout the year.

Travellers praised Santa Fe for its vibrant arts scene, internationally recognised restaurants, and distinctive Pueblo-style architecture. The city’s historic centre remains one of its biggest attractions, with the famous central plaza continuing to operate as a major gathering place for residents, artists, and visitors.

The plaza, recognised as a National Historic Landmark, has remained an important cultural and commercial hub where local craftsmen showcase and sell handmade artwork, jewellery, and traditional creations.

Santa Fe also features the San Miguel Chapel, which is widely considered one of the oldest churches in the United States, adding another layer of historical significance to the destination.

Travel + Leisure’s coverage included a humorous remark about the ranking, suggesting that voting and travel experiences were likely completed before reports emerged that wild rats in the surrounding Santa Fe region had tested positive for plague.

Charleston Holds Strong as Southern Hospitality Keeps Visitors Returning

Although Charleston, South Carolina, dropped from first place to second position, the historic coastal city maintained a powerful presence in the ranking with an overall score of 87.3.

Readers highlighted Charleston’s outstanding restaurants, famous Southern hospitality, historic beauty, and charming atmosphere. The city continues to attract travellers seeking a blend of heritage, architecture, waterfront scenery, and modern dining experiences.

Beyond tourism, Charleston has also become increasingly attractive for new residents. In 2025, the city recorded the highest net migration per capita in the United States, gaining nearly 80 new residents for every 10,000 existing residents.

The strong population growth reflects Charleston’s growing appeal as both a visitor destination and a place to live, supported by its lifestyle offerings, economic opportunities, and coastal environment.

Southern U.S. Cities Dominate Rankings as Savannah and New Orleans Rise

Southern destinations continued to perform strongly in Travel + Leisure’s latest city rankings.

Savannah, Georgia, claimed third place, while New Orleans, Louisiana, secured fourth position. Both cities were recognised for their distinctive cultural identities, historic neighbourhoods, food traditions, and unique visitor experiences.

Savannah continues attracting travellers with its tree-lined streets, historic squares, preserved architecture, and relaxed atmosphere. New Orleans remains internationally recognised for its music, festivals, cuisine, and deep cultural roots.

The results highlight a growing travel trend where visitors are increasingly choosing cities that provide authentic local experiences rather than only large metropolitan attractions.

Chicago Becomes America’s Highest-Ranked Major City Ahead of New York

Among America’s largest urban destinations, Chicago, Illinois, achieved the strongest performance, ranking fifth overall.

Travel + Leisure editors praised Chicago as a city that offers something for every type of traveller. The publication noted that Chicago delivers the energy and attractions of a major city while being less crowded and less fast-paced compared with New York City.

The ranking described Chicago as a destination filled with museums, restaurants, entertainment options, architecture, and cultural experiences that visitors can explore throughout the year.

Other cities finishing above New York included Fort Worth, Texas, in sixth place and Honolulu, Hawaii, in seventh place.

Honolulu narrowly defeated New York City, ranking only 0.06 points higher in the final scoring.

New York City Remains Iconic Despite Falling Behind Smaller Destinations

New York City received an overall score of 88.5, placing eighth in the ranking. While the city missed the top five, Travel + Leisure still recognised its unmatched diversity and global appeal.

The publication highlighted that New York offers almost unlimited experiences, stating that whatever visitors are searching for, they can find it in the city.

From Broadway shows and world-famous museums to Michelin-starred restaurants, neighbourhood cultures, shopping districts, and landmarks such as Central Park and the Statue of Liberty, New York continues to attract millions of visitors every year.

However, recent research suggests that the city’s tourism reputation has faced challenges.

One survey found that New York ranked second only behind Las Vegas among destinations American travellers most regretted visiting. Around 9% of respondents said they wished they had skipped their trip to New York.

The city’s tourism recovery has also remained incomplete, with visitor numbers still below pre-pandemic levels earlier this year.

New York Gains “Most Sinful” City Title While Tourism Image Faces Mixed Reviews

Despite losing ground in the Travel + Leisure city ranking, New York City recently received another unusual title by being named America’s “most sinful” city.

The ranking placed New York ahead of Las Vegas, with factors including its large number of nightlife venues and a high number of sexually transmitted infection cases contributing to the result.

The contrasting rankings show the complexity of New York’s global image. The city remains one of the most recognisable destinations on Earth, but changing traveller preferences and evolving perceptions are influencing how visitors compare America’s major cities.

Smaller destinations with strong cultural identities, historic character, and relaxed experiences are increasingly competing with traditional tourism giants.

Travel + Leisure’s Top 10 U.S. Cities for 2026

1. Santa Fe, New Mexico
2. Charleston, South Carolina
3. Savannah, Georgia
4. New Orleans, Louisiana
5. Chicago, Illinois
6. Fort Worth, Texas
7. Honolulu, Hawaii
8. New York City
9. Alexandria, Virginia
10. Greenville, South Carolina

Travel + Leisure’s 2026 rankings underline a major shift in American travel preferences. While New York City remains a global icon, travellers are increasingly rewarding destinations that combine authentic culture, history, hospitality, and distinctive local experiences. Santa Fe’s victory demonstrates that smaller cities with strong identities can now compete with America’s biggest tourism names.

Santa Fe, Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans, Chicago and Honolulu have reshaped America’s travel rankings after earning top spots in Travel + Leisure’s Best U.S. Cities 2026 list, recognised for their culture, history, cuisine and unique visitor experiences. The ranking also revealed a surprise as New York City fell to eighth place despite its global tourism appeal.

Travel + Leisure’s Best U.S. Cities 2026 ranking highlights a changing American travel landscape where authentic experiences, cultural depth and local charm are becoming stronger attractions for visitors. While Santa Fe, Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans, Chicago and Honolulu captured the spotlight with their distinctive identities, New York City’s eighth-place finish shows that even the world’s most famous destinations face growing competition from smaller cities offering memorable and personalised travel experiences. The latest rankings prove that America’s tourism appeal extends far beyond its biggest urban icons, with diverse destinations continuing to redefine what makes a city truly worth visiting.