NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans continues to charm visitors and garner international acclaim, most recently by being named today as the Fourth best city in the U.S. and Canada, according to Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2026 readers’ survey.
Now in its 31st year, the Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards is an annual readers’ survey that rates destinations, hotels, airports, cruise lines and more. The Awards were celebrated at a special event in New York City this week, where New Orleans was among the cities honored.
The city earned its highest ranking from voters for its authentic culture and delicious and vibrant culinary scene. As one reader noted, “New Orleans is a gumbo pot full of culture. The city is over 300 years old. The city never sleeps! The food is over the top delicious. There’s always a festival going that includes music, friends, and food.” Wrote another, “New Orleans is a cultural experience everyone should have at least once.”
“This recognition reflects what visitors experience every day in New Orleans: an unmatched culture, world-renowned cuisine and music, and a spirit of hospitality that stays with you long after you leave,” said Walt Leger III, President and CEO of New Orleans & Company. “Being named one of the best cities in the U.S. and Canada by Travel + Leisure readers is especially meaningful because it comes directly from people who have experienced the magic of New Orleans firsthand.”
It isn’t the first time New Orleans has landed a top spot in the magazine’s annual World’s Best Rankings and it has regularly appeared in top rankings for years. Travel + Leisure’s editorial and readers frequently highlight the rich, immersive experiences of the city, praising New Orleans as one of America’s most colorful and culturally significant destinations.
This recent honor comes on the heels of other top honors for New Orleans.
New Orleans was ranked #9, and the only US city, on Condé Nast Traveler’s 10 Most Colorful Cities in the World.
The City of New Orleans has been named to “Irreplaceable America,” a new list from World Monuments Fund (WMF) recognizing 10 historic places across the United States whose preservation is essential to the richness and complexity of American history as the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Business Travel Executive ranked New Orleans as the Best US City for Bleisure (business plus leisure).
- TripAdvisor’s top US cities to visit in 2026 included New Orleans, stating “New Orleans is full of life, but with a laid-back energy that sets it apart from other cities.”
- Sports Business Journal named New Orleans one of the 50 Best Sport Business Cities for 2026, recognizing the city’s strength, stability and opportunity as a premier destination for sports business.
- In early April, JustCover, a travel insurance company, shared its list of the most colorful cities in the world, with New Orleans ranked the No. 1 spot in the U.S.
- Southern Living named New Orleans as one of the Best Cities in the South.