Chicago is distinguished as one of the must-see destinations to travel to in 2026 by Frommer's

The city was included for the first time in Frommer's prestigious annual "Best Places to Go in 2026" list, one of the most influential lists in international tourism, published by the renowned travel publisher. The announcement places Chicago among only 16 outstanding global destinations for next year, according to the full selection available at https://www.frommers.com/tips/news/frommers-best-places-to-go-in-2026/ .

Frommer's based its choice on a combination of landmark openings, historic celebrations, and internationally significant cultural events, including the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, the new performance space The Hand & The Eye at McCormick Mansion, International Jazz Day, the Chicago Architecture Biennial, and the centennial of Route 66.

Kristen Reynolds, president and CEO of Choose Chicago, noted that this recognition reaffirms the city's enduring appeal on the global stage, driven by a strong cultural identity, a world-class culinary scene, and widely acclaimed architecture. The year 2026 will also feature an exceptional schedule of sporting and cultural events that further solidify the destination's position.

Founded in 1957, Frommer's is one of the most influential publishers in the travel industry and continues to set trends through its guides and digital content, available at Frommers.com. Its annual list serves as a curated selection of places that offer meaningful experiences from a cultural and social perspective.

This announcement adds to a series of recent accolades from specialized media outlets. Chicago was once again chosen as the Best Big City in the US by Condé Nast Traveler readers, a recognition that can be viewed at https://www.choosechicago.com/press-media/press-releases/chicago-voted-best-big-city-in-the-us-by-readers-of-conde-nast-traveler-for-ninth-consecutive-year/ . Time Out Magazine also named the city one of the Best Cities for Culture in the world, making it the only US representative in the global ranking published at https://www.timeout.com/travel/worlds-best-cities-for-culture . Similarly, the Avondale neighborhood was recognized as the world's fifth coolest neighborhood, according to the international selection available at https://www.timeout.com/travel/coolest-neighbourhoods-in-the-world-2025 .

Tourism indicators support this positioning. Last summer, the city recorded its highest hotel occupancy rate ever, according to official data published by Choose Chicago at https://www.choosechicago.com/press-media/press-releases/chicago-hotels-set-record-for-summer-room-demand/ . Simultaneously, O'Hare International Airport experienced its busiest summer ever, as reported by the city government at https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/mayor/press_room/press_releases/2025/october/busiest-ohare-summer-ever.html .

In the meetings and conventions segment, Chicago continues to solidify its position as a leading international destination. Recent events such as the NECA Convention ( https://www.necaconvention.org/ ) and CHEST 2025 ( https://www.chestnet.org/learning-and-events/events/chest-annual-meeting ) registered record attendance levels, strengthening the destination's standing in the meetings tourism industry.

Looking ahead to 2026, the city is preparing for a particularly busy calendar that will include major sporting events, international congresses and historical celebrations, consolidating an exceptional context for its global projection and reaffirming its place among the most relevant destinations in the world according to Frommer's.