October 6, 2026
Alexandria Rises to #2 Ranking on Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 “Best Small Cities in the U.S.” List
CONTACTS:
Andrew Postal, apostal@VisitAlexVA.com, 703-652-6363
Karishma Singh, KSingh@visitalexva.com, 703-652-5373
ALEXANDRIA, VA (October 6, 2026)—Visit Alexandria is pleased to announce that Alexandria, Virginia, has ascended to #2 among “Best Small Cities in the U.S.” according to the 2026 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. For the first time, Alexandria has risen to the #2 spot, marking a significant milestone since maintaining its top 3 standing since 2023 (also achieved in 2021 and 2019). Alexandria has been among the top 5 “Best Small Cities in the U.S.” for nearly a decade, since the category was created in 2018. This year, Alexandria landed the #2 spot behind Charleston (#1), while transcending other well-known destinations including Santa Fe, New Mexico and Greenville, North Carolina.
Visit Alexandria secured the nomination and conducted an extensive get-out-the-vote campaign. Consistent national recognition in top-tier publications such as Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and others helps solidify the city’s reputation as a top destination and is a key part of Visit Alexandria’s year-round promotional efforts. Research demonstrates that these rankings make a real difference in influencing travel decisions to our destination.
This year’s second-place ranking is especially meaningful, as Visit Alexandria launched its Unlock Your Story campaign nationwide in February 2026. Featuring expanded destination storytelling destination and new targeting strategies, the campaign increased visitor length of stay and helped Alexandria lead growth in hotel revenue per available room (RevPAR) among Virginia destinations. The organization also put Alexandria in the national spotlight through impactful citywide programming like America 250 and the Croatian national football team’s stay during the 2026 World Cup.
The Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards are the travel industry’s longest run and most prestigious accolades. More than 757,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers from across the United States rated their travel experiences across the globe to offer a comprehensive look at the places they eagerly anticipate revisiting.
Thank you to everyone in the community who supported this effort with your votes.
Read the full article here. All winners will also be celebrated in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveler.
Download high-res images here.
Top 10 Small Cities in the U.S.:
1. Charleston, South Carolina
2. Alexandria, Virginia
3. Santa Fe, New Mexico
4. Greenville, South Carolina
5. Santa Barbara, California
6. Lexington, Kentucky
7. Savannah, Georgia
8. Healdsburg, California
9. San Juan, Puerto Rico
10. St. Augustine, Florida
