Philly Is A Must-Visit City In 2026: Wall Street Journal

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia is an underdog city, but it is increasingly being touted as a top-tier destination for travelers the world over.

The city is poised to be one of the hottest cities to visit in 2026.

That's according to the Wall Street Journal, which just released its list of "The 10 Best Places to Visit in 2026."

Philadelphia came in at No. 1, beating out places such as Guadalupe Valley, Mexico; Rotterdam, Netherlands; Basque Country, Spain.

Writer Adam Erace explains why the City of Brother Love earned the top honors, highlighting the United States Semiquincentennial celebrations, FIFA World Cup games, MLB All-Star Game, and more slated to take place here in 2026.

Here's what he wrote:

Two of Philadelphians’ favorite things—sports and Philadelphia—will converge in 2026, when the city hosts March Madness, the FIFA World Cup, the MLB All-Star Game and America’s 250th birthday in the span of four wild months. The nation’s cradle has been preparing for its big year: The Museum of the American Revolution is fresh off a million-dollar renovation, and the National Constitution Center will debut new galleries.

Six World Cup matches will take place at Lincoln Financial Field, including a knockout round on July 4. Even without tickets, you can still cheer and cry with Philly’s legendary sports fans at O’Jung’s, home to Dirty Caesar Martini-fueled watch parties, or Marsha’s, the city’s first bar dedicated to women’s sports. For a cozier option, head to Stargazy, a pie shop that has quietly become a hub for soccer-crazed Brits.

And Philadelphia just earned heaps of praise from the Michelin Guide. Three restaurants earned Michelin Stars, 10 were named to the Bib Gourmand list, and 21 were added to the Michelin recommended list.

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The city's food industry also has gobs of James Beard Award winners, as well. They include Phila Lorn of Mawn, Greg Vernick of Vernick Food & Drink, Ellen Yin of High Street Hospitality, and Cristina Martinez of South Philly Barbacoa.

Check out the full list from the Wall Street Journal here.