Seoul has topped the Best Big Cities category in the U.S. edition of Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, rising four places from fifth last year to win the category for the first time.
Seoul, Tokyo and Phnom Penh lead
Condé Nast Traveler released its 2026 results on October 6, U.S. time, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced the result on October 8. Tokyo and Phnom Penh placed second and third, followed by Shanghai and Sydney.
Decided by readers
The 39th Readers’ Choice Awards drew 798,867 votes across all categories, including cities, hotels and resorts. That figure is the overall total, not Seoul’s vote count. Seoul placed fifth last year.
Related interview
On October 8, YTN Radio interviewed the head of the Seoul Tourism Organization about the award and tourism in the city. The Korean-language interview is available at the official source link below.
