Published on January 25, 2026
Miami joins Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Las Vegas, Orlando, and others in skyrocketing US tourism in 2026, following last year’s strong revenue and visitor arrivals, as major destinations build on strategic gains made in 2025. Strong domestic demand, higher per-visitor spending, global events, convention rebounds, cruise growth, and expanded air connectivity are driving momentum nationwide. Cities that focused on yield, experiences, and infrastructure—rather than volume alone—are now benefiting from sustained demand and rising tourism receipts. Together, these markets are shaping a powerful rebound, positioning the United States for one of its most dynamic tourism years in the post-pandemic era.

Miami: Domestic Strategy Delivers Consistent Growth

Miami’s tourism growth in 2025 was defined by strategy rather than scale. Visitor spending increased 3% to $21.3 billion, even as international air arrivals slowed. A key factor was Miami’s pivot toward domestic travel, with 31% of visitors now coming from within Florida, reducing exposure to global uncertainty.

By targeting regional travelers, cruise passengers, and short-stay leisure visitors, Miami maintained strong hotel occupancy and restaurant demand. Luxury accommodations, nightlife, cultural programming, and cruise activity continued to drive high per-visitor spending. Miami’s role as the world’s leading cruise gateway added another layer of stability. In 2026, Miami is positioned to benefit from both sustained domestic strength and a gradual recovery in international travel. Infrastructure investments, expanded cruise itineraries, and a packed events calendar reinforce Miami’s adaptability and long-term tourism momentum.

Los Angeles: Global Events Set the Stage for a Breakout Year

Los Angeles enters 2026 with momentum building after a slower recovery than other major US cities. In 2025, LA generated $21.5 billion in direct visitor spending with nearly 49.2 million projected visitors, reaching approximately 79% of pre-2019 levels. While the rebound has been gradual, the outlook for 2026 is significantly stronger.

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The catalyst is global visibility. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to deliver a $594 million economic boost to Los Angeles County, drawing international travelers and accelerating hotel demand. Expanded international air service, infrastructure improvements, and renewed interest in entertainment tourism further strengthen the outlook. Los Angeles’ strategy focuses on high-impact events and long-haul travelers rather than short-term volume spikes. As a result, 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year in reestablishing Los Angeles as a leading gateway for US inbound tourism.

New York City: High-Spending Visitors Power a Strategic Rebound

New York City enters 2026 as the financial engine of US tourism, driven less by raw volume and more by extraordinary visitor spending. In 2025, the city generated more than $49 billion in direct visitor spend, the highest of any US destination, even as total visitation reached 64.7 million, slightly below its 2019 peak. What distinguishes New York is yield. Average hotel rates climbed to $301 per night, allowing the city to post record revenue despite a modest dip in overseas arrivals.

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Officials are projecting 66 million visitors in 2026, supported by strong domestic demand, a packed calendar of global events, and a gradual recovery in international confidence. While trade tensions and political rhetoric contributed to a roughly 5% decline in foreign visitation, New York’s diversified tourism base—Broadway, conventions, luxury retail, sports, and cultural institutions—has provided a strong buffer. Heading into 2026, the city’s strategy is clear: attract fewer low-margin travelers and focus on high-value tourism that maximizes economic impact across hotels, restaurants, and entertainment.

Orlando: Theme Park Expansion Fuels America’s Travel Capital

Orlando is positioned to be one of the strongest contributors to US tourism growth in 2026, building on a powerful performance in 2025 defined by scale and momentum. The city is projected to host 76 million visitors, reinforcing its status as the most visited destination in the country. Tourism spending surpassed $36.5 billion, fueled by rising hotel rates and consistently strong domestic demand.

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The primary driver is expansion. Universal’s Epic Universe has already sparked what local officials describe as an “Epic Surge,” including a record $25.6 million in hotel tax revenue in a single month. Daily room rates rose 6.7%, signaling that growth is being driven by pricing strength rather than discounting. Orlando’s advantage lies in reliability. Family travel, repeat visitation, and bundled resort experiences provide insulation from global travel volatility. With new attractions, expanded convention space, and steady airline capacity, Orlando enters 2026 as a cornerstone of US tourism volume and revenue.

Las Vegas: Reinvention Drives the Next Tourism Cycle

Las Vegas heads into 2026 at a moment of recalibration, balancing strong spending levels with shifting traveler expectations. In 2025, the city generated $38.6 billion in visitor spending, supported by a projected 38.6 million visitors, though officials acknowledged a 7.4% decline in visitation later in the year. Rising resort fees, parking charges, and new federal travel costs weighed on affordability, particularly for international visitors.
Despite softer volumes, Las Vegas remains a revenue heavyweight. Visitors are spending more on entertainment, dining, and premium experiences, offsetting lower foot traffic. Major residencies, professional sports, conventions, and global events continue to anchor demand. Looking ahead to 2026, Las Vegas is repositioning itself around experience-driven tourism rather than mass affordability. Investments in entertainment, large-scale conventions, and global sporting events are expected to stabilize visitation while preserving high per-visitor spending, keeping Las Vegas central to US tourism growth.

Chicago: Conventions and Events Power a Midwest Renaissance

Chicago emerged as one of the most resilient US tourism markets in 2025, setting the stage for sustained growth in 2026. The city delivered an estimated $20.6 billion in annual economic impact, supported by 55.3 million visitors and a record-breaking summer that produced $949 million in hotel revenue, the highest in its history.
The resurgence was driven by conventions and events. Large-scale meetings rebounded 12.4% year over year, restoring Chicago’s role as a premier business-travel hub. Signature events such as Lollapalooza, major sports weekends, and expanded international air service further strengthened demand. Chicago’s strength lies in balance. Unlike destinations dependent on leisure alone, the city thrives on corporate travel, cultural tourism, and major events. Entering 2026, a robust convention calendar and growing global connectivity position Chicago as a stabilizing force for national tourism performance.

US Tourism Revenue: Growth Driven by Value Over Volume

US tourism revenue remains a cornerstone of the national travel economy, increasingly powered by higher visitor spending rather than sheer arrival numbers. As travel normalizes, longer stays, premium accommodations, events, conventions, and entertainment experiences are driving strong economic impact. Major cities benefit from elevated hotel rates, resilient domestic demand, cruise activity, and business travel, while international visitors continue to contribute high per-trip spending. This shift toward value-driven tourism has helped offset fluctuations in visitor volume, allowing the United States to maintain one of the world’s strongest tourism revenue performances through strategic pricing, diversified offerings, and sustained investment in experiences and infrastructure.
Miami joins Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Las Vegas, Orlando, and others in skyrocketing US tourism in 2026, following last year’s strong revenue and visitor arrivals, as domestic demand, major events, cruise growth, and higher spending drive momentum.

Conclusion

Miami joins Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Las Vegas, Orlando, and others in skyrocketing US tourism in 2026, following last year’s strong revenue and visitor arrivals, as cities build on momentum created by high visitor spending, resilient domestic demand, global events, convention rebounds, cruise growth, and expanded air connectivity. Strategic investments in infrastructure, entertainment, and premium experiences allowed these destinations to outperform volume-driven models, creating sustainable growth. Together, these markets are driving a powerful national upswing, confirming that the US tourism surge in 2026 is rooted not in recovery alone, but in deliberate strategy, value creation, and diversified demand.

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Tags: city tourism boom, Miami travel growth, US tourism 2026, Visitor Spending

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