Victoria, British Columbia, sits at the southern tip of Vancouver Island. It’s reached by ferry or floatplane, and it’s a lot smaller than the places it keeps beating in global travel polls.
That gap between size and reputation is the story of this year’s results. In October 2026, the city picked up the same title it has held for several years running.
A Fourth Straight Win In 2026
For the fourth year in a row, Victoria was named the Best Small City in the World in Condé Nast Traveler’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards.[1] The announcement came from Destination Greater Victoria on October 6, 2026.
Local media picked it up quickly. The B.C. capital took the top spot in the 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards for the fourth consecutive year.[2]
How The Award Is Decided
This isn’t a panel of judges. It’s a vote by readers, and Victoria has done well with that audience. Condé Nast Traveler says nearly 800,000 readers from across the United States took part in this year’s survey, rating their travel experiences around the world.[2]
There’s also a size cut off. The award recognizes cities with populations under 350,000.[2] This year’s honour is part of the 39th annual Readers’ Choice Awards.[3]
The Competition Victoria Left Behind
The small city category is full of famous names. Victoria secured first place ahead of tourism hotspots such as Puerto Vallarta, Venice, Florence, Lucerne, Amalfi, and San Sebastian.[1]
Most of those places are known for centuries of history or Mediterranean coastlines. A Pacific Northwest capital with a Victorian streak doesn’t obviously fit that group, which makes the repeat wins more notable.
Where The Winning Streak Began
The first title came in 2023. That year, more than 520,000 readers took part in the awards, and British Columbia’s capital topped the small city list.[4] It was one of only two North American locations on the list.[4]
The 2025 vote showed the pattern holding. Victoria finished ahead of Puerto Vallarta, Florence, Lucerne and San Miguel de Allende, and no other Canadian city made the list.[5] More than 757,000 readers voted that year.[5]
Hotels That Backed Up The Ranking
Accommodation did well in the 2026 awards too. Three Greater Victoria hotels placed among the top 10 in Western Canada. The Magnolia Hotel and Spa was second, the Fairmont Empress third and the Oak Bay Beach Hotel seventh.[2]
Destination Greater Victoria said four local properties were recognized overall. The Fairmont Empress is the best known of them, and it has also received a MICHELIN One Key three years in a row.[6]
A Ferry Ride That Counts As Part Of The Trip
Getting there is half the appeal for many visitors. In its 2025 write up, the magazine described Victoria as a popular day trip from Vancouver that deserves a stay of its own. It also pointed to one of the world’s most scenic ferry rides.[5]
The numbers suggest plenty of people are making the crossing. Victoria International Airport recorded record passenger traffic of more than 600,000 travellers over the summer of 2025.[5] BC Ferries carried 9.4 million passengers and 3.7 million vehicles between mid May and late August.[5]
Gardens, Tea And A British Streak
Victoria’s mild coastal climate does a lot of the work here. It’s known as the City of Gardens thanks to its mild coastal weather and rich soil.[7] The Butchart Gardens, a National Historic Site of Canada, covers 55 acres and includes a rose garden, a Japanese garden and the famed Sunken Garden.[8]
Then there’s the tea. The magazine called Victoria the most British town in Canada, noting that most restaurants and hotels offer a proper high tea.[5] It’s an old habit that the city has turned into a draw.
Sustainability Credentials
Victoria has built a reputation for green travel as well. Greater Victoria became a Biosphere Certified destination in 2023.[9] It renewed that distinction in March 2026 after passing an external audit tied to the Sustainable Development Goals.[10]
The effort reaches individual businesses. Greater Victoria has 12 Biosphere Certified hotels, with another seven on the path to certification.[8] Prince of Whales, a whale watching operator based on the Inner Harbour, is described as the only Climate Positive whale watching company in British Columbia.[11]
Other Reasons Visitors Are Staying Longer
Beyond the headline award, other recent recognition points the same way. In 2025, Airbnb named Victoria and Tofino among Canada’s top trending fall destinations, and Global Citizen Solution ranked Victoria sixth in Canada for quality of life.[12]
New attractions are adding to the mix. A Nordic inspired outdoor sauna village called Aerth has opened downtown, with communal and private saunas and cold plunges surrounded by edible landscaping.[7] With the fourth title now on record, Victoria heads into 2027 as the reigning winner of the small city category.
