LAS VEGAS — Las Vegas has been named the nation's top conference city in U.S. News & World Report's inaugural 2026-2027 Best Conference Cities ranking. The data-driven study evaluated 52 major U.S. destinations across key criteria, including meeting and event space, destination appeal, accessibility, affordability, safety, and sustainability. Thirty cities earned a place in the final ranking, with Las Vegas securing the top spot among the 10 destinations recognized with Gold Badge status.
“We’re grateful to U.S. News & World Report for this meaningful recognition,” said Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). “This distinction underscores what sets Las Vegas apart - best-in-class meeting and event infrastructure combined with the iconic Las Vegas experience that inspires attendees and elevates events. We appreciate our customers who continue to choose Las Vegas to drive their industries forward.”
Southern Nevada offers nearly 15 million square feet of meeting and convention space, including three of the 10 largest convention centers in the United States: the newly renovated, 4.6-million-square-foot Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), owned and operated by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority; Mandalay Bay Convention Center; and The Venetian Convention & Expo Center.
Las Vegas’ meetings infrastructure is complemented by more than 150,000 hotel rooms and convenient access through Harry Reid International Airport, which provides nonstop service to more than 150 destinations. That accessibility, combined with the destination's unique appeal, helps drive results for event organizers, who report an average 10 percent increase in attendance when hosting meetings in Las Vegas.
The destination's meetings and conventions industry continues to demonstrate its strength, welcoming six million convention attendees in 2025, nearly matching 2024 levels despite broader economic uncertainty and shifting travel policies. That performance has carried into 2026, with more than 2.5 million convention attendees visiting in the first four months of the year, a 10.1 percent year-over-year increase.
U.S. News & World Report developed the ranking in consultation with event industry experts and through a comprehensive analysis of key performance indicators. The methodology balanced practical considerations, such as affordability and infrastructure, with experiential factors, such as destination appeal and sustainability initiatives.
For more information on meetings and conventions in Las Vegas, visit www.vegasmeansbusiness.com.
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ABOUT THE LVCVA
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with positioning Southern Nevada as the undisputed global destination for leisure and business travel and operates the 4.6 million‑square‑foot Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). With 150,000 hotel rooms and nearly 15 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space, the LVCVA’s mission centers on attracting visitors to the area. The LVCVA also owns the Vegas Loop at the Las Vegas Convention Center, designed and operated by The Boring Company, and the Las Vegas Monorail, an elevated 3.9‑mile system with seven stops throughout the resort corridor. For more information, visit LVCVA.com, Visit LasVegas.com, or VegasMeansBusiness.com.
