Chicago marks 10th year as Best Big city in Condé Nast Traveler awards

The City of Chicago officially declared Saturday, October 10, as “Best Big City Day,” marking the municipality’s tenth consecutive year named the Best Big City in the U.S. by the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards.

Celebrations Across the Chicago Riverwalk and Brewpubs

Festivities for the milestone include a floating house party on the Chicago Riverwalk featuring pioneering DJ Lori Branch. The Best Big City boat will dock near City Winery Chicago Riverwalk from approximately 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. to anchor the afternoon celebrations. Alongside the riverfront events, legendary Chicago brewery Goose Island is serving a limited-edition “Perfect 10” beer at its brewpubs located on Fulton Street and at The Salt Shed.

Culinary tributes extend to Eli’s Cheesecake, which is offering a special-edition version of the classic dessert complete with samples of four signature flavors. Local residents are encouraged to explore different neighborhoods using custom itineraries. Organizers invite the public to share their experiences on social media using the tag Choose Chicago or by contributing through All for the Love of Chicago.

Voter Participation Behind the Ten-Year Milestone

The designation stems from the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, recognized as the industry’s longest-running awards program. Nearly 800,000 travelers from around the world cast ballots in this year’s voting cycle, evaluating cities based on local culture, attractions, and hospitality. Chicago stands as the only city to earn the top spot for ten consecutive years since the program debuted in 1988.

Visitors seeking to experience the city can access trip-planning resources for upcoming fall and winter getaways.