National Geographic names 15 food cities

National Geographic on May 19 published a new Best of the World 2026 food feature naming 15 destinations it says are the best places to eat and drink right now. The article, written by Irjaliina Paavonpera, is part of the magazine’s broader Best of the World 2026 package. National Geographic says the selections were drawn from recommendations by its global writers and editors and framed as “Food experiences to build your next trip around.” (nationalgeographic.com) The feature positions food as a primary travel reason rather than a side attraction. (nationalgeographic.com) National Geographic writes that the list is meant to highlight places with “hidden histories, rising culinary stars, and surprising flavors,” and says the destinations stretch from Europe to the American Midwest. The package sits alongside other 2026 travel roundups on the outlet’s Best of the World hub. ### What exactly did National Geographic publish on May 19? The May 19 article is titled “Best of the World 2026: 15 of the best food destinations.” National Geographic describes it as a guide to “15 of the best places in the world for food right now” and says the destinations were selected by its writers and editors. (nationalgeographic.com) The Best of the World 2026 hub presents the food list as one part of a wider annual travel package. National Geographic says that broader package includes its picks for where to travel in 2026 and separate wellness-focused recommendations. ### How does National Geographic frame the list? (nationalgeographic.com) National Geographic says the project is for travelers who treat dining as central to a trip. In the introduction, the magazine says food is “an integral part” of what makes a destination “the best,” and says the resulting list is built around places to “eat and drink” now. The article also emphasizes reporting and photography as part of the package. (nationalgeographic.com) National Geographic presents the destinations as reported picks from contributors rather than a reader poll or a ranking based on a single score. ### Which destination appears first, and why? (nationalgeographic.com) Crete appears first in the published feature. National Geographic says the Greek island’s “recent European Region of Gastronomy distinction” gives travelers a new reason to visit. National Geographic ties that selection to both history and health claims long associated with the Mediterranean Diet. The article says traditional foods on Crete have been credited with providing a blueprint for that diet, and it points to ingredients such as olive oil, fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains. (nationalgeographic.com) ### What details does the Crete entry include? (nationalgeographic.com) Knossos Palace is cited in the article as evidence that food has deep roots in Cretan life. National Geographic says wine cups and food remains dating to 1900 B.C. indicate agricultural goods were stored there by the Minoans and that the site also hosted feasting. (nationalgeographic.com) Chania and Drakona village are among the places named in the entry. National Geographic highlights farmer and cook Stelios Trilirakis at Ntounias, mentions tsigariasto of lamb at Chrisostomos, and points to Periplous in Chania’s Tabakaria neighborhood for more modern interpretations of island ingredients. (nationalgeographic.com) ### Is this a ranked list or part of a bigger annual franchise? Best of the World 2026 is presented as an editorial franchise rather than a numbered ranking. National Geographic’s hub says the year’s travel picks were “handpicked” by editors, photographers and adventurers, and the food article uses similar language about contributors following their appetites to the most “delicious” and “intriguing” places. (nationalgeographic.com) The article does not present the destinations as a scored top-to-bottom ranking in the material available from National Geographic’s published text. Instead, it presents a set of 15 destinations within the 2026 package. (nationalgeographic.com) ### Where can readers find the full list next? The full 15-destination food feature is live on National Geographic’s travel site under the Best of the World 2026 package. The article is dated May 19, 2026, and credited to Irjaliina Paavonpera. (nationalgeographic.com)