The Phoenix airport continues to stand out for its overall experience, food and art, according to a new ranking from USA TODAY 10BEST.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport placed among the top 10 U.S. airports in four categories in the 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards, including best large airport and best airport dining and art.
10BEST calls itself "the go-to site for reader-voted and editor-recommended ideas" for vacation planning. Its Readers' Choice Awards recognize the best in hotels, airlines, destinations and dining. Nominees are selected by 10BEST editors based on nominations from travel industry experts, and USA TODAY readers voted for their favorites based on the nominations.
The new airport rankings expand on Sky Harbor's recent accolades,
such as retaining its top three position among the nation's best large airports in JD Power's annual airport satisfaction survey and ranking as one of the least stressful airports.
Is Phoenix Sky Harbor the best airport?
USA TODAY 10Best readers ranked Phoenix Sky Harbor in four categories in its 2026 Readers' Choice Awards:
- No. 5 airport for dining.
- No. 7 best large airport.
- No. 9 airport for art.
- No. 9 best airport sit-down restaurant for Blanco Tacos + Tequila.
Why USA TODAY 10Best readers like Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport
Phoenix maintained its ranking from last year as the seventh-best large airport, praised for its nonstop connections to "far-flung locations" such as London, Paris and Taipei, plus its status as a key hub for American Airlines. American will anchor Sky Harbor's upcoming West Terminal, an infrastructure upgrade that Phoenix officials think could lead to new long-haul international routes.
Sky Harbor's dining scene improved from 2025 by one spot, ranking No. 5 and winning with USA TODAY readers for its "cozy bars and restaurants where travelers can cool off before hopping onto their flights." It's a scene that will continue to evolve: Sky Harbor approved seven new dining concepts to replace underperforming restaurants as part of its new food and beverage service contract. Two new restaurants are under construction and another two are in the planning and development stage.
10BEST readers like Blanco Tacos + Tequila, from James Beard Award-nominated restaurateur Sam Fox, for its all-day menu including cheese crisps, guacamole and green chile pork tacos and a breakfast menu that includes huevos rancheros. Blanco's rank as the No. 9 airport sit-down restaurant matches its position from the 2024 ranking.
Sky Harbor was named one of the best airports for art in part because of its terrazzo floor artwork, which includes an immersive art project by Los Angeles-based artist Susan Logoreci near the high-numbered D gates in Terminal 4. 10BEST also cited the public art that graces the PHX Sky Train stations, including glass murals and a sculptural ceiling installation.
While not mentioned in the 10BEST summary, one of Sky Harbor's most famous works of art is the Paul Coze mural "The Phoenix," which was created for Terminal 2 and was relocated to the Rental Car Center after the terminal closed in 2020.
Readers named Tampa International Airport in Florida the best large airport and the best for dining and art; Tampa maintained its lead in all three categories from 2025. The best airport sit-down restaurant was also in Florida: Cask & Larder at Orlando International Airport.
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Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@usatodayco.com.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 4 reasons why Phoenix Sky Harbor is among USA TODAY's 10Best airports
