America's Best Children’s Hospitals 2026

These top medical centers blend pediatric expertise with compassion and medical breakthroughs to help the youngest generations

- Eileen Falkenberg-Hull

Walking into a children’s hospital is different from walking into any other health care space. From the moment you cross the threshold, you realize these aren't just places of healing—they are places of profound heart, imagination and hope.

Children’s hospitals are uniquely designed to protect the magic of childhood, even in the middle of life’s toughest medical challenges.

“Children’s hospitals are a lifeline for families navigating some of the most complex and emotional moments in health care. This ranking highlights the institutions that are not only advancing pediatric medicine, but delivering specialized care and support systems that kids and their caregivers can depend on,” says Alexis Kayser, Newsweek's health care editor.

The Children’s Hospital Association's latest Industry Impact Report, released in 2025, identified how children's hospitals do much more than just provide basic pediatric care—over three-quarters treat 10,000 or more patients annually for urgent care, while a majority handle over 5,000 major surgeries and 5,000 mental health cases per year.

In addition to playing a major role in supporting the health of their communities at-large, these health care facilities are laser-focused on providing excellent, cutting-edge care for their patients. To help families discover the premier institutions across the country, Newsweek is partnering with market research firm Statista for the fourth annual ranking of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals recognizing the leading children’s hospitals in the U.S. across eight pediatric fields.

The data in this ranking was gathered through four rigorous data sources: a nationwide online survey, hospital quality metrics, patient satisfaction surveys and PROMs implementation surveys.

For families who want the best medical attention for their children, we hope this 2026 ranking helps shed light on which children’s hospitals go the extra mile when it comes to pediatric care.