The Best American Food and Travel Writing 2026

Summary

“Good food and travel writing takes us somewhere far, far away without leaving our living rooms,” writes José Andrés. “Open a magazine or a newspaper, and boom: you are going beyond the horizon, discovering a new world.” The essays in The Best American Food and Travel Writing 2026 bring us to worlds far and wide. In Gaza, Palestinians break their Ramadan fast with wartime iterations of malfouf and sumagiyya. In France, an Algerian hazelnut spread causes a culture war. In Blue Ridge, Georgia, a mother of eight works as a lunch lady, sneaking food to the students who can’t afford it. Despite their range, the throughline is how food and travel connects us all and inspires us to do better. As Andres observes, “In these pages you have a how-to manual of opportunities to make the world a better place.”

The Best American Food and Travel 2026 includes • Priya Krishna • Ligaya Mishan • Dan Kois • Jordan Kisner • Lauren Collins • Lauren Oyler