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Chicago has done it again. Not in deep dish pizza. Not in architecture. Not in sports. The Windy City has successfully defended one of America's most unwanted titles by finishing first on Orkin's 2026 Bed Bug Cities List. If there were championship rings for unwanted overnight guests, Chicago would need a bigger jewelry box.
For another year, the city leads the nation in bed bug treatments, according to Orkin's latest rankings based on treatment data collected between May 12, 2025, and May 12, 2026. Los Angeles climbed into second place, Detroit held third, while Cleveland and Indianapolis rounded out the top five.
Apparently, Chicago's bed bugs have mastered the art of hospitality. They never ask if you've had a pleasant stay. They simply assume you're staying with them.
Vacation Season Has Tiny Stowaways
Summer travel means beaches, concerts, baseball games, festivals, and unfortunately, insects with excellent travel habits. Unlike airline passengers, bed bugs never complain about baggage fees because they are the baggage.
Newcomers Tampa and Myrtle Beach joined Orkin's Top 50 this year, because, apparently, warm weather destinations attract more than tourists. Nashville and Oklahoma City also made impressive jumps up the rankings, while Youngstown, Omaha, and Knoxville slid down the list, suggesting their local pest control teams deserve a standing ovation.
Before anyone starts blaming messy hotel rooms, experts point out that bed bugs are equal opportunity hitchhikers. Luxury resorts, budget motels, apartments, dormitories, and vacation rentals can all become accidental pit stops. These pests care very little about your hotel rating. Five stars simply mean five stars worth of places to hide.
The World's Worst Souvenir
According to Orkin entomologist Dr. Shannon Sked, bed bugs are masters of hide-and-seek. They squeeze into mattress seams, furniture cracks, luggage, purses, and clothing before following unsuspecting travelers home.
Think of them as the world's least appreciated travel influencers. They see your vacation photos and decide they deserve one too.
Orkin encourages travelers to remember the acronym S.L.E.E.P., which includes searching hotel rooms for signs of infestation, lifting bedding to inspect hiding spots, elevating luggage away from beds, examining belongings before leaving, and placing dryer-safe clothes on high heat after returning home.
The good news is that bed bugs are not known to spread diseases. The bad news is that explaining to your family how they arrived in your suitcase is an awkward conversation nobody wants.
So, congratulations, Chicago. Your skyline remains iconic, your pizza remains legendary, and your bed bugs remain the most dedicated frequent flyers in America. Some titles cities proudly display on postcards. This one belongs in a sealed plastic bag.
