The story

U.S. News & World Report released its 2026-2027 Best Children's Hospitals rankings, marking the 20th edition of the annual evaluation. The rankings assessed 114 of 199 eligible pediatric hospitals across 11 medical specialties, incorporating survey responses from more than 40,000 pediatric specialists. Ninety hospitals received at least one recognition across categories.

Eleven hospitals made the Honor Roll for high-performing, multi-specialty pediatric care. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh joined the Honor Roll this year, while Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego no longer appears on the list. Each Honor Roll hospital was the top facility in its home state or tied for number one in its state and region.

Boston Children's Hospital ranked first in seven specialties, including cancer treatment (working with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute), gastroenterology and GI surgery, neonatology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, pulmonology and lung surgery, and urology. Cincinnati Children's and Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus tied for best pediatric hospital in Ohio and the Midwest. The rankings are based primarily on structural measures and processes including patient safety practices and clinical resources, with about a third tied to outcomes and 10 percent or less to expert physician opinion.