Tuscaloosa Voted Second-Best College Sports Town in America

Tuscaloosa has been named the No. 2 Best College Sports Town in the country in the 2026 USA TODAY Sports Readers' Choice Awards, tourism officials announced Wednesday.

The results place the Druid City higher than any other SEC college town on the Top 10, and behind only Missoula, the home of the University of Montana.

Our tourism bureau, Visit Tuscaloosa, celebrated the results and said the ranking places high on a list that drew nominees from across the country.

Nominees were selected in July by an expert panel that identified 20 destinations that best capture the energy, traditions and atmosphere of college sports. Those finalists were then put to a public vote, which allowed fans to cast one vote per day until it ended earlier in August.

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"College sports are woven into the fabric of Tuscaloosa, and we are incredibly proud to see our community recognized this way," said Kelsey Rush, president and CEO of Visit Tuscaloosa. "Game days bring an unmatched energy to our community and is a bucket-list experience for sports lovers, but what makes Tuscaloosa even more special is everything visitors can experience beyond the stadium. Tuscaloosa thrives at the crossroads of tradition and energy and offers a balanced blend of hospitality, excitement and authenticity, making every visit meaningful and memorable."

Tuscaloosa was one of nine SEC towns on the 20-city nomination list, more than any other conference.

The recognition arrives as the city moves into a fall calendar that pairs Alabama football with a run of festivals and cultural events.

Visit Tuscaloosa pointed to the Moundville Native American Festival, set for Oct. 1-3 with Native American artisans, traditional dances, storytelling, and music. The same weekend will see the return of Tuscaloosa Oktoberfest, which brings a 5K race, German culture and festivities to Government Plaza on Oct. 3.

The 55th Kentuck Festival of the Arts follows Oct. 17-18 at Snow Hinton Park, drawing hundreds of artists across all kinds of media, as well as thousands of visitors from across the country.

For Halloween, on Oct. 31, families can visit Tannehill State Park's annual Halloween Fairyland, with lantern-lit trails, trick-or-treating and games. On the other side of the county, Lake Lurleen State Park's Camp Fear celebration also returns with trick-or-treating, hayrides, decorated campsites, and other fall festivities.

Several concerts are scheduled at the Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater through the season.

For more exclusive coverage of community news in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.