California Towns Vie for "Best Christmas Town" Title
Solvang and Carmel-by-the-Sea have been nominated for the Zoe Report's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards.
Two California cities, Solvang and Carmel-by-the-Sea, are among the contenders for the Zoe Report's 2026 Readers' Choice Award for "Best Christmas Town." A total of 16 cities across the United States received nominations for the award.
Solvang, also known as the "Danish Capital of America," is a returning nominee. The city previously won the "Best Christmas Town" award in 2025 and also secured top spots in Newsweek's Readers' Choice Awards for "Best Christmas Town" and "Best Christmas Market" in the same year.
Other nominated cities include three from Colorado: Aspen, Telluride, and Vail. Florida's St. Augustine, Park City, Utah, and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, are also in the running.
Solvang City Manager Randy Murphy expressed his appreciation for the nomination, stating, "We are always honored when Solvang is nominated as a ‘best Christmas town.’ It’s a reminder of why we do what we do, as a community, for our locals and visitors each holiday season."
Public voting for the award began on October 14 and will conclude on November 11. The winner is scheduled to be announced on November 19.