Chicago has once again been identified as the U.S. city with the highest volume of bedbug treatments, according to Orkin's 2026 Bed Bug Cities List. This marks the sixth consecutive year the city has held the number one position on the pest control company's ranking.
Los Angeles, Detroit, Cleveland, and Indianapolis completed the top five cities on the list. Orkin reported an increase in bedbug activity in popular tourist destinations such as Tampa and Myrtle Beach.
"Many cities where bedbug activity has been the worst in the last year are also some of the country’s most popular travel destinations and are expected to welcome large numbers of visitors for major concerts, festivals and sporting events throughout the summer and beyond," Orkin stated in a press release. The company noted that Nashville and Oklahoma City each climbed 10 spots on this year's list, while Youngstown, Omaha, and Knoxville saw some of the largest declines.
The rankings are based on treatment data from metro areas where Orkin performed the most bedbug treatments between May 2025 and May 2026, encompassing both residential and commercial properties. Orkin emphasized that these year-over-year changes underscore the ongoing and evolving nature of bedbug infestations nationwide.
Earlier reports have also indicated high bedbug risk in certain regions. A separate analysis by casino.ca ranked Michigan as the state with the highest estimated risk of encountering bedbugs, followed by Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Hawaii and Oregon ranked lowest in that assessment. That report also identified Warren, Michigan, as the top city for bedbug hot spots, with North Las Vegas, Nevada, and Madison, Wisconsin, also noted.
Experts caution against overreliance on such rankings, noting that bedbugs can be found in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Zachary DeVries, an associate professor of urban entomology at the University of Kentucky, previously advised that while denser populations in urban areas may lead to more encounters, residents in rural areas might have more difficulty accessing pest control services. Dini Miller, a professor of urban pest management at Virginia Tech, added that highly visible bedbug issues often arise in places that attract many visitors who are actively looking for them.
As summer travel season continues, experts advise travelers to take precautions. Recommended actions include inspecting mattress seams, upholstered furniture, and headboards for signs of bedbugs. Using a sticky lint roller on clothing, upholstery, and the undersides of shoes can also help detect potential hitchhikers.