AP Photo The National Comedy Center is pictured during the push to be named Best Pop Culture Museum in the country by USA Today.

The National Comedy Center has been named the #1 Best Pop Culture Museum in the country by USA Today as part of the 2026 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

The National Comedy Center was one of 20 institutions nationwide nominated as the best in the U.S. in the pop culture category by a panel of nationally recognized travel and lifestyle experts for the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, which highlight travel destinations, attractions and experiences, lodging, shopping, food and drink, sports and outdoors, and more. Fellow nominees in the category included the American Sign Museum, Charles M. Schulz Museum, World of Coca-Cola, Strong National Museum of Play, and Comic-Con Museum.

The National Comedy Center was ultimately named the nation’s #1 Best Pop Culture Museum by popular vote following a four-week national online voting period from Jan. 12 through Feb. 9.

“This national recognition from USA Today is a powerful acknowledgment of the extraordinary artists who have shaped comedy — the great minds, singular voices, and time-honed creative processes that have elevated this art form throughout its history,” said Journey Gunderson, executive director of the National Comedy Center.

“Comedians past and present have helped us see the world differently, challenge conventions, and bring people together through laughter. We’re honored to celebrate their work and grateful to the artists, supporters, and audiences who believe in preserving comedy’s heritage while inspiring new generations.”

The center opened in 2018 and is based on the vision of Jamestown native Lucille Ball for her hometown to become a destination for comedy. The National Comedy Center also operates the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum, which explores the lives, careers, and legacy of the “First Couple of Comedy” and the impact they had on the world, as well as the pioneering role and remarkable influence that I Love Lucy and Desilu Studios had on the entertainment industry.

The annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, produced and presented by the National Comedy Center, has showcased comedians that include Jerry Seinfeld, Jon Stewart, Trevor Noah, Nate Bargatze, Lily Tomlin, John Mulaney, Bill Murray, Taylor Tomlinson, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, Jeff Foxworthy, Nicole Byer, Jay Leno, Joan Rivers, Margaret Cho, Amy Schumer, Sebastian Maniscalco, W. Kamau Bell, David Spade, Jim Gaffigan, Paula Poundstone, Kevin Nealon, The Smothers Brothers, and more than 300 other comedic artists.

“For Jamestown and Chautauqua County – and all of Western New York – this honor shines a national spotlight on our region as a cultural destination,” Gunderson said. “The National Comedy Center has become a powerful economic and tourism driver, drawing visitors from across the country and nearly 30 countries. This recognition belongs to the community and its partners across the region who have helped build this cultural institution in ‘Comedy’s Hometown,’ and continue to believe in its meaningful impact.”

The National Comedy Center has previously received top honors from USA Today across multiple categories. In 2020, it was voted the nation’s #1 “Best New Museum,” and in 2019, it was voted the #2 “Best New Attraction” while ranking as the #1 museum and #1 ticketed attraction in the USA Today poll. The museum has also been named one of Time magazine’s “World’s Greatest Places,” and to U.S. News & World Report’s “25 Top Family Weekend Getaways in the U.S.”

This past fall, the National Comedy Center’s Memory Café program won two Gold Anthem Awards – a global honor from the Webby Awards organization recognizing purpose and mission-driven work – for excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Engagement, among fellow honorees including Google, PBS, UNICEF USA, AARP, World Central Kitchen, Sesame Workshop and more.

“Comedy sits at the heart of American pop culture, and at the National Comedy Center, visitors can experience it in a deeply personal and engaging way,” said Gary Hahn, National Comedy Center vice president of marketing and communications. “Our interactive exhibits connect people to the moments, memories, and cultural touchstones that shaped their lives — it’s what draws them to Jamestown and helps make it a destination for visitors from across the country and around the world.”