Chicago Tops Bed Bug Cities List Again

Orkin’s 2026 Bed Bug Cities List highlighted several destinations experiencing increased bed bug activity, including the addition of high-growth vacation destinations Tampa and Myrtle Beach. However, Chicago retained its position as the nation’s city with the highest rate of bed bug infestations, with Los Angeles, Detroit, Cleveland, and Indianapolis rounding out the top five.

Ohio is the most represented state on this year’s list with six cities ranking in the top 50, reinforcing a broader trend of Midwestern cities appearing among the nation’s bed bug hot spots. While bed bugs can be found anywhere people live and travel, densely populated cities and environments with high resident and visitor turnover, such as apartments, dormitories, and hotels, can create more opportunities for the pests to spread simply due to the movement of high numbers of people.

Many cities where bed bug 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. As visitors move through hotels and other accommodations, Orkin encourages vigilance against bed bugs, which can hitchhike home in luggage and other personal belongings. Knowing how to inspect hotel rooms and luggage before unpacking can help prevent an unwanted souvenir from making the trip home.

This year’s rankings are based on treatment data from metro areas where Orkin performed the most bed bug treatments from May 12, 2025, to May 12, 2026. The list includes both residential and commercial bed bug treatments.

“Bed bugs are resilient pests that can be difficult to control once introduced into a home or hotel room, and they are skilled at hiding in cracks, crevices, and personal belongings,” said Dr. Shannon Sked, Orkin entomologist and national technical director. “A quick inspection of hotels or short-term rentals while traveling, or belongings before unpacking at home, can help travelers reduce the chance of bringing bed bugs home.”

Several cities saw notable shifts this year, including Nashville and Oklahoma City, which each climbed 10 spots, while Youngstown, Ohio; Omaha, Nebraska; and Knoxville, Tennessee; recorded some of the largest declines. These year-over-year changes highlight the persistent and evolving nature of bed bug activity across the nation.

Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to detect because they are tiny. Adults measure just 3/16 inch long, while immature nymphs are even smaller, and their flattened bodies allow them to hide in hard-to-spot locations. Primarily nocturnal, these blood-feeding pests often target sleeping humans and can easily spread by hitchhiking on luggage, purses, and other personal belongings.

Because bed bugs can remain hidden for weeks before being discovered, travelers may unknowingly bring them home and not realize until long after a trip has ended. Orkin recommends the following steps to help prevent travelers from accidentally spreading bed bugs:

• Search the room for signs of infestation, looking for bed bugs: small, flat, oval-shaped insects that are reddish-brown and about the size of an apple seed as adults but almost translucently cream colored as nymphs. Other signs of bed bugs include ink-like speckled stains on fabrics, shed exoskeletons around crevices of beds and furniture, and a sweet, musty smell.
• Lift sheets, curtains, and cushions to check for bed bugs or signs of bed bugs before settling in.
• Elevate your luggage onto racks and keep it away from the bed or other furniture.
• Examine your luggage carefully while repacking and again when you return home.
• Place all dryer-safe clothing from your luggage in the dryer for 30 to 45 minutes at the highest heat setting upon returning home.