Worth a Journey

The World’s 100 Best Zoos & Aquariums · 2026

The Best Zoos & Aquariums in North America

28 of the 100 zoos and aquariums in The World’s 100 Best Zoos & Aquariums 2026 are in North America, in 3 countries. The highest placed is Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, United States, at number 1 in the world. St. Louis Zoo in St. Louis, United States (number 9) and San Diego Zoo in San Diego, United States (number 10) follow.

Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
N° 1 · Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Omaha

Aquariums

Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta has a whale shark and manta rays in its Ocean Voyager tank, and a tunnel passes under the main tank. Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga fills two buildings, one for river life and one for ocean life. Monterey Bay Aquarium on Cannery Row in Monterey has a kelp forest and an Open Sea tank on the bay.

City zoos

The St. Louis Zoo in Forest Park has paved paths, a Living World building and a polar bear enclosure. The Calgary Zoo in Calgary, Alberta, is split into four zones with polar bears, penguins, lemurs and a butterfly house. Audubon Zoo in New Orleans covers about 58 acres, with a Louisiana swamp exhibit and an orangutan habitat.

Wildlife parks

Zoo Sauvage de Saint-Félicien in Saint-Félicien, Quebec, is set in boreal forest beside a river. A train through its large enclosures passes bears, bison and moose. Zoológico Miguel Álvarez del Toro in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, keeps only animals native to Chiapas, such as jaguars, tapirs and quetzals.

Zoos and aquariums

99. Wildwood Wildlife Park 95. Nashville Zoo at Grassmere 93. Calgary Zoo 88. OdySea Aquarium 87. Cape May County Park & Zoo 86. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens 85. Memphis Zoo 81. Gulf Breeze Zoo 72. Bronx Zoo 71. National Aquarium 69. Monterey Bay Aquarium 64. Tennessee Aquarium 62. Audubon Zoo 60. Smithsonian National Zoological Park 45. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium 37. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden 36. Brevard Zoo 31. Zoológico Miguel Álvarez del Toro 26. North Carolina Zoo 25. Georgia Aquarium 23. Zoológico Guadalajara 20. Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium 18. Fort Worth Zoo 17. Zoo Sauvage de Saint-Félicien 11. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo 10. San Diego Zoo 9. St. Louis Zoo 1. Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium 1
99. Wildwood Wildlife Park 95. Nashville Zoo at Grassmere 93. Calgary Zoo 88. OdySea Aquarium 87. Cape May County Park & Zoo 86. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens 85. Memphis Zoo 81. Gulf Breeze Zoo 72. Bronx Zoo 71. National Aquarium 69. Monterey Bay Aquarium 64. Tennessee Aquarium 62. Audubon Zoo 60. Smithsonian National Zoological Park 45. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium 37. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden 36. Brevard Zoo 31. Zoológico Miguel Álvarez del Toro 26. North Carolina Zoo 25. Georgia Aquarium 23. Zoológico Guadalajara 20. Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium 18. Fort Worth Zoo 17. Zoo Sauvage de Saint-Félicien 11. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo 10. San Diego Zoo 9. St. Louis Zoo 1. Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium 1
  1. Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium N° 1 Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium Omaha, United States Zoo
  2. St. Louis Zoo N° 9 St. Louis Zoo St. Louis, United States Zoo
  3. San Diego Zoo N° 10 San Diego Zoo San Diego, United States Zoo
  4. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo N° 11 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Colorado Springs, United States Zoo
  5. Zoo Sauvage de Saint-Félicien N° 17 Zoo Sauvage de Saint-Félicien Saint-Félicien, Canada Wildlife park
  6. Fort Worth Zoo N° 18 Fort Worth Zoo Fort Worth, United States Zoo
  7. Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium N° 20 Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium Springfield, United States Aquarium
  8. Zoológico Guadalajara N° 23 Zoológico Guadalajara Guadalajara, Mexico Zoo
  9. Georgia Aquarium N° 25 Georgia Aquarium Atlanta, United States Aquarium
  10. North Carolina Zoo N° 26 North Carolina Zoo Asheboro, United States Zoo
  11. Zoológico Miguel Álvarez del Toro N° 31 Zoológico Miguel Álvarez del Toro Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Mexico Zoo
  12. Brevard Zoo N° 36 Brevard Zoo Melbourne, United States Zoo
  13. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden N° 37 Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Cincinnati, United States Zoo
  14. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium N° 45 Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Powell, United States Zoo
  15. Smithsonian National Zoological Park N° 60 Smithsonian National Zoological Park Washington, United States Zoo
  16. Audubon Zoo N° 62 Audubon Zoo New Orleans, United States Zoo
  17. Tennessee Aquarium N° 64 Tennessee Aquarium Chattanooga, United States Aquarium
  18. Monterey Bay Aquarium N° 69 Monterey Bay Aquarium Monterey, United States Aquarium
  19. National Aquarium N° 71 National Aquarium Baltimore, United States Aquarium
  20. Bronx Zoo N° 72 Bronx Zoo New York, United States Zoo
  21. Gulf Breeze Zoo N° 81 Gulf Breeze Zoo Gulf Breeze, United States Zoo
  22. Memphis Zoo N° 85 Memphis Zoo Memphis, United States Zoo
  23. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens N° 86 The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens Palm Desert, United States Zoo
  24. Cape May County Park & Zoo N° 87 Cape May County Park & Zoo Cape May Court House, United States Zoo
  25. OdySea Aquarium N° 88 OdySea Aquarium Scottsdale, United States Aquarium
  26. Calgary Zoo N° 93 Calgary Zoo Calgary, Canada Zoo
  27. Nashville Zoo at Grassmere N° 95 Nashville Zoo at Grassmere Nashville, United States Zoo
  28. Wildwood Wildlife Park N° 99 Wildwood Wildlife Park Minocqua, United States Wildlife park

Best by region

  1. The NordicsCopenhagen ZooCopenhagen, DenmarkN° 61
  2. EuropeZoo LeipzigLeipzig, GermanyN° 2
  3. AsiaShanghai Wild Animal ParkShanghai, ChinaN° 38
  4. North AmericaHenry Doorly Zoo and AquariumOmaha, United StatesN° 1
  5. The CaribbeanZoo de Guadeloupe au Parc des MamellesBouillante, GuadeloupeN° 41
  6. Latin AmericaZoológico La AuroraGuatemala City, GuatemalaN° 44
  7. OceaniaAustralia ZooBeerwah, AustraliaN° 3

Best by kind

  1. AquariumsPoema del Mar AquariumLas Palmas de Gran Canaria, SpainN° 15

Best by country

  1. United StatesHenry Doorly Zoo and AquariumOmahaN° 1
  2. GermanyZoo LeipzigLeipzigN° 2
  3. SpainLoro ParquePuerto de la CruzN° 13
  4. FranceBioparc de Doué-la-FontaineDoué-la-FontaineN° 8
  5. PolandZoo WrocławWrocławN° 16
  6. United KingdomChester ZooChesterN° 21
  7. AustraliaAustralia ZooBeerwahN° 3