U.S. News Releases 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care, Naming 405 Top Performers and 147 Access Hospitals

A record 901 hospitals voluntarily submitted labor-and-delivery data for evaluation in the 2026 edition. U.S. News recognized 405 facilities as Best Hospitals for Maternity Care and designated 147 as Maternity Care Access Hospitals that help prevent local care deserts. The Access designation applies geographic thresholds and minimum quality standards to single out essential providers in underserved areas. New York City leads metropolitan areas with 39 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care, followed by Los Angeles with 22 and Chicago with 21. For 2026, hospitals submitted 2024 data, and evaluations focused on measurable outcomes, including C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies, severe unexpected newborn complications, VBAC rates, breastfeeding support, episiotomy rates, birthing-friendly practices, and reporting of outcome disparities.