IRVINE, Calif. For the 11th consecutive year, Irvine has been voted “Best City to Live In” by readers of the Orange County Register, extending one of the longest-running streaks in the newspaper’s annual Best of Orange County survey. Home to more than 317,000 residents, Irvine continues to stand out as a diverse, master-planned community built for residents, businesses and visitors alike.

The honor caps a year in which the city notched several major milestones, including: hosting the U.S. Men’s National Team at its Great Park training base camp ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup; welcoming more than 45,000 attendees to the inaugural Daisy Chain Fields music festival at the Great Park; breaking ground on the Gateway Project, which will bring new housing and 700 acres of natural open space to North Irvine; launching the Irvine Center of Innovation & Entrepreneurship; opening the Jeffrey Open Space Trail Bicycle & Pedestrian Bridge, expanding the city’s trail network; and announcing a new professional baseball franchise set to begin play at the Great Park in 2027.

City officials point to those milestones, paired with ongoing investment in public safety, social services, health resources and affordable housing, as evidence of Irvine’s commitment to residents’ quality of life. “Irvine is a City that continues to lead, protect, and innovate while ensuring that everyone who calls our community home has the opportunity to thrive,” Mayor Larry Agran said. “Receiving this recognition for 11 consecutive years is a tremendous honor and a reflection of the people, values, and opportunities that make Irvine such a special place to call home.”

Irvine’s win is featured in the Register’s 33rd annual Best of Orange County publication, a reader guide to the county’s favorite places and things to do. Thousands of readers cast votes across more than 80 categories this year, and numerous Irvine businesses were recognized as winners or finalists, including in Best Four-Year College/University, Best Shopping/Dining Destination and Best Farmers Market. The full list of winners is available at ocregister.com. Anaheim and Huntington Beach also placed among the county’s top cities this year.