Listen to this article

For the eighth year in a row, Newsweek ranked the World’s Best Hospitals to recognize the providers “leading the way in modern health care.” 

Released Feb. 25, the lists for 2026 break down to highlight the top 250 in the world, as well as the highest ranking across 32 countries individually. 

In total, 2,530 hospitals landed on the lists. Newsweek compiled the rankings along with data firm Statista. While New Jersey didn’t make a showing in the world’s top 250, nine were named among the best in the United States. 

In total, 420 hospitals were included in the U.S. rankings. 

U.S. dominates 

As Newsweek noted in its analysis of the list, “U.S. hospitals continue to excel on the global stage,” with four stateside facilities landing in the top 10. 

The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., once again took the No. 1 position. 

Hospitals were evaluated based on four criteria: 

• Recommendations from medical experts 
• Hospital quality metrics 
• Existing patient experience data 
• Statista’s Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Implementation Survey 

Alexis Kayser, Newsweek’s health care editor, emphasized the value of the rankings, saying, “Patients and families deserve detailed, trustworthy information when they’re making some of the most important decisions of their lives.” 

New Jersey’s standing 

This year’s list includes three more New Jersey facilities than last year’s showing: Two from RWJBarnabas Health‘s network and one from Penn Medicine landed on the 2026 U.S. list. 

• No. 53: Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center, Morristown 
• No. 56: Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack | Hackensack Meridian Health 
• No. 134: The Valley Hospital, Paramus | Valley Health System 
• No. 186: Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center, Summit 
• No. 254: Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, Englewood | Englewood Health 
  • In January, RWJBarnabas Health and Englewood Health signed a definitive merger agreement, pending approvals.
• No. 320: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick | RWJBarnabas Health 
• No. 364: Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Newark | RWJBarnabas Health 
• No. 366: Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center, Plainsboro | Penn Medicine 
• No. 367: Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch | RWJBarnabas Health
  
  • Monmouth Medical Center recently received approval to move to Tinton Falls and secured up to $400 million in Aspire tax credits for the project.

Gratitude 

Atlantic Health applauded its facilities’ standings in a Feb. 25 statement. The system noted Morristown and Overlook medical centers have made the list all eight years. 

The system also highlighted that Morristown Medical Center was the highest-ranking in the state. 

“The extraordinary care provided by our teams at Atlantic Health Morristown and Atlantic Health Overlook is truly world-class,” said Atlantic Health President and CEO Saad Ehtisham. “I am so proud of our ‘Champions’ and grateful for all that they do on behalf of our patients and our communities.”

‘An honor’

RWJBarnabas Health shared its announcement with NJBIZ Feb. 26, celebrating the three facilities in its network – RWJUH, Monmouth Medical Center and Newark Beth Israel Medical Center – that made the list.

“It is an honor to have more hospitals named to Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals 2026 list than any other health system in New Jersey,” said Dr. Andy Anderson, chief medical and quality officer, RWJBarnabas Health. “This recognition highlights the unwavering dedication of our team across the RWJBarnabas Health system. As we work to advance academic medicine, this honor reinforces our efforts to continue providing compassionate care to patients and communities across New Jersey.”

RWJBarnabas noted this was fifth and sixth year, respectively, that Monmouth Medical Center and Newark Beth Israel Medical Center have been featured on the list.

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 3:57 p.m. Feb. 26, 2026, to include a statement from RWJBarnabas Health.