The 2026 edition · Category 5 of 5

Entertainment & Sport

The music and film magazines of record, and the sport and outdoor titles that tell the best stories from the field.

The 20 best entertainment and sport magazines of 2026, ranked.

No. 1 in Entertainment & Sport

Rolling Stone

No. 14 overall · New York, United States · Est. 1967

Still the defining name in music journalism, with strong political reporting, though its retracted 2014 campus story still counts against it on trust.

86.7out of 100

Editorial quality: 8.5
Influence: 9.0
Trust & transparency: 8.0
Design & craft: 8.8
Digital experience: 8.7
Reach: 9.2

No. 2
2No. 22 overall
Variety
Los Angeles, United States
The entertainment industry's trade paper of record, fast and well sourced.
86.3
No. 3
3No. 24 overall
The Hollywood Reporter
Los Angeles, United States
Sharp entertainment business journalism with standout magazine covers and roundtables.
86.2
No. 4
4No. 39 overall
Outside
Boulder, United States
Adventure and outdoor journalism with some of the best long-form writing in sport.
84.6
No. 5
5No. 40 overall
Billboard
New York, United States
The charts the industry runs on, plus solid music business reporting.
84.6
No. 6Runner's World
6No. 42 overall
Runner's World
Easton, United States
The running title of record, practical, trusted and Pulitzer-winning.
84.2
No. 7
7No. 49 overall
Sight and Sound
London, United Kingdom
Serious film criticism from the BFI, home of the once-a-decade Greatest Films of All Time poll.
83.6
No. 8
8No. 54 overall
Cahiers du Cinéma
Paris, France
The French film magazine that shaped modern film criticism and launched the New Wave.
82.7
No. 9
9No. 56 overall
Golf Digest
New York, United States
The best-known golf brand, with instruction, course rankings and equipment testing.
82.7
No. 10
10No. 60 overall
Sports Illustrated
New York, United States
A legendary sports title, now licensed, whose 2023 AI-authored articles scandal still affects trust.
82.1
No. 11
11No. 64 overall
Kicker
Nuremberg, Germany
Germany's football bible since 1920, still printed twice a week and huge online.
81.6
No. 12
12No. 66 overall
Rouleur
London, United Kingdom
Cycling's most beautiful magazine, with photography and storytelling that celebrate the sport.
81.3
No. 13
13No. 67 overall
Empire
London, United Kingdom
Britain's best-known film magazine, enthusiastic and knowledgeable.
81.3
No. 14
14No. 70 overall
Mojo
London, United Kingdom
Deep, authoritative writing on classic and contemporary music.
81.1
No. 15
15No. 72 overall
The Surfer's Journal
San Clemente, United States
Beautifully printed with few ads, the surfer's collectible.
80.7
No. 16
16No. 76 overall
Men's Health
New York, United States
The biggest name in men's fitness, practical and very widely read.
80.6
No. 17The Wire
17No. 79 overall
The Wire
London, United Kingdom
Independent and owned by its staff, covering experimental and underground music like no one else.
80.3
No. 18FourFourTwo
18No. 85 overall
FourFourTwo
London, United Kingdom
A popular football monthly with good features and a big online audience.
79.2
No. 19
19No. 87 overall
Wisden Cricket Monthly
London, United Kingdom
Cricket writing with the authority of the Wisden name.
78.6
No. 20
20No. 89 overall
Uncut
London, United Kingdom
Music and film for grown-up fans, with a free CD and long features every issue.
78.3

Other categories

The full 2026 Top 100