Los Angeles, California
The City of Angels appearing in this list should come as no surprise to anyone, as Hollywood has been synonymous with the acting industry for movie and television productions for most of the past century. While the rise of other show business markets in the United States and even abroad, as well as various everyday aspects such as the high cost of living, have affected its previously absolutely undisputable status, it is still the magical place with the sun and the palm trees that the majority of aspiring actors hope to arrive from all over the country and achieve their dreams.
For a good reason, too, though - Los Angeles offers significantly more acting work available for aspiring acting candidates than the majority of other cities in the United States. And that is even not counting the one-of-a-kind amount of potential opportunities for industry networking, attending auditions, receiving various acting-related training and classes in person, and simply having a higher chance to meet and interact with fellow peers. For those reasons, it is a highly competitive city to be in, yet the potential for acting gigs and overall career progress makes it pretty much the most likely path to success for an aspiring film or television actor.
New York City, New York
Long famed for its theater scene, The City of Dreams remains the top destination for aspiring stage actors nationwide, both on and off Broadway. Yet as of 2026, New York City is also a highly in-demand film and television production market. With public transit being conveniently available, aspiring actors can easily look beyond Manhattan’s Midtown when planning to arrive to pursue their goals.
Similar to the previously mentioned Los Angeles, many parts of New York are infamously high-cost for living, which may be an unfortunate problem for almost every aspiring performer, but its numerous potential acting employment chances may even it all out. Of course, Gotham City also offers a very strong scene for other creative outputs, which gives up-and-coming actors many amazing opportunities to mingle with arts and showbiz professionals and peers, as well as get extra inspiration for their pursuits.
Atlanta, Georgia
Despite being a sort of dark horse for people when trying to think about show business hubs in the United States, Atlanta has been nicknamed the Hollywood of the South for a very good reason. In just a few years, it has attracted major productions in both film and television, following the efforts of the state of Georgia, by offered various tax incentives and benefits to the studios.
Besides Atlanta being the sort of a ground zero for productions to such major companies as the streaming giant Netflix and superhero megafranchise Marvel, aspiring actors may find the city attractive due to relatively lighter competition for gigs and lower costs of living in comparison to Los Angeles and New York. Yet it should be noted that lighter competition also means that there may be overall less smaller-budget productions and general networking opportunities available.
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Chicago, Illinois
The Windy City is another place well-known for its vibrant theater scene. With many successful actors launching their careers in Chicago, it is a good starting point for aspiring actors looking to improve and get the chance to compete for gigs, as, besides its stage acting roots, the city also has a major amount of film and television productions taking place, including indie projects, which traditionally are more open to include new talent.
Similar to Atlanta, this Midwest city also gives up-and-coming performers the chance to compete in casting calls with relatively smaller amounts of competition, while also dealing with lower living costs. Though it must be noted that for aspiring actors looking for blockbuster productions, Chicago will likely offer fewer opportunities compared to Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta.
Austin, Texas
Seeing the City of the Violet Crown in this list may come as a surprise to some. After all, cities like Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Miami, Florida, are quite known for various acting opportunities, and Wilmington, North Carolin, is sometimes even referred to as the Hollywood of the East Coast.
Yet, Austin has quickly become an amazing place for various creatives looking for new opportunities, including aspiring actors, who can join in the rapidly rising market for independent films and television commercials. While it certainly won’t offer the same level of casting call amounts as the previously mentioned cities, Austin can be a great place to gain useful experience with less competition before looking to aim even higher. In addition, the city has affordable living costs and great networking opportunities, as it is a hub for other creative and artistic industries as well.
