Overview
Tennessee has logged more than 2,400 reported UFO sightings since 1995, according to data compiled by the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC), and a new ranking from the Knoxville News Sentinel shows which cities in the state have generated the most reports. The list offers readers a local snapshot of where sightings have clustered over the years, while also underscoring that Tennessee’s 10 largest cities all appear in the top 20.
Founded in 1974, NUFORC says its mission is to document possible UFO sightings, and the nonprofit has received more than 180,000 reports nationwide since its creation. In its data, a UFO is simply an unidentified flying object — a term that describes something seen in the sky but not immediately identified, whether or not it turns out to have a conventional explanation. The federal government now typically uses the phrase unidentified aerial phenomena, or UAP, in official discussions.
The cities reporting the most sightings
At the top of Tennessee’s list is Nashville, followed by Knoxville and Memphis. The remainder of the top 20, in order, are Clarksville, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, Franklin, Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol, Jackson, Morristown, Cleveland, Hendersonville, Maryville, Sevierville, Spring Hill, Greeneville, Oak Ridge, and Brentwood.
The ranking is notable not only for the concentration in the state’s biggest population centers, but also for how broadly the reports are spread across Tennessee. Mid-sized cities and smaller communities alike appear on the list, suggesting that sightings are not limited to one region or one type of community. For readers curious about where their own city stands, the full ranking provides a simple way to compare local reporting patterns across the Volunteer State.
Recent trends in Tennessee reports
While the long-term total is substantial, the most recent trend is somewhat lower. Tennessee UFO sightings fell 12.9% between 2024 and 2025, dropping from 70 reports in 2024 to 61 in 2025, according to NUFORC data cited in the report. So far in 2026, there have been 14 reported sightings statewide.
The most recent report came from Ashland City on June 29, when the witness described “three lights that looked like stars zooming all around in large arcs and lines and angles” while sitting on a porch outside the city. As with other NUFORC entries, the report reflects an individual account rather than a verified identification, but it adds to the ongoing public record of sightings in Tennessee.
When sightings peak
The data also show a seasonal pattern. October is the month with the highest number of reported UFO sightings in Tennessee, with 281 reports. That makes it the clear leader among all months, ahead of September and January, which are tied at 219 each. Other busy months include November with 216, August with 208, and April with 206.
The monthly breakdown may reflect a mix of weather, visibility, outdoor activity, and reporting habits rather than any single cause. Still, the pattern gives Tennessee residents a sense of when sightings are most often logged — and reinforces how much of the UFO record is shaped by when and where people are looking up.
