Winona is a city in and the county seat of Winona County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 25,948 at the 2020 census. Located in bluff country, otherwise known as the Driftless Area on the Mississippi River, its most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf. Winona is known as the home of Winona State University, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Marine Art Museum.