Fans of a city break, listen up: the best cities of 2026 have officially been named.
In fact, two UK cities have made the global top five in Time Out’s best cities with Intrepid Travel, as voted for by locals.
Now in its 10th anniversary year, Time Out’s Best Cities is a ranking based on insights from more than 24,000 city-dwellers and a panel of Time Out experts worldwide.
Below are the travel guide’s top 10 best cities in the world right now…
1. Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne takes the top spot in the ranking of the world’s best cities
Melbourne’s status as Australia’s sporting and cultural capital is hard to dispute: the city’s calendar is anchored by global drawcards like the Australian Open, the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, the AFL Grand Final and the Boxing Day Test.
Its culinary scene is just as compelling, from cult-favourite burger joints to century-old dining institutions, while neighbourhoods buzz with indie cinemas, rooftop bars and colourful murals.
Survey results reinforce the hype: 94 per cent of locals rate the food scene highly, 92 per cent praise its arts and culture, and strong approval from the younger generations helped rank the city the third-best in the world for Gen Z.
2. Shanghai, China
Shanghai, the financial and business hub of China, comes in second place
Shanghai is a city of contrasts, where Chinese and colonial-era architecture sit alongside cutting-edge projects such as Wong Kar-wai’s Prada’s cinematic restaurant Mi Zhang, as well as cult international brands including Kiramekino Mirai, Ader Error and Meraki Coffee.
Specialty cafés and inventive cocktail bars, including Coa and Bar Leone’s second outposts, line the streets.
With visa-free entry to China now open to citizens of more than 50 countries, it’s easier than ever to experience Shanghai’s energy and culture firsthand.
Take it from the locals: 88 per cent say eating out is affordable, 90 per cent praise coffee and cinema prices, and 78 per cent love cycling around the city.
3. Edinburgh, UK
Edinburgh Castle and its old town are part of the charm of the city, which comes in third place
Edinburgh blends historic grandeur with modern vibrancy.
Built around a towering castle and crowned by an extinct volcano, Edinburgh boasts cherry blossom-lined parks, cobbled alleyways whose stories stretch back to the medieval period, and distinctive neighbourhoods that offer hours of exploration – from Stockbridge for independent boutiques to Leith for trendy new restaurants.
The Scottish capital came joint-first for walkability in this year’s survey, meaning it’s easy to navigate between comedy shows at the Fringe each August, while a thriving food and arts scene keeps locals and visitors coming back for more.
4. London, UK
London, the UK capital, joins the list in fourth place
London is overflowing with culture, cuisine and character at every corner.
From free museums and galleries to world-class restaurants, pubs and theatres, there’s always something new to discover.
This year sees hotly anticipated museum openings, such as the Museum of London in Smithfield, plus hyped restaurant launches and a world-beating day festival season landing in the summer.
Londoners surveyed by Time Out love the city: 99 per cent applaud the arts and culture, 96 per cent sing the praises of the food scene, and 94 per cent value its green spaces.
5. New York, US
New York City rounds out the top five in the list – a much-adored destination
New York is a cultural behemoth, blending the historic and the modern with flair.
From pizza and world-class restaurants to public art and performances, such as Romeo & Juliet returning to Shakespeare in the Park, New Yorkers strive for the best and it’s those high standards that gives the Big Apple its passion, permanence and perpetually cool reputation.
With faster Amtrak trains and JFK Airport debuting its massive new international terminal in phases beginning this year, getting around has never been easier.
6. Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town comes in sixth place, known for its exquisite views and beaches
Cape Town wows from the moment you arrive at its award-winning airport, with pristine beaches, vibrant neighbourhoods and welcoming locals, all beneath the iconic Table Mountain and surrounded by the Cape Floral Kingdom and Winelands.
The food scene is booming, from Michelin-rated plates at Belmond Mount Nelson’s Amura to Time Out Market Cape Town showcasing the city’s best chefs.
This year, the city hosted the KNOX MMA fight series; this month sees the debut of the Montreux Jazz Festival in Franschhoek, and the city will welcome a new Marriott EDITION at the V&A Waterfront later in the year.
The numbers speak for themselves with 86 per cent of Capetonians calling it the most beautiful city in the world, 86 per cent loving its green spaces, and 85 per cent giving top marks to their wellbeing.
7. Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, takes spot number seven on the list
Mexico City fuses Aztec heritage, contemporary art and a world-class food scene in one vibrant package.
Wander the Templo Mayor, admire Frida Kahlo’s works across three museums, sample cuisines from Asian to authentic Mexican all within a single neighbourhood, then explore nightlife hotspots from Álvaro Obregón and La Roma to the world-renowned mixology bars of Condesa.
Mexico City’s food scene remains one of its biggest accolades, with 80 per cent of locals rating the city’s food scene highly, while 85 per cent praise its independent shops.
8. Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok, Thailand comes next, known for its vibrant night life
Bangkok thrives on beautiful chaos, where centuries-old temples such as Wat Arun sit alongside bold brutalist towers, and a clean, high-tech Skytrain network makes the city surprisingly easy to navigate.
From legendary street food in Yaowarat to creative hubs in Talat Noi and Song Wat, or a stroll through Lumphini Park’s brand new dog park, there’s always an eclectic sense of discovery here.
The city is also undergoing a cultural glow-up: Thailand’s first international contemporary art gallery opened at the end of 2025, the Bangkok Art Biennale returns this October, and the iconic Tomorrowland festival lands in the region in December.
9. Seoul, South Korea
Seoul in South Korea is next up, taking the ninth place in the ranking
Seoul is a city for every season: chase cherry blossoms in spring, dive into music festivals in summer, camp along the Han River in autumn, or hit nearby slopes in winter.
Its booming baking scene, propelled by shows like Bake Your Dream and Culinary Class Wars, has turned the city into a global food capital, with youth leading the charge on obsessive ‘bakery-hopping’.
And 2026 is a huge year for art in South Korea, with seven major cultural landmarks debuting, including the much-anticipated Centre Pompidou, which will grace the 63 Building this May.
Locals feel good in Seoul with 79 per cent of respondents saying their city makes them happy, and the South Korean city ranks joint-third among Time Out staff favourites.
10. Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo in Japan rounds out the top 10 best cities in the world, according to the ranking
Perpetual craze generator and patchwork of a million subcultures, Tokyo is a megacity everyone wants to visit.
It’s home to the world’s coolest neighbourhood, Jimbocho, more Michelin-starred restaurants than anywhere else, a fashion scene that moves at bullet-train speed, and the first-ever permanent open-air Pokémon theme park.
Cherry blossom season is just the beginning: summer brings traditional festivals like the 400-year-old Fukagawa Matsuri, while the city’s museums are rolling out one of the most plentiful exhibition slates in recent memory.
Time Out staff voted Tokyo their joint-favourite city in 2026, and high marks from Gen Z highlight its appeal to young locals.
Grace Beard, Travel Editor at Time Out, said: ‘Every year, we survey locals in cities all over the planet to create our definitive annual ranking, now in its tenth anniversary year.
‘Time Out’s Best Cities with Intrepid Travel is not only a global snapshot of city living, but a celebration of the fun, culture and community that defines urban life.
‘For 2026, we expanded our survey to reach 150 cities and added questions that dig deeper into the everyday lives of locals, including new categories for love, romance and community feel.
‘The result is a truly diverse and exciting list of destinations, deeply informed by local insight and Time Out expertise, with smaller and second cities slotted between the world’s major metropolises.
‘Our Best Cities ranking is a comprehensive rundown of the most exciting places to live in and to explore in 2026.’
