100 best cities in the world 2026 – ranked

The best cities in the world have been ranked for liveability, lovability and prosperity. We take a look at what came top New York is having a renaissance of sorts. With a Mayor that oozes rizz, the Knicks in an overdue winning streak, and the buzz of the Taylor-Travis wedding, New York is having a very good year indeed. Alas, the city that never sleeps still doesn’t rank at the top of the 100 best cities in the world, according to Resonance, an expert team of economists, data scientists and urban analysts who help world leaders set goals. Their annual ranking has placed one city at the top for an incredible 11th consecutive year. Think double-decker buses, fish and chips and dainty afternoon tea. That’s right. Cool Britannia rules once more. The best city in the world is London. London is the best city in the world London continues to draw a global audience, from students and entrepreneurs to tourists and corporate titans. In 2024, the UK capital saw $22 billion in international traveler spending, up from $17.4 billion in 2023, demonstrating a strong post-pandemic recovery. It remains a bucket-list destination with record-breaking arrivals at Heathrow Airport and a recent $320m up...