The international culture and travel magazine "Time Out" has announced the ranking of the world's best cities to visit in 2026. The ranking includes a total of 50 cities from various countries around the world.
Medianews.az, citing Lent.az, reports that according to the publication, the first place on the list was taken by Melbourne, Australia. This city is also considered one of the country's cultural and sports capitals.
How was the ranking prepared?
To determine the ranking, the team from "Time Out" magazine conducted a survey among more than 24,000 residents living in 150 cities worldwide. During the survey, criteria such as the cities' gastronomy, nightlife, shops, museums, parks, and hospitality of local residents were taken into account.
Additionally, residents were asked about what it is like to live there. The survey also evaluated people's happiness level, quality of life, accessibility, and other social indicators.
When preparing the final ranking, these results were combined with the votes of more than 100 experts from "Time Out." Then, the publication’s authors from various cities explained why those cities are ideal to visit now.
Why Melbourne was first
According to Lia Glynn, the "Time Out" magazine author from Melbourne, the city regularly hosts major international sports events. These include the Australian Open tennis tournament, the Australian Grand Prix of Formula 1, and other prestigious competitions.
Melbourne also attracts tourists with its rich culinary life. People queue for hours to taste famous burgers or celebrate their special days in restaurants that have been operating for many years.
The city’s various streets and districts are also rich with interesting places for tourists. There are independent cinemas, rooftop bars, vinyl record stores, and unusual art galleries. In addition, Melbourne has historic architectural monuments, narrow streets decorated with colorful graffiti, world-class gardens, and the Yarra River, which has great cultural and spiritual significance for local communities.
The improvement of transportation in the city is also noted. The commissioning of a new metro tunnel has significantly changed the public transport network and made movement within the city more comfortable.
According to the survey results, Melbourne scored high on all indicators. 94% of local residents rated the city’s gastronomy highly, 92% said they liked its art and cultural life, and 77% recommended its nightlife.
The world’s top 10 cities to visit in 2026
1. Melbourne, Australia
2. Shanghai, China
3. Edinburgh, Scotland
4. London, United Kingdom
5. New York, USA
6. Cape Town, South Africa
7. Mexico City, Mexico
8. Bangkok, Thailand
9. Seoul, South Korea
10. Tokyo, Japan
The last place in the ranking was taken by Bogota, the capital of Colombia.