Not London, Edinburgh or New York – world’s best city in 2026 named | World | News
The city beat dozens of popular destinations around the world (Image: Getty)
London, New York and Edinburgh are often ranked among the best cities in the world to visit. But a different city has now taken the top spot in a new global ranking for 2026. Among many things, the destination is famous for its sport, coffee culture, nightlife, huge arts scene and busy food markets.
The city beat dozens of popular destinations around the world after thousands of locals were asked about life where they live. People were questioned on everything from food and nightlife to affordability, happiness and quality of life.
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Melbourne is often described as Australia’s cultural and sporting capital (Image: Getty)
Melbourne is famous for its maze of lanes filled with cafes, bars, record shops and street art (Image: Getty)
And according to the Time Out ranking, Melbourne has been named the best city in the world for 2026.
More than 24,000 people across 150 cities took part in the survey, alongside over 100 Time Out city experts.
The Australian city finished ahead of places including Shanghai, Edinburgh, London and New York.
Time Out said Melbourne scored highly across almost every category. Around 94% of locals praised the city’s food scene, while 92% rated its art and culture highly. Another 77% said the nightlife was one of the city’s strengths.
Melbourne is often described as Australia’s cultural and sporting capital. The city hosts major sporting events including the Australian Open tennis tournament, the Formula One Australian Grand Prix and the AFL Grand Final.
It is also famous for its maze of lanes filled with cafes, bars, record shops and street art.
One of the city’s most famous landmarks is Flinders Street Station, which first opened in 1909.
One of the city’s most famous landmarks is Flinders Street Station (Image: Getty)
Hosier Lane has become one of the best-known street art locations in the world (Image: Getty)
Fed Square, located opposite the station, also regularly hosts festivals, screenings and public events throughout the year.
Another big attraction is Hosier Lane, which has become one of the best-known street art locations in the world.
On top of that, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, known locally as the MCG, is the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere and regularly hosts crowds of more than 100,000 people.
Visitors also head to Queen Victoria Market, which has been operating since the 1800s and covers two city blocks.
The National Gallery of Victoria also remains one of the city’s biggest tourist attractions and is Australia’s oldest public art museum.
Meanwhile, the Royal Botanic Gardens offer 38 hectares of parkland close to the city centre.
Time Out also said that Melbourne has seen plenty of transport improvements, including the opening of the Metro Tunnel project. The changes have made it easier for people to move around the city.
Melbourne’s MCG is the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere (Image: Getty)
The Royal Botanic Gardens offer 38 hectares of parkland close to the city centre (Image: Getty)
The top 10 cities in the world for 2026, according to Time Out are:
- Melbourne
- Shanghai
- Edinburgh
- London
- New York
- Cape Town
- Mexico City
- Bangkok
- Seoul
- Tokyo
