The highly anticipated World's Best Cities 2025-26 Report has confirmed London's unparalleled status, naming it the world's number one city for an extraordinary eleventh consecutive year. The ranking, which evaluates global metropolitan areas for living, working, and visiting, underscores London's continued excellence across key metrics.
Following the British capital, the United States' New York secures the second position, earning the title of "America’s Eternal Heartbeat." France's capital, Paris, rounds out the top three.
Global Top 10 for 2025-26
European cities dominate the upper echelon of the ranking, yet Asia and the Middle East make strong showings:
| Rank | City | Country | Noteworthy Mention |
| 1 | London | UK | Leads for 11th consecutive year |
| 2 | New York | USA | "America's Eternal Heartbeat" |
| 3 | Paris | France | Strong in Lovability |
| 4 | Tokyo | Japan | Highest-ranked Asian City |
| 5 | Madrid | Spain | |
| 6 | Singapore | Singapore | |
| 7 | Rome | Italy | |
| 8 | Dubai | UAE | Highest-ranked West Asian City |
| 9 | Berlin | Germany | |
| 10 | Barcelona | Spain |
Notably, Tokyo (4th) and Singapore (6th) are the only two Asian cities featured in the global top 10.
Bengaluru Leads India's Global Ascent
India's presence in the global index is led by Bengaluru, the nation's premier technology hub. Dubbed the "Silicon Valley of India," the Karnataka capital achieved a global ranking of 29th, placing it firmly within the world's top 30 cities.
The performance of other major Indian metros is as follows:
- Mumbai: Ranks 40th globally.
- Delhi (New Delhi): Secures the 54th spot.
- Hyderabad: Ranks 82nd globally.
Methodology: The 'Place Power Score'
The ranking evaluated over 270 cities worldwide with populations exceeding one million, assessing them on factors ranging from education and safety to culture and connectivity. Each city was assigned a "Place Power Score" based on three comprehensive pillars:
- Liveability: Measures quality of life, cost of living, sanitation, and healthcare.
- Lovability: Assesses the cultural scene, nightlife, shopping, and residents' overall happiness and satisfaction.
- Prosperity: Evaluates economic factors such as job opportunities, education levels, corporate presence, the strength of the startup ecosystem, and global competitiveness.
This holistic approach solidifies London’s enduring global dominance while highlighting the rising influence and appeal of Indian cities, with Bengaluru paving the way as the country's standout global city.
