World’s most liveable, loveable , prosperous cities revealed during WTM London
Travel Biz News —
London ,November 5 (WTM Team) : London has been ranked the World’s Best City for the 11th year in new research by Resonance, supported by Ipsos and revealed today at WTM London.
New York came second in the report and Paris third. Overall, the United States had the most cities in the 2026 Top 100 with 19, followed by Germany with eight and China with seven.
The 2026 World’s Best Cities Report scored global cities for their liveability – including access to green spaces, public transport and clean air; lovability – considering culture, nightlife and social media engagement; and prosperity – incorporating economic strength, educational attainment and air connectivity.
The report, presented by Resonance and Ipsos, was exclusively launched at WTM London during a press conference conducted by Chris Fair, Resonance President and CEO, and creator of World’s Best Cities.
It combines global user-generated data, core statistical performance, and new proprietary research – including a landmark Ipsos survey of more than 21,000 respondents across 30 countries, to create the world’s most comprehensive cities ranking.
London secured its first place by scoring first for prosperity, second for lovability and third for liveability in the research.
New York was helped to second place by its ongoing investment in its cultural economy, massive urban infrastructure projects, and the continued global infatuation with the city, despite the US political shift from globalisation affecting ‘brand perceptions’.
Third placed Paris is meanwhile noted to be thriving as a future-focused city with an historic backdrop.
The Top 10 World’s Best Cities for 2026 are:
1. London
2. New York
3. Paris
4. Tokyo
5. Madrid
6. Singapore
7. Rome
8. Dubai
9. Berlin
10. Barcelona
The report also highlights issues currently affecting cities. These include the climate effects of extreme heat, urban wildfires and water shortages and the need for energy transition.
The uneven post-covid rebound of international demand was another challenge as were, for some countries, shifting global perceptions.
Chris Fair, President & CEO of Resonance Consultancy said: “For leaders shaping tomorrow’s urban landscape – whether through capital allocation, location strategy, infrastructure development, or destination marketing – this report offers more than rankings.It provides strategic intelligence, risk assessment, and a roadmap to the cities and opportunities defining the next decade of global growth.”
Chris Carter-Chapman, Event Director at WTM London said: ‘London’s status as a global hub for industry innovation, deal-making and strategic partnerships makes it the perfect home for shaping the future of travel.”
There was more city trends news in this year’s WTM Global Travel Report, produced in association with Tourism Economics, which was unveiled on the opening day of WTM London.
Cities are seeing particularly strong growth for international tourism, the report says, reversing a shift to more rural destinations during and following the pandemic.
The world’s 50 largest city destinations will this year see international visits exceed 2019 volumes by almost one-quarter. This compares to growth of 5% for all country destinations.
In fact, the world’s 100 largest city destinations are seeing similar overperformance and the trend is expected to continue through to the end of the decade.
A recovery in business travel, a renewed interest in cultural tourism and events, and improved connectivity are all credited with contributing to the recent boom.
By 2023 the 50 largest city destinations are predicted to see additional arrivals of more than 40% compared to this year, while globally, country destinations are expected to record an increase of one-third.
Dubai and Bangkok are particularly highlighted by the trends report. Both are expected to see growth of 50% or more in leisure arrivals in the next five years.
New York and Los Angeles are meanwhile predicted to see around 30% more arrivals and London, Istanbul and Tokyo 20% or more. The trend is similar for several smaller cities including Tunis and Sydney (both +50%) and Lima and Cape Town (both +40%).
WTM London, the most influential travel and tourism event in the world, has its own impact on the UK’s largest city, having contributed approximately £200 million to the London economy over last year’s event according to data from VisitBritain and research by Deloitte.
5 November 2025
