Earlier this year, Melbourne was ranked in the Top 10 of the inaugural Asia-Pacific’s Best Cities list. And now, the results are in for the 2026 World’s Best Cities report. And unfortunately for us, while we made it to the top 50, we didn’t quite crack the top 20, with Melbourne ranked at 21st on the list. Meanwhile, Sydney was in 11th place, and was the highest Australian city on the list. Finally, Perth was in the 68th spot and Brisbane was in 79th place.
World’s Best Cities list 2026
The World’s Best Cities list looks at the overall performance of over 270 cities with populations of over one million. They look at a range of factors to identify the Top 100 places to live in, visit and invest in around the world. These factors are grouped into three categories: Liveability, Lovability and Prosperity.
Melbourne was described as “increasingly ascending as an economic regional power”. New developments like the upcoming Metro Tunnel received a nod, and the city was also praised for its universities, clean air, “sizzling arts and events scene” and health system.
Meanwhile, Sydney received high marks for its 24-Hour Economy strategy, new entertainment precincts and improvements to transport, with new city stations and developments on the future Western Sydney International Airport.
The Top 10 Best Cities are:
- London
- New York
- Paris
- Tokyo
- Madrid
- Singapore
- Rome
- Dubai
- Berlin
- Barcelona
To see the full list, click here.