After examining the full ranking and delving into all the data, it’s absolutely fair to say that the conclusion is quite simple — London rules supreme, Tokyo is quietly peppered throughout the top, and nothing but pride for how Singapore made Southeast Asia look good.
Travel in 2026 isn’t just getting a pic by an iconic monument or waiting in line for a Michelin meal.
Cities are now competing to be something different:
Somewhere you can breathe, commute without a hassle, feel safe, walk without stress, and do all of that while experiencing culture, food, tech, history, and life.
Per some analysis from Resonance Consultancy, over 270 cities were evaluated across 34 different criteria — from education to public safety; tourism to digital infrastructure; sustainability to lifestyle experience; economic strength to fun.
To put it another way:
Not just “pretty city vibes” but actual livability.
- London
London tops the list again — for the 11th year running. A wild combination of culture, global influence, economic prowess, and a staggering amount of tourism expenditure means that the city is firmly at the top. The city rates in prosperity (1st), fun (2nd), and livability (3rd). London is basically Beyoncé amongst cities; it can’t be touched.
- New York
Disorder, imagination, capitalism—all are functioning in wondrous, lovable chaos. The international reach of NYC’s global economy, arts, and innovation keeps it right behind London in the hierarchy. Broadway, Wall Street, the culture of Brooklyn—it draws everyone in the world.
- Paris
Aesthetic, yes. Romantic? Obviously. Though don’t get it twisted into a postcard—Paris is fighting hard on sustainability, bike lanes, and green space. All while the Eiffel Tower photobombs every pic.
- Tokyo
The only Asian city in the top four. The perfect combination of tradition, hyper-complete urban planning, and futuristic technology. Also: sushi. That could qualify it for the top five.
- Madrid
The warm climate, the social energy of the city, dominance over the Bosque Metropolitano green project all combine with Madrid making its case. The city continues to expand cultural artifacts and eco-friendly transport programs.
- Singapore
It is the only Southeast Asian city in the top 20, and it is clean, organized, efficient, and absurdly organized. You drop a piece of gum? Good luck going to jail. But hey— the airport feels like a luxury theme park.
- Rome
Old soul, forever charm. Rome reigns supreme as a cultural legend in places like the Colosseum and the Pantheon while continuing to modernize its public works.
- Dubai
Subtlety is not part of Dubai’s vocabulary. The tallest building in the world? Check. A palm island? Why not. Future Museum? Sure thing. Dubai enjoys proving impossible, wrong.
- Berlin
Creative, ballsy, and unapologetically artsy. Berlin merges the history with contemporary community development — like making Tegel Airport into an innovation hub and housing solution.
- Barcelona
Modern architectural form, Mediterranean breezes, and walkable green space. Barcelona keeps upping its game as a tech center in smart mobility and sustainable design.
So now, here we are, in late 2025, and heading into 2026 with a travel industry that has fully recovered and now evolved.
Cities are no longer simply destinations — they are living, breathing ecosystems in competition to attract tourists, investors, remote workers, students, and future citizens.
And that competition?
It empowers innovation — clean transportation and massive urban green space, along with being publicly served with technology.
If you are looking for how to reshape your list of travel for 2026, this ranking is not terrible as a cheat sheet.
And whether you want futuristic Tokyo, romantic Paris, loud New York, or perfectly orderly Singapore — the reason each of these cities earned their place in the ranking, which is how we all live actual life… and possibly one day, Southeast Asia may possess more than one city within the top 20.
