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Australia just landed the biggest claim to fame in Time Out’s hall of fame! For the first time in history, an Aussie city has taken the top spot on Time Out’s annual list of the 50 best cities in the world. Melbourne reigns supreme, while Sydney lands at 21st and Adelaide makes an appearance at 29th – ranking above the likes of Beijing, Amsterdam, Vancouver and San Francisco.
So, how did Melbourne come to claim this top honour? For the tenth anniversary of Time Out's Best Cities series, we surveyed more than 24,000 city dwellers worldwide about life in their hometowns. We quizzed them on 44 different criteria, covering everything from food, nightlife and culture to affordability, happiness and the overall city vibe. This data was then combined with expertise from more than 100 Time Out city editors to create the official top 50 list.
After finishing fourth last year, Melbourne climbed three spots to claim the title of the best city in the world for 2026 – edging out runners-up Shanghai, Edinburgh, London and New York.
Melbourne locals gave their home town high marks across the board, particularly for factors relating to happiness. An impressive 94 per cent of Melburnians rate their food scene highly, 92 per cent praise the city’s arts and culture, and it ranks as the third-best city in the world for Gen Z.
When asked what makes the city so great, Time Out Melbourne’s Managing Editor, Leah Glynn, says, “It’s a case of, ‘Where do we start?’ There’s the roll call of major sporting events, of course – think the Australian Open (which broke all attendance records in 2026), the F1 Australian Grand Prix, AFL Grand Final and the Boxing Day Test. You can spotlight the city’s culinary prowess – people happily line up for more than an hour for a burger with a cult following or celebrate the most special occasions at a beloved 100-year-old restaurant.
“Melbourne’s coolest streets and neighbourhoods are filled with hidden gems – from indie cinemas and rooftop bars to vinyl shops and quirky galleries… Plus, with the Metro Tunnel now open (a huge rail project that has overhauled Melbourne’s public transport network), it’s never been easier to get around the city that has it all.”
Sydney was also honoured on Time Out’s 2026 Best Cities list, coming in spot number 21 overall – six places lower than last year. Beyond its natural beauty, the Harbour City was celebrated for its diverse population, which fuels vibrant food and cultural scenes, as well as its ever-growing public transport system and easy access to outdoor adventures.
Adelaide was the third and final Australian city to make the 2026 list, landing at number 29. Known as the country’s festival capital, the city punches well above its weight in arts, culture and sporting events. Its food and drink scene is delightfully underrated, and locals and visitors alike love its walkability and easy access to beautiful day-trip destinations.
You can read more about Time Out’s 50 Best Cities 2026 here.
The 30 best cities in the world for 2026, according to Time Out:
- Melbourne, Australia
- Shanghai, China
- Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- London, United Kingdom
- New York, United States
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Seoul, South Korea
- Tokyo, Japan
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Sao Paolo, Brazil
- Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Krakow, Poland
- Porto, Portugal
- Guadalajara, Mexico
- Madrid, Spain
- Valencia, Spain
- Sydney, Australia
- Paris, France
- Singapore, Singapore
- Marrakesh, Morocco
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Bath, United Kingdom
- Bilbao, Spain
- Berlin, Germany
- Adelaide, Australia
- Beijing, China
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