SA shines as global diversity hotspot

South Africans have long known that our cities are cultural crossroads - a mix of traditions, identities, languages and lived experiences that shape everything from our food to our festivals. Now, the world agrees.

In Time Out’s annual global city survey of over 18,000 people across 50 cities, Cape Town and Johannesburg have been jointly ranked ninth on the list of the world’s most diverse and inclusive cities, according to locals. 

The list, topped by London, celebrates cities where people feel welcomed, represented and free to be themselves - and we're proud to be a beacon of belonging in the Global South.

These are the most diverse and inclusive cities in the world

1. London, UK
2. Melbourne, Australia
3. Brighton, UK
   = New York, USA
4. Los Angeles, USA
5. Chicago, USA
6. Madrid, Spain
7. Barcelona, Spain
8. Bangkok, Thailand
9. Johannesburg, South Africa
   = Cape Town, South Africa
10. Montreal, Canada
    = Medellin, Colombia
    = Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    = San Francisco, USA

What Makes Cape Town a Standout?

Cape Town’s inclusion on the list is a testament to its layered identity - beautiful and complex, shaped by centuries of cultural collision, resistance and reinvention. 

Here are three ways the Mother City is embodying a more inclusive spirit:

1. A Living Archive of Resistance and Representation

From Robben Island to District Six, Cape Town’s historical landmarks are not just tourist stops, but powerful reminders of struggle, displacement and the fight for dignity. 

Today, this legacy lives on in grassroots organisations, activist-led art spaces, and community museums that centre marginalised voices.

2. LGBTQ+ visibility and safer spaces

Cape Town has long been known as South Africa’s “pink capital”. The list is a nod to the cities queer-friendly nightlife, inclusive events like Cape Town Pride, and safe spaces that range from community centres to cutting-edge drag shows.  

Ongoing work by local LGBTQ+ groups also pushes beyond visibility into advocacy and healthcare access in our city. 

3. Cultural Neighbourhoods pushing artistic accessibility  

Each suburb tells its own story: the Cape Malay heritage of Bo-Kaap, the Afro-centric pride in Langa and Khayelitsha, and the coastal charm of communities like Muizenberg and Kalk Bay, where surf culture and township-run coffee shops co-exist. 

These layers are what make Cape Town’s cultural landscape both challenging and extraordinary.

Also, inclusive theatre productions at Artscape and the Baxter Theatre and contemporary African art at Zeitz MOCCAadds to the events designed to be accessible across income brackets and mobility levels.

A shared Honour with Jozi! 

Johannesburg’s equal ranking comes as no surprise. Known as the country’s financial engine and cultural nerve centre, the city pulses with Afro-urban energy, youth-led innovation and unapologetic authenticity.

As cities around the world wrestle with rising inequality and cultural homogenisation, it’s affirming to see two South African cities celebrated not just for their beauty or buzz - but for how they make their residents feel.

Here at Time Out Cape Town we’re excited to amplify these very aspects of our city. In our new Time Out Cape Town editorial series The Culture Edit, we’re asking critical questions about the South African identity. What does inclusion look like beyond surface-level representation? And how do we avoid flattening cultures into commercial soundbites.  

Read the first edition here: The Culture Edit: On travel, yoga and the myth of the melting pot