Cape Town shines in Time Out’s list of the World’s Best Cities for 2026

Cape Town has done it again, claiming a top 10 place on Time Out’s global ranking of the World’s Best Cities.

Time Out’s city ranking for 2026 has placed South Africa’s ‘Mother City’ at number six in the world, confirming what locals have been saying for years: there are very few places that can match Cape Town for sheer quality of life, natural beauty and cultural energy. And did we even mention the food scene? 

While the #6 ranking is a few positions lower than in 2025, when it was named Best City in the World, it still puts Cape Town in seriously good company. This year Melbourne takes the top spot, followed by Shanghai, Edinburgh, London and New York. Cape Town lands ahead of a few heavyweight global cities, beating out Mexico City, Bangkok, Seoul and Tokyo, which round out the top 10.

How are Time Out's 50 best cities chosen? Essentially, it's based on the insights of over 24,000 people across 150 cities worldwide.

"We combined their thousands of responses with the votes of more than 100 Time Out city experts. Then we tapped up our network of local writers to tell us exactly what makes their city worth a visit right now," explains Time Out Travel Editor Grace Beard.  

"Cape Town’s continued recognition among the world’s best cities speaks to its enduring global appeal," enthuses Enver Duminy, CEO of Cape Town Tourism. "Visitors come for the natural beauty, but what stays with them is the depth of the experience, from our neighbourhoods and culture to the creativity, food and people that give this city its soul.” 

It's a city that “wows you from the minute you land,” adds Time Out Cape Town City Editor Selene Brophy. “Pristine beaches, character-filled neighbourhoods, and genuinely friendly locals, from the flower sellers in the city centre, the fishermen hauling in the daily catch in Kalk Bay, to the creative excellence of its hospitality entrepreneurs. All of this plays out beneath Table Mountain, framed by the extraordinary Cape Floral Kingdom and the Cape Winelands.” 

So perhaps no surprise that Cape Town is also the highest-ranked city in Africa, with Marrakesh (#24), Cairo (#42) and Lagos (#48) the only other African cities to appear on the list. For South Africans, that’s a strong nod to Cape Town’s continued pull as both a place to live and a city travellers keep returning to.

And why should you be considering a (re)visit now?

“Cape Town is firmly in the midst of a tourism-reinvention boom after its reign as the world's best city last year. This month, it debuts the brand-new Montreux Jazz Festival in Franschhoek and in May, marathon star Eliud Kipchoge will make the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon the first stop on his new seven-continent marathon tour. There’s also a wave of standout restaurant openings and hospitality investment, including a new Marriott EDITION set to open at the V&A Waterfront later this year," says Brophy.

Wondering who else cracked the nod for Time Out’s prestigious city ranking? Here is the full 50-strong list of Time Out's Best Cities 2026: 

"This is a comprehensive rundown of the most exciting places to live in and to explore in 2026. Now in its tenth anniversary year, our Best Cities ranking features new entries and re-entries, with smaller and second cities slotted between the world’s major metropolises. In each, you’ll find at least one thing that will make you want to book a trip, stat," adds Beard. 

1. Australia: Melbourne
2. China: Shanghai
3. United Kingdom: Edinburgh
4. United Kingdom: London
5. United States: New York
6. South Africa: Cape Town
7. Mexico: Mexico City
8. Thailand: Bangkok
9. South Korea: Seoul
10. Japan: Tokyo
11. Switzerland: Zurich
12. Brazil: Rio de Janeiro
13. Denmark: Copenhagen
14. Brazil: Sao Paolo
15. Hong Kong: Hong Kong
16. Poland: Krakow
17. Portugal: Porto
18. Mexico: Guadalajara
19. Spain: Madrid
20. Spain: Valencia
21. Australia: Sydney
22. France: Paris
23. Singapore: Singapore
24. Morocco: Marrakesh
25. Vietnam: Hanoi
26. United Kingdom: Bath
27. Spain: Bilbao
28. Germany: Berlin
29. Australia: Adelaide
30. China: Beijing
31. Belgium: Antwerp
32. Thailand: Chiang Mai
33. Italy: Naples
34. Netherlands: Amsterdam
35. Colombia: Medellin
36. Peru: Lima
37. Canada: Vancouver
38. Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City
39. Japan: Osaka
40. Greece: Athens
41. United States: Chicago
42. Egypt: Cairo
43. Argentina: Buenos Aires
44. Austria: Vienna
45. Ireland: Dublin
46. United States: San Francisco
47. Nigeria: Lagos
48. New Zealand: Auckland
49. Portugal: Lisbon
50. Colombia: Bogotá

Head over to our social media channels to follow Time Out Cape Town on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. And don't forget to sign up to Time Out's free newsletter for expert recommendations on new things to do, see, eat and drink in the Mother City.