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This won’t come as a surprise, but it’s now official (again): Chicago is one of the best cities in the world.
Time Out has just revealed its rankings of the world’s 50 best cities in 2026, and Chicago lands at No. 41. As locals already know, the city offers something in every season—whether it’s festive Christmas markets in winter, genre-spanning music festivals in summer or a deep bench of world-class museums and cultural attractions year-round.
And that’s before we even get to the food. Chicago’s dining scene runs the gamut from Michelin-starred temples of fine dining to beloved no-frills neighborhood joints. Sure, the city is famous for icons like deep dish pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef—but the real story is the sheer range of cuisines and restaurants that make eating here a daily adventure.
To determine the 2026 Best Cities ranking, we surveyed more than 24,000 residents across 150 global destinations, evaluating metrics like affordability, food scene, livability and overall vibe. We then combined these insights with the expertise of over 100 Time Out city experts.
Crunching the data, community stands as one of Chicago’s biggest draws. Seventy percent of locals shared that they feel a sense of belonging in the city, while 68% described Chicago as diverse, friendly and welcoming. Chicago also received a 94% approval rating for its food and art scenes—the third-highest of all cities surveyed.
Topping the 2026 rankings is Melbourne, Australia, followed by Shanghai, Edinburgh and London. Chicago is among just a few North American cities that made the cut, joined by New York (No. 5), San Francisco (No. 46) and Vancouver (No. 47).
This isn’t the only recent global Time Out list that has honored Chicago. Avondale was No. 5 in our rankings of the coolest neighborhoods in the world in 2025.