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It’s time to celebrate our cities—urban centres that bring people together and make life vibrant—from galleries and bars to parks and neighbourhood communities. Time Out’s annual Best Cities ranking surveys city-dwellers worldwide on everything from food, nightlife, shops, museums, and parks to happiness, affordability, and quality of life.
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This year, we expanded the survey to explore love, romance, and community feel, gathering insights from over 24,000 people across 150 cities and combining them with votes from 100+ Time Out city experts. Local writers also share what makes their cities worth visiting. The result is a definitive list of the 50 most exciting places to live and explore in 2026, featuring major metropolises alongside smaller and second cities, each offering something that will make you want to book a trip immediately.
Only one Canadian spot made the coveted top 50 list, and here’s why.
Check out: Time Out Market Vancouver expands star-studded culinary lineup
What is the #1 city in the world?
Coming in at number one is Melbourne, Australia, thanks to major sporting events like the Australian Open and AFL Grand Final, a world-class food scene with cult-favorite burgers and century-old restaurants, and vibrant streets full of indie cinemas, rooftop bars, vinyl shops, and galleries.
The city’s heritage-listed buildings, colourful laneways, stunning gardens, and the culturally significant Yarra River mix seamlessly with modern conveniences like the new Metro Tunnel. With Mad March festivals—from the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival to the International Comedy and Flower Shows—and upcoming highlights like the Cartier exhibition and Australia’s first regular-season NFL game, it's a good time to plan a trip.
For the full ranking, check out this link.
Which is the best city in Canada?
Ranking above Buenos Aires, Cairo and Osaka, Vancouver ranked 37 on the top 50 list.
What makes Vancouver shine? Three words: the great outdoors. Few cities let you swim, cycle, and ski in a single day, with adventures available year-round and the Canadian Rockies just a short drive away. Picnic at Jericho Beach, bike Stanley Park’s seawall, soar above the Capilano Suspension Bridge, or chase powder on Grouse, Seymour, or Cypress Mountains—even after work. Add locally sourced produce and a concentration of award-winning chefs, and Vancouver is also a culinary hotspot.
Locals affirmed Vancouver’s green credentials—87% highlighting its parks as the city’s top asset, with 85% praising its restaurant scene.
2026 brings the opening of Time Out Market Vancouver, and the excitement of FIFA World Cup 2026—plus Cambie Street and Commercial Drive were recently named among the world’s coolest streets, with Cambie ranking 20th, so there’s never been a better time to visit.
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Hungry for more? Follow Time Out Market Vancouver on Instagram and Facebook.
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