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It turns out, Sydney isn’t just a pretty face. The annual IMD Smart City Index has revealed the world’s “smartest” cities for 2026, and the Harbour City has climbed ten places to land at a solid number 22. Wondering how we got there? The annual global index ranks cities according to how effectively they use technology to improve everyday life and tackle the big urban headaches, from traffic and housing to public safety and sustainability. Rather than counting robots or tech billionaires, the rankings are largely shaped by how residents themselves feel about the infrastructure, services and technology available in their city. We’ve got a feeling our shiny new metro system might have something to do with our recent jump.
In this year’s rankings, the Harbour City jumped from 32nd place in 2025 to 22nd out of 148 cities this year, earning an overall A rating. Sydney scored particularly strongly for the technology available to residents, receiving an AA rating for its technology factor, while its infrastructure and structures received an A.
So, what exactly is Sydney doing right? Residents gave particularly positive feedback on the city’s digital services and connectivity. The report found strong support for free public Wi-Fi improving access to city services, while Sydney also scored well for technology that helps residents feel safer, online tools that make it easier to start a business and internet speeds that meet everyday connectivity needs. But before we get too smug, the results also revealed a handful of Sydney-shaped problems.
When survey respondents were asked to nominate the issues they considered most urgent for the city, affordable housing was the runaway number-one concern, selected by a whopping 79 per cent of respondents. We hear you. Road congestion came in second at 57.3 per cent, followed by security (56.5 per cent), health services (43.5 per cent) and unemployment (40.3 per cent). According to the report, fulfilling employment and social mobility were also among the issues that Sydney residents want addressed.
The ranking puts Sydney ahead of most of the world – but not quite at the top of the Australian class. Canberra was Australia's highest-ranked city, coming eighth globally, Brisbane placed 57th and Melbourne landed at number 60. Still, a ten-place jump in a single year is pretty solid from Syd.
You can check out the full report here.
The 10 smartest cities in the world, according to the 2026 IMD Smart City Index
- Zurich
- Oslo
- Geneva
- London
- Copenhagen
- Dubai
- Lausanne
- Canberra
- Singapore
- Abu Dhabi
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