New York City tops Global Cities Index 2026

Oxford Economics has released the Global Cities Index 2026, evaluating 1,000 major cities based on five key pillars: economy, human capital, quality of life, environment, and governance.

New York City secured the top position globally, leading in both the overall ranking and the economic category. London and Paris followed in second and third place, respectively. The top ten list is heavily influenced by U.S. cities, which include Seattle, San Francisco, Boston, San Jose, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Dallas, Houston, and Atlanta. Tokyo was ranked as the highest-performing East Asian city at ninth place, while Zurich took the tenth spot.

In Asia, Taipei ranked 48th, placing it ahead of Kuala Lumpur, Osaka, Hong Kong, and Shenzhen, though it trails behind Tokyo, Singapore, and Seoul. The index highlights that while U.S. cities excel in economic strength and human capital due to corporate headquarters and high education levels, European cities maintain advantages in governance, environment, and quality of life.