It’s official: New York City has been named the second-best city in the world in Resonance Consultancy’s 2026 World’s Best Cities ranking. While London took the top spot for the 11th consecutive year, NYC proudly held its ground at #2, proving the Big Apple’s global shine isn’t fading anytime soon.
“The Perpetual Heartbeat Of America”
Resonance referred to NYC as “the perpetual heartbeat of America,” recognizing the city’s “refusal to play by anyone’s script.”
That signature grit and unpredictability, they say, is what will keep the world craving the Big Apple’s “special sauce” in 2026 and beyond.
Why NYC Earned The #2 Spot
From culture to construction cranes, here’s what helped NYC maintain its No. 2 spot:
- Soaring global interest: NYC ranked #1 in Google Trends, reflecting how often the city dominates global searches
- Big business dominance: the city also landed #2 for Large Companies, emphasizing its economic strength
- Tourism roaring back: 2025 was expected to be the busiest tourism year in NYC history, welcoming over 64 million visitors
- New infrastructure milestones: the $19-billion JFK New Terminal One is taking shape as a massive global gateway
- Urban innovation: Manhattan’s congestion pricing program and office-to-residential conversions show the city is evolving smarter
- Skyline transformation: from JPMorgan’s new HQ to Hudson Yards’ next chapter
- Seismic political headlines: particularly those surrounding our newly elected Mayor Zohran Mamdani
Julie Coker, NYC Tourism + Conventions President and CEO, stated:
This recognition is a testament to NYC’s unmatched energy, cultural vibrancy, and world-class experiences across the five boroughs that keep us firmly positioned as a must-visit global destination. With major events including Sail4th 250 celebrating America’s Semiquincentennial and the FIFA World Cup matches next year, we look forward to sharing the spirit of NYC with visitors from around the world.
How The Ranking Works
Resonance’s 2026 World’s Best Cities report combines hard data and human perception across 400 global metros (those with more than one million residents), analyzing stats and reviews across three categories:
- Livability (standard of living, walkability, health)
- Lovability (restaurants, nightlife, museums)
- Prosperity (economic power, connectivity, education)
Top 10 2026 World’s Best Cities
1. London
2. New York
3. Paris
4. Tokyo
5. Madrid
6. Singapore
7. Rome
8. Dubai
9. Berlin
10. Barcelona
You can explore the full list and methodology on on Resonance’s website.