To compile it, we spoke to more than 24,000 locals, including Time Out\u2019s regular readers, who told us all about the nightlife, culture, food, affordability, happiness and general vibe of their city, and factored in insight from a panel of more than 100 Time Out experts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shanghai, Edinburgh<\/a>, London<\/a> and New York<\/a> all claimed a spot in the top five, but the champion of our Best Cities list for 2026 was\u00a0Melbourne<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n That\u2019s right \u2013 Australia\u2019s largest city, also known by its indigenous name Naarm, is already the country\u2019s sports capital, having hosted the Australian Open<\/a> (which, in 2026, broke all attendance records), the F1 Australian Grand Prix<\/a>, AFL Grand Final<\/a> and the Boxing Day Test of late.\u00a0<\/p>\n The city\u2019s coolest streets<\/a> and neighbourhoods<\/a> are peppered with kooky galleries, indie cinemas, rooftop bars<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0vinyl shops<\/a>, and many also brag colourful murals<\/a> and world-class gardens<\/a>. It sits on the Yarra River, which holds cultural significance for the city\u2019s Indigenous communities, and across Melbourne you\u2019ll find everything from historic, heritage-listed buildings<\/a> (just one part of a lauded cultural scene, according to Melburnians) to a thriving food scene (which 94 percent of locals rank highly) of landmark restaurants<\/a> and cult-favourite dishes<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n But, why should you visit now? Well, \u2018With Mad March (as we locals like to call it) in full swing, you can touch down and immediately dive head first into the gastronomic delights of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival<\/a>, laugh \u2018til your abs hurt at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival<\/a> or turn into a floral fanatic at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show<\/a>.\u2019 writes Leah Glynn<\/a>, Time Out\u2019s Melbourne Editor.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018Come winter, the NGV will host the largest-ever exhibition of Cartier jewels<\/a> in a Melbourne exclusive; while spring will feature the first-ever regular season NFL game to be played in Australia<\/a>, with the San Francisco 49ers and the LA Rams going head to head at the MCG. In other words: you better book those flights, asap.\u2019 she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfd9\ufe0f Read the full\u00a0Time Out Best Cities list for 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ready to see the world\u2019s best cities for yourself? Book your next trip with\u00a0Intrepid Travel<\/a>\u00a0and start planning the ultimate adventure today.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1773260229_243_image.webp.webp\")
\nPhotograph: Supplied\/Runner Up
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