Vancouver named among 50 best cities in the world for 2026

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B.C. city’s many green spaces and dynamic restaurant scene praised in Time Out’s annual list

Published Mar 17, 2026  •  Last updated 6 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

Vancouver’s natural beauty and vibrant food scene has landed it on a list of the best cities on the planet. Photo by GETTY IMAGESArticle content

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Time Out’s ranking of the 50 best cities in the world was just released, and Vancouver was the only Canadian spot to make the cut.

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The curated list, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, highlights top urban centres on the planet for food, culture, beauty and more. Rankings are based on responses from more than 24,000 locals. Participants are quizzed about what they love about their city and how it feels to live there. They are also asked to rank their happiness, affordability and quality of life in their city. This year’s survey expanded to cover love, romance and community vibes.

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After getting the local perspective, 100 Time Out experts were also asked for their opinions to create the final rankings.

Vancouver came in at No. 37 on this year’s list. This summer the city will host an estimated 350,000 soccer fans for the World Cup, making 2026 a particularly exciting time to visit.

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However, Canada’s third-most populous metropolitan area has charmed visitors for decades, offering a front-row seat to both spectacular ocean views and majestic mountain peaks. As Time Out points out, there’s not many places in the world where you can enjoy world-class skiing, swim in the ocean and cycle lush forest trails or urban scenes all in the same day.

Visitors might catch a glimpse of seals or a pod of whales as they meander through Stanley Park. The 1,000-acre park is probably one of the most famous urban parks in the country, with totem poles, an aquarium, playgrounds, botanical gardens and that beautiful seawall view.

Vancouver is also known as a culturally diverse city with charming neighbourhoods and cobblestoned streets lined with quaint shops. In fact, Cambie Street and Commercial Drive made Time Out’s World’s Coolest Streets list in 2025.

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In addition to the beautiful Coast Mountains and recreational opportunities, Vancouver also boasts a vibrant food scene. According to Time Out’s survey, the city’s restaurant scene scored an 85 per cent approval rating, thanks in part to its locally-sourced produce and “high-concentration of award-winning chefs and restaurateurs” that helped put Vancouver on the Michelin map.

With stunning green spaces and delicious food, it’s easy to see why Vancouver continues to attract global attention.

Other top spots to make the list include Melbourne, Australia at No. 1, which was applauded for its rollcall of major sporting events (like the 2026 Australian Open), highly-rated food scene, and cool streets and neighbourhoods. Shanghai, China came in second, thanks in part to its flourishing café culture and cocktail scene (the city is home to Bar Leone, which was named the best bar in the world in 2025). Edinburgh, Scotland; London and New York rounded out the top five.

These are the top 10 cities from Time Out’s list:

Melbourne, AustraliaShanghai, ChinaEdinburgh, ScotlandLondon, United KingdomNew York, U.S.Cape Town, South AfricaMexico City, MexicoBangkok, ThailandSeoul, South KoreaTokyo, Japan

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