New York City has claimed the No. 2 spot in Resonance Consultancy’s 2026 “World’s Best Cities” report.

The Vancouver-based company, which specializes in branding and destination marketing, says its ranking of the top 100 cities is based on a combination of “data-driven analysis” and “real-life perceptions” to evaluate global cities across tourism, livability and investment potential. This year, 19 American metropoles made the list.

New York (2nd)

The U.S.’s largest city comes in just behind London on this year’s list. Among the key reasons, according to Resonance, were tight rental vacancy rates in Manhattan and Brooklyn—despite soaring rents—as well as major investments in infrastructure and mobility. These include the ongoing $19 billion expansion of JFK Airport, which seeks to modernize terminals and increase international capacity.

The city’s direction may also shift in the coming year with Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, whose campaign focused on affordability, housing supply and transit financing—signaling a likely pivot in City Hall’s priorities after he takes office.

Los Angeles (12th)

Los Angeles is the next-highest-ranked U.S. city, coming in at No. 12 globally.

One reason cited was the April groundbreaking on a 52-acre site in Woodland Hills set to eventually host new parks, housing, entertainment and office buildings, signaling confidence in mixed-use neighborhoods where people can live, work and spend locally.

The City of Angels is expected to get an innovation boost with a new DataX center aimed at luring STEM and AI talent. The U.S.’s second-largest city is also in for a decade of sporting fanfare, as it hosts the FIFA World Cup next year, the Super Bowl in 2027 and the Summer Olympics in 2028, Resonance Consultancy notes.

Miami (26th)

Miami ranks 26th overall. Resonance highlighted the city’s clean air and ample green space as quality-of-life draws. A projected 15 percent population surge by 2030, the largest foreign-born talent pool in the country and Citadel’s planned 1,032-foot headquarters in Brickell reflect Magic City’s rising profile as a financial hub and lifestyle destination.

San Francisco (28th)

In the 28th slot is San Francisco. “Despite the panicky (and even warranted) headlines, San Francisco is experiencing a renaissance fueled by AI innovation and bold urban reinvention,” Resonance wrote. The firm ranked San Francisco No. 1 for business ecosystem and No. 2 for economic output, fueled by $90 billion in venture capital last year. New Mayor Daniel Lurie seeks to add 36,000 homes through his Family Zoning Plan and hopes to tackle addiction and homelessness problems with his Breaking the Cycle program.

Outside the Top 30

The other 15 U.S. cities recognized by Resonance Consultancy’s 2026 “World’s Best Cities” report ranked between the 30th and 90th positions. They are as follows:

Chicago (35th)Las Vegas (55th)Boston (56th)Washington, D.C. (57th)Houston (58th)San Jose (60th)Orlando (62nd)Atlanta (66th)Seattle (67th)Dallas (78th)San Diego (81st)Denver (84th)Austin (87th)Philadelphia (88th)Baltimore (89th)