We might complain about the weather, the metros constantly being late, and various pest invasions, but it seems that our friends from across the Atlantic place Paris at the top of the global city rankings. This is certainly the case for a marketing consultancy based in Vancouver, Canada, The Resonance Consultancy, which has been evaluating the daily lives of residents in the world’s largest cities for nearly a decade.
Every year, this Canadian company reveals its ranking of the best cities with over a million residents around the globe. And no big surprises for this 2026 ranking: Paris maintains its 3rd position achieved last year, right behind London (unshakable for several years now) and New York!
A whirlwind of
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To determine its rankings, The Resonance Consultancy relies on very specific and often quite objective criteria. Factors include all the urban innovations, the arrangements made to tackle new climate challenges, the space for pedestrians and sustainable transport options (like biking), the diversity of cultural offerings, the city's image on the international stage... Basically, everything that makes a city cool to live in.
Every year @Resonanceco objectively assesses the World’s 100 Best Cities. For 11th year running, number 1 is . . . London! @MayorofLondon @LDN_economy @londonpartners https://t.co/KFkcT28Fce
— Howard Dawber (@howarddawber) November 6, 2025
On top of that, over 22,000 people from 31 different countries have shared their thoughts, giving a much more subjective view on the qualities and the flaws of their respective cities. This results in “the most complete and holistic approach to measuring and comparing the perception and performance of cities,” explains Chris Fair, CEO of Resonance.
The winning trio
This year, London has once again topped the rankings for the eleventh consecutive year. The English capital doesn’t hesitate to make each of its characteristics a selling point, even its somewhat unpredictable weather! Close behind is New York, and finally Paris, the tourist destination...
and par excellence that continues to delight the crowds thanks to its cultural and gastronomic offerings.Pour moi la plus belle ville du monde est Paris mais ATTENTION à Tokyo pic.twitter.com/3Dg0B2mJOn
— Rain Maker (@Ryo__Bk) November 1, 2025
Finally, to complete this top trio, we have our beloved City of Light, which owes its success to a number of factors. At the forefront, the tremendous work the city hall has done to improve pedestrian life, particularly by significantly reducing the space for cars — thank you Hidalgo. Also, the development of public transport thanks to the Grand Paris Express, the quality of the culinary offerings, and the presence of numerous museums, among the most beautiful and famous in the world. Let’s just hope that the latest incidents at the Louvre don’t cost us the top spot next year…