What it's like to live in the world's most liveable cities in 2026

The Economist Intelligence Unit's latest Global Liveability Index names the world's top cities. We asked residents to share the everyday experiences that make their hometowns such exceptional places to live.

Copenhagen has retained its title as the world's most liveable city for a second consecutive year in the Economist Intelligence Unit's 2026 Global Liveability Index.

The annual ranking assesses 173 cities worldwide across stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure to identify those offering the highest quality of life. Vienna, Melbourne, Sydney and Zurich rounded out this year's top five, reflecting both Europe's enduring dominance and Australia's continued strong showing.

To find out what life is really like in the top-ranked cities, we asked residents why they love living there – and where they take visitors to experience the city like a local.

Taking the top spot for the second year in a row, the Danish capital earned perfect scores in stability, education and infrastructure, and one of the highest culture and environment scores of any city. For residents, that translates into a lifestyle where simple pleasures are built into the movement of the city. 

Top 10 most liveable cities in 2026:

"You can bike to work, jump in the harbour after and be home for dinner. It's not a special day, it's just Tuesday," said Laura Amira Kassem, an MD and PhD student who has lived in the city for eight years. "That combination of cycling infrastructure, swimmable urban water and a genuinely walkable, bikeable scale is something I haven't found anywhere else." 

Kassem starts her days with an early run somewhere quiet, such as Utterslev Mose or along the lakes, followed by breakfast, coffee and, in summer, a swim.  

She starts any visitor tour in Nørrebro, her culturally mixed neighbourhood. "Greengrocers, kebab shops and gold shops sit next to sourdough bakeries, natural wine bars and small dinner spots," she says. From here, she recommends grabbing bikes for a swim and coffee by the water in Nordhavn, followed by a lunch of smørrebrød, the traditional Danish open-faced rye bread sandwich, at Det Gamle Apotek.  

In the evening, runners can join Loopet, a 3km (1.8-mile) loop around Fælledparken where the city's running community gathers. "All are welcome," Kassem says. "Run, catch up with friends and finish with dinner sitting outside." 

The Austrian capital may have ceded first place to Copenhagen last year, but its perfect scores in healthcare and education keep it at number two. For residents, Vienna's liveability is found in the ease of getting around, either via public transportation or walking, and appreciating the details along the way.

"My daily ritual is my commute to work along the Ringstraße, taking one of the iconic trams," said Franziska Hochmüller, who works at the Vienna Tourist Board. "Instead of scrolling through my phone, I love to read a book or simply watch the beautiful buildings pass by. It's a small detail that reminds me every day how extraordinary the 'ordinary' in Vienna really is." 

"You hardly need public transport within the 1st to 9th districts," adds Roland Eggenhofer, who works in sales and marketing at Hotel MOTTO. He likes to take visitors to the 6th and 7th districts, especially........

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