Melbourne has claimed the top spot in Time Out's list of the 50 best cities for 2026, based on responses from residents and a panel of international editors.
It marks the first time an Australian city has taken pole position and completes the Victorian capital's climb from 20th place in 2024 and fourth in 2025.
In second place was Shanghai, followed by Edinburgh, London and New York, rounding out the top five.
The rankings are a snapshot of how residents feel about their own cities, with more than 24,000 city dwellers worldwide asked to rate their town according to a range of metrics from culture to affordability.
It also took into account responses from more than 100 Time Out city editors across the world.
Sydney came in 21st, down seven places year on year, while Adelaide placed 29th, after not featuring on 2025's top 50 list.
Perth and Brisbane were knocked off the list altogether after placing 33rd and 37th in 2025, respectively.
Melbourne's 2026 event calendar helped push it to this year's top spot, Time Out Melbourne editor Leah Glynn said.
"We've just had the Australian Grand Prix and the Australian Open, both of those breaking attendance records," she told AAP, adding the NFL, AFL Grand Final and Boxing Day test are still to come.
Melbourne's food scene earned it particular acclaim, with 94 per cent of residents rating it highly while 92 per cent said the same for the city's arts and culture.
"You can just about find any language or culture from around the world represented through hospitality in Melbourne," local restaurateur and artist Daniel Saade told AAP.
"When you take an authentic recipe from somewhere else in the world and match it with the quality of our ingredients, you get something quite special."
The third generation hospitality worker designed the Order Up: A City Fed by Many Cultures exhibition at Melbourne's Immigration Museum, showcasing the influence of migrants on the city's culinary history.
Melbourne deserves to be recognised for its relatively high quality of life but rankings risk masking the different living standards between residents, University of Melbourne professor of urban planning Alan March said.
Respondents praised Melbourne's green spaces, vibrant communities, walkability and public transport, features Dr March said are not evenly spread.
"It's a great place to live," he told AAP.
"However, I am concerned this puts aside the fact there is increasing inequity in Melbourne."
Melbourne's position at the top of the list does not suggest it is free of challenges, but at least suggests it is well regarded by its residents, Mr Glynn said.
"I'm really hoping this will encourage locals and tourists alike to to explore Melbourne and discover the best of it," she said.
