Canada has plenty of bragging rights when it comes to its cities, and a new global ranking is giving us even more reason to flex.
The Oxford Economics Global Cities Index has released its 2026 report, offering a comprehensive ranking of 1,000 large cities.
Rather than measuring which cities are the biggest or wealthiest, the index takes a broader look at what makes a place successful and how its future prospects are shaping up.
“It helps businesses, governments and investors understand how cities compare, where their opportunities and challenges lie and how their prospects are evolving,” the report explains.
Cities are evaluated across five categories: economics, human capital, quality of life, environment, and governance. Oxford Economics says scores are combined to produce an overall ranking that aims to offer a well-rounded picture of each city’s performance.
“Across the globe there are pockets of dynamism turning heads and increasing returns for those who know where to look,” the report notes.
Toronto leads the way for Canada, landing at number 20, followed closely by Vancouver at number 24. Both cities earned spots in the top five per cent of the overall ranking.
Toronto received an overall score of 84.9, with particularly strong performances in human capital, where it ranked 14th worldwide, and economics, where it placed 19th.
Vancouver isn’t behind, with an overall score of 83.3. Its strongest category was environment, where it ranked an impressive 29th globally. It also placed 19th for human capital.
Here’s a look at where all of Canada’s major cities fared in the 2026 index:
Toronto: 20
Vancouver: 24
Montreal: 62
Calgary: 69
Ottawa–Gatineau: 104
Edmonton: 125
Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo: 133
Halifax: 151
Quebec City: 161
Winnipeg: 168
Hamilton: 193
New to the report this year is Cities to Watch, highlighting 28 locations across the globe that are gaining momentum and could climb the rankings in the coming years.
Only one Canadian city made the cut: Edmonton.
The capital of Alberta received an overall score of 68, with strong scores of 90 in governance and 70.7 in quality of life.
If you’re wondering which city ranks as the best in the world this year, it’s New York City.
The Big Apple takes the crown with a perfect overall score of 100. It also received a perfect score of 100 in economics, alongside an impressive 89.5 in human capital.
To read the full 2026 report, visit Oxford Economics’ website.
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