Kingston, Jamaica — 6 February 2026
London has again been named the most powerful city in the world, retaining the top position in the 2026 Global Power City Index for the 14th consecutive year, according to the latest international rankings assessing global urban influence. The result reinforces London’s continued dominance as a centre for capital, talent, culture and decision-making, even as pressures around cost of living and livability intensify.
The index evaluates cities using 72 indicators across six broad categories: economy, research and development, cultural interaction, livability, environment and accessibility. London ranked first overall, leading particularly in cultural influence and global connectivity, while maintaining strong performance in economic activity and innovation.
Tokyo, New York City, Paris and Singapore rounded out the top five.
While the ranking is not a measure of quality of life alone, it reflects where global influence concentrates — and where decisions sh…
