London has just been named the world’s best city for culture by Time Out.
Based on insights from more than 24,000 city dwellers who were polled across the globe, the British capital scored well thanks to its theatre scene as well as its museums and galleries.
Of the top 20, nine of the cities are in Europe, including six in the top 10.
“From London to Lisbon, every city that made the ranking this year boasts legendary museums and a thriving performing arts scene, alongside a cultural calendar absolutely jam-packed with exhibitions, festivals and events,” Grace Beard, travel editor at Time Out, said.
“Time Out’s experts on the ground have given their lowdown on the cultural highlights not to miss this year, providing travellers with a definitive guide on where to go and what to see in 2026.”
The world’s best cities for culture
No.1: London
The experts at Time Out highlighted a slate of new openings as the reason behind London’s selection as the number one city for culture.
These include the V&A East and V&A East Storehouse, as well as the reopening of the Museum of London’s new Smithfield location later this year.
Other notable cultural highlights include the West End, free comedy nights, and the range of live music which covers everything from avant-garde jazz to death metal.
Some 90% of locals praised the theatre scene, 88% gave a thumbs up to museums, and a further 81% like the city’s galleries.
No.2: Paris
The French capital was the only city on the list to get a perfect culture score, with 100% of residents praising the local scene.
Time Out’s team named the city’s major upcoming exhibitions, like Matisse at the Grand Palais and One Hundred Years of Art Deco at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, as great reasons to visit this year.
No.4: Berlin
“Going against the grain defines culture in Berlin and the city is still a hotbed for radical artistic expression in 2026,” Time Out said of the German capital in its ranking.
You can experience it at events like Rave the Planet, Christopher Street Day, May Day, Karneval der Kulturen, and Fête de la Musique.
Other reasons to visit include the Berlinale, Berlin Art Week, and the International Literature Festival, as well as 200th anniversary celebrations at Museum Island.
More than half of those surveyed described the art scene as affordable, while 70% highlighted its museums as being particularly brilliant.
No.8: Madrid
The Spanish capital is “one of Europe’s leading cultural destinations” thanks to spots like the Prado and Reina Sofía, as well as major festivals.
Of those surveyed, 91% rated the arts and culture scene as good or amazing, with 90% praising the museums and another 84% shouting out the theatre.
No.9: Florence
Known for its Renaissance art and architecture, “open-air museum” Florence has long been a must-visit for history lovers.
Major exhibitions this year including Palazzo Strozzi’s Mark Rothko retrospective are the main reason for a visit (or a revisit) this year.
Survey results showed that 78% of residents love the museums and 63% the galleries, while 72% saying the arts scene is affordable.
No.10: Kraków
Poland’s Kraków may be the second largest city in the country, but it packs a punch when it comes to culture.
Here, you can explore Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance architecture in the Old Town, explore the city’s art scene in the Czartoryski Museum and Wawel Castle, and attend events like the Jewish Culture Festival.
According to the survey, 86% of locals appreciated the art and culture scene, with 79% saying it is affordable.
Outside of the top 10, Copenhagen came in 13th, followed by Athens in 15th and Lisbon in 20th.
The full top 20 ranking according to Time Out
- London
- Paris
- New York City
- Berlin
- Cape Town
- Melbourne
- São Paulo
- Madrid
- Florence
- Kraków
- Taipei
- Marrakech
- Copenhagen
- Guadalajara
- Athens
- Cairo
- Beijing
- Jaipur
- Chiang Mai
- Lisbon
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