Vancouver named one of the world's best cities for some surprising reasons
A rendering of the new Oakridge Park (Oakridge Park)
World’s Best Cities named the Pattullo Bridge replacement, the Broadway Subway extension, and the new St. Paul’s Hospital as reasons why Vancouver deserved a spot on this year’s list.
All critical construction projects, but when the city is usually lauded for its world-class airport and luxury hotels, the reasons can be surprising at first.
“Gorgeous and smart, Vancouver is embracing its global reputation as a coveted, livable destination,” said World’s Best Cities.
October 2025 construction progress on the new Pattullo Bridge. (Government of B.C.)
Vancouver did see a drop from 22nd place in 2025 to 41st place in 2026.
Only four other Canadian cities made the list, with Toronto taking the top Canadian rank at 17th, Montreal at 46th, Ottawa at 73rd, and Calgary in the 85th spot.
The report emphasizes three key factors when ranking cities: livability, loveability, and prosperity. Livability includes metrics such as parks, landmarks, and public transit. Loveability focuses on things like social media posts, nightlife, and shopping, while prosperity includes airports, unemployment rates, and convention centres.
The full World’s Best Cities ranking can be found online.
With files from Daily Hive Staff