Melbourne is the best city in the world for 2026

Published: 12 March 2026

Melbourne has been officially crowned the Best City in the World for 2026 by Time Out's annual global ranking!

This is the first time an Australian city has topped the annual list, beating Shanghai, Edinburgh, London and New York.

The announcement highlights Melbourne's allure as not just a great place to visit, but also an extraordinary place to live and study.

How the ranking was measured

Over 24,000 people shared their thoughts in 42 languages about food, nightlife, culture, costs, happiness and their city's vibe.
More than 100 city experts assessed what makes each city exciting and great to live in.
A detailed scoring system covering 44 criteria, including diversity, liveliness, cultural activities and affordability.

Key findings

Most people in Melbourne (94%) think the city has amazing food.
Many residents (92%) love Melbourne’s exciting arts and culture.
Locals are very happy living here, with the city ranking highly for happiness and liveability.
Melbourne is one of the top 3 cities in the world for young people (Gen Z).

Events

Here’s a snapshot of Melbourne’s quintessential events students can immerse themselves in:

Event	Details
Australian Open	Celebrated as one of the four Grand Slam tournaments.
Melbourne International Comedy Festival	Laugh alongside comedians from around the globe.
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival	A delicious showcase of culinary talent paired with local wines.
AFL Grand Final	Experience the unmatched excitement of Australia’s favourite sport.
Boxing Day Test	Perfect for cricket enthusiast students.
Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show	A visual celebration of botanical artistry.

To learn more about why Melbourne is the perfect study destination, check out our Why Melbourne page!

Victoria strengthens Its global reputation through international student experience

On 2 & 10 June 2026, Study Melbourne hosted the ABC Challenge Global Reach delegation at the Study Melbourne Hub in Hardware Lane.The visit highlighted a critical dimension: the support ecosystem that enables students to feel welcome, connected and empowered to succeed.

View article

Victoria welcomes formation of AIECA

Study Melbourne welcomed the formation of the Australian International Education Consultants Association (AIECA) in Melbourne on 17 June 2026. The AIECA is now Australia’s largest education agent association, representing agencies and stakeholders across many of Australia’s key international student source markets.International education is an important part of Victoria’s economy and future prosperity. Victoria proudly welcomes and supports students from around the world.

View article

Study Melbourne joins sector colleagues at the ITEC26 International Education Symposium

Study Melbourne joined sector colleagues at the ITEC26 International Education Symposium in Brisbane on 3 June 2026, where Caroline Hartnett highlighted Victoria’s strengths as an international education destination during a panel on how Australian cities and regions attract global students.

View article

Victoria highlights global education partnership through the BITS–RMIT initiative

At the BITS–RMIT Higher Education Academy Student Engagement and Networking Event held at The Capitol, Melbourne on 22 May 2026, Victoria highlighted its strong commitment to international education and global partnerships. Supported by the Victorian Government’s Yes to International Students Fund, the 2026 immersion program brought more than 100 students from India to Melbourne for a two-week academic and cultural experience.

View article