In London, the results of the international Happy City Index 2026 were announced, considered one of the largest studies of the urban environment’s quality. Experts analysed more than 3,400 cities worldwide, with a detailed assessment carried out for nearly 1,000 of them. The study is based on a single methodology and 64 indicators, including the quality of healthcare, the work of city authorities, the state of the environment, the transport system, the economy, education, housing affordability and residents’ overall well-being.
Copenhagen was recognised as the happiest city in the world in 2026. The top ten also includes Helsinki, Geneva, Uppsala, Tokyo, Trondheim, Bern, Malmö, Munich and Aarhus. The authors of the ranking stress that the index does not identify a single “best city”, but assesses cities’ ability to provide a high quality of life, sustainable development and comfort for residents.
The leaders of the ranking share several factors: accessible healthcare, a well-developed public transport system, low crime, plenty of green spaces, clean air and a high level of trust in public institutions. Work-life balance also plays an important role.
Europe took 39 of the 50 places in the top group of the ranking. Tokyo was the best city in Asia, and San Francisco was the only representative from the United States in the global top 50. The researchers note that the key factor in residents’ well-being is not the size of a city, but the quality of the urban environment, safety, access to services and a sense of community.
A few decades ago, cities competed primarily for investment and the scale of development. Today, greater importance is increasingly attached to residents’ health, the quality of public spaces, environmental sustainability and the convenience of everyday life.
