Dallas’ position on the list of the ‘World’s Best Cities’ has taken a significant hit.
The annual list from the real estate and tourism marketing firm Resonance Consultancy ranks the Big D at No. 78 for 2026, a significant 23-spot drop from the 55th spot the city secured for 2025.
The annual report compares more than 270 cities worldwide to determine the top 100. Metrics fall into three main buckets: livability, lovability, and prosperity.
Livability
- Sights & Landmarks
- Walkability
- Biking
- Weather
- Air Quality
- Green Space
- Nature & Parks
- Public Transit
- Internet Infrastructure
- Standard of Living
- Health
- Perception
Lovability
- Google Trends
- Facebook Check-ins
- Instagram Posts
- TikTok Videos
- Nightlife
- Shopping
- Restaurants
- Museums
- Theatres & Concerts
- Family-Friendly Attractions
- Perception
Prosperity
- Convention Center
- Large Companies
- Labor Force Participation
- Airports
- University
- Economic Outlook
- Business Ecosystem
- Unemployment Rate
- Educational Attainment
- Perception
“Backed by Resonance Consultancy’s unique fusion of data-driven analysis and real-life perception, this iconic ranking highlights the most globally influential and economically ascendant cities to live, visit and invest in,” reads the study.
The report highlighted Dallas for some of the best weather (#8) and airports (#10).
“Dallas keeps scaling up its ambitions – and lately, the skyline can barely keep pace. At the airport with the third-highest passenger count in the world, American Airlines and DFW just greenlit a $4‑billion Terminal F that will double gate capacity by 2030, with Terminal C’s current refresh aimed at 2026 FIFA World Cup crowds,” says the report.
The ranking also praised Goldman Sachs’ forthcoming 800,000-square-foot campus and the city’s “booming” hospitality sector. According to the listing, the metroplex added 59,000 jobs since March 2024, second only to New York. Notably, the city’s ‘Y’all Street’ was praised for outpacing job additions on Wall Street.
London secured the No. 1 spot on the list for the 11th consecutive year, followed by New York in No. 2, and Paris in No. 3.
Earlier this year, The Dallas Express reported on a previous study from Resonance Consultancy that ranked Dallas the 14th best American city. Unlike the global rankings, Dallas actually saw its position improve, rising from No. 16 the year prior.
