Time Out’s Best Cities for Culture with Intrepid Travel highlights the world’s top cultural destinations, as voted by locals. London, Paris, New York City, Berlin and Cape Town complete the top five cities for culture.
The top spot goes to London, thanks to its free world-class museums, evolving cultural spaces and a standout year-round cultural programme. Paris ranks second as a global cultural powerhouse, with hotly anticipated exhibitions and neighbourhood galleries making art accessible across disciplines. Coming in third, New York is a leading cultural capital, driven by leading museums, galleries and a globally influential arts scene, with major 2026 exhibitions across the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA and the Brooklyn Museum.
Time Out’s Best Cities for Culture is an established ranking that highlights the world’s leading cultural destinations, drawing on the views of more than 24,000 city residents worldwide and insights from a global panel of Time Out experts and editors.
The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, said: “I am thrilled that London has been named the world’s number one city for culture by Time Out. It shows the strength of our incredible cultural offer – from free entry to world-class museums to outstanding theatre, music, dance, and live performance – with something for everyone.
Our capital’s cultural life reflects the extraordinary creativity, diversity and global influence that defines our city and contributes billions to the UK economy. It is a key part of what makes our city so special and we will continue to set the standard on the world stage, as we build a better London for everyone.”
Grace Beard, Travel Editor at Time Out, added: “One of the best things about city life is having world-class art and culture on your doorstep, and Time Out’s Best Cities for Culture with Intrepid Travel celebrates the innovation, creativity, and legacy of today’s cultural capitals.
This is the tenth anniversary of Time Out’s Best Cities, and the third year we’ve carried out a survey specifically focused on culture. 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. 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.”
Joanna Reeve, General Manager UK & Ireland at Intrepid Travel, says: “Whether it be through music, art, or storytelling, cultural experiences are what allow you to truly connect to a city and its communities. At Intrepid, our local tour guides give travellers an insider’s perspective on the people and stories that bring places to life. The cities in Time Out’s Best Cities for Culture list prove that even in some of the world’s best-known cities, there are still new and exciting ways to experience them through a different perspective.”
The full Best Cities for Culture list can be found at https://www.timeout.com/travel/best-cities-for-culture-2026
