New York named world’s no. 1 sports city in 2026 global ranking

New York has been named the world’s number one sports city in the 2026 global sports cities ranking, moving up from third place in the previous edition.

NEW YORK: New York has been named the world’s number one sports city in the 2026 global sports cities ranking, moving up from third place in the previous edition.

The latest ranking of the world’s leading sports cities has been released by Swiss organization Burson with New York taking the top spot ahead of several major international sporting hubs.

Paris, which had remained number one for three consecutive years, dropped to second place in the 2026 ranking. Los Angeles secured third position followed by London in fourth and Madrid in fifth.

New York’s rise to the top has been attributed to several major sporting developments and events, including its connection with the NBA championship and the FIFA World Cup final.

The ranking evaluates 100 cities around the world that have strong links with sports. It considers a range of factors, including expert opinions, views from sports media professionals and international sports leaders. Analysis of social media activity and media coverage is also included in the assessment.

Barcelona ranked sixth in the latest edition while Milan secured seventh place. Lausanne was eighth, with Manchester completing the top 10. Washington ranked 11th followed by Miami at 12th.

Tokyo was placed 16th, while Sydney ranked 24th. Dubai was the highest-ranked city from the Middle East among the cities listed in the supplied rankings securing 29th place.

Several cities from Asia, Africa and the Middle East also featured in the top 100. Mumbai ranked 51st, New Delhi 65th, Riyadh 68th, Cape Town 85th, Jeddah 98th and Sapporo 99th.

Notably, no Pakistani city made it into the 2026 global sports cities ranking.

The change at the top marks a significant shift from recent editions, with Paris losing its three-year hold on the number one position and New York emerging as the new leader.

New York’s strong sporting culture major professional sports presence and ability to host globally significant sporting events have contributed to its improved standing.

The ranking highlights the growing importance of cities as global sports hubs, with factors such as major competitions sporting infrastructure international visibility media attention and public engagement playing a role in determining their position.

The 2026 results place New York ahead of some of the world’s most recognized sports destinations, while also highlighting the continued global influence of cities such as Paris, Los Angeles, London, Madrid and Barcelona.