Cape Town has added another international honour to its growing list of global achievements after being recognised as one of the happiest cities in the world.
The Mother City placed eighth in Time Out’s 2026 World’s Happiest Cities ranking, making it the only South African city to earn a place in this year’s global top 20.
The result puts Cape Town alongside internationally recognised destinations including Bath, Panama City, Guadalajara and Chicago, while finishing ahead of cities such as Melbourne, Prague, Amsterdam and Hamburg.
Rather than measuring happiness through income, economic performance or infrastructure alone, Time Out’s annual survey focuses on how residents genuinely feel about the cities they call home.
More than 24,000 people from cities around the world participated in the 2026 survey, answering questions about daily life, community spirit, personal wellbeing and overall life satisfaction.
Participants were asked whether their city makes them happy, whether they feel happier there than in other places they have lived or visited, whether local people are generally positive, whether everyday life brings them joy and whether happiness has improved over recent years.
To ensure broad international representation, only the highest-ranked city from each country qualified for the final top 20.
Cape Town continues to earn global recognition
Cape Town’s latest achievement reflects its growing reputation as one of the world’s most desirable places to live, work and visit.
The city offers a rare combination of spectacular natural scenery, iconic beaches, mountain landscapes, renowned wine regions and a vibrant cultural and culinary scene.
Its outdoor lifestyle, diverse neighbourhoods and favourable climate continue to attract visitors, remote workers and international investors alike.
Over the past decade, Cape Town has consistently appeared in international rankings recognising excellence in tourism, food, sustainability and urban living.
The latest ranking suggests that residents themselves continue to value the city’s quality of life and everyday experiences.
Bath tops this year’s global happiness rankings
The United Kingdom’s historic city of Bath claimed first place in the 2026 rankings.
According to Time Out, residents praised Bath for its abundant green spaces, easy access to nature and strong overall sense of wellbeing.
The world’s 10 happiest cities for 2026 are:
- Bath
- Panama City
- Guadalajara
- MedellÃn
- Kraków
- Jaipur
- Chicago
- Cape Town
- Shanghai
- Gothenburg
Cape Town’s inclusion as South Africa’s sole representative highlights the city’s continued international appeal and reinforces its position as one of Africa’s leading tourism and lifestyle destinations.
Source: Adapted from Time Out.