A survey of thousands of under-30s crowns the Japanese capital the world’s best city for young residents, with Edinburgh the UK’s highest entry.

Tokyo has been named the world’s best city for Gen Z in Time Out’s Best Cities for Gen Z 2026, a ranking created with Intrepid Travel and based on the views of thousands of residents under the age of 30.

The survey looked beyond nightlife alone to gauge what makes a city genuinely liveable for young people — from happiness, affordability and community to culture, walkability, green space and how easy it is to make friends. Tokyo took top spot on the strength of its public transport, walkability and near-endless things to do: every Gen Z respondent there said they find joy in everyday experiences, and 89% rated its nightlife positively (though just 33% called that nightlife affordable).

Porto placed second, with 100% of young residents rating its sense of community positively and 93% calling it affordable, while Melbourne took third on the back of unanimous praise for its dining scene and a 97% culture score. Edinburgh followed in fourth — the UK’s highest-ranked city — with nine in ten young residents saying they are happier there than anywhere else they have lived, and it was rated the safest city in the top 20. Shanghai completed the top five.

Best Cities for Gen Z 2026 — Top 10

  1. Tokyo, Japan
  2. Porto, Portugal
  3. Melbourne, Australia
  4. Edinburgh, UK
  5. Shanghai, China
  6. New York City, USA
  7. Copenhagen, Denmark
  8. Berlin, Germany
  9. Valencia, Spain
  10. Bangkok, Thailand

“Along with an enticing nightlife and cheap drinks, Gen Z cares about what goes on in their local neighbourhoods, having easy access to their city’s best cultural institutions, and finding good places to make friends.” — Liv Kelly, Time Out