New York has been ranked as the top city in the 2026 Global Tourism City Attractiveness Index, according to Yanolja Research. The index, developed in collaboration with Purdue University and Kyung Hee University, measures cities based on global traveller attention and emotional appeal, using social media data in 14 languages. New York's leading position reflects its unique blend of global visibility and positive visitor sentiment.

The index, which covers 200 cities, aims to capture what travellers discuss and value emotionally, moving beyond traditional tourism metrics like infrastructure. Paris, Osaka, Kyoto, and Seoul complete the top five, showcasing a shift towards cities that offer memorable and shareable experiences.

The United States demonstrated significant presence with 16 cities in the top 50, including Chicago at No 10 and Los Angeles at No 13. This indicates a diverse tourism portfolio not reliant on a single city. Asian cities, particularly in Japan and South Korea, excelled in emotional attractiveness, with Osaka and Kyoto leading in this category.

The index uses a demand-side approach, focusing on cognitive awareness and affective attractiveness. It serves as a diagnostic tool for cities and tourism organisations to enhance brand, experience quality, and strategic positioning. Dr SooCheong Shawn Jang of Purdue University noted, "New York's No 1 ranking demonstrates the power of combining unmatched global recognition with strong experiential appeal."

The comprehensive analysis and rankings for the top 150 cities are available on Yanolja Research's website

This story was selected and published by a human editor, with content adapted from original press material using AI tools. Spot an error? Report it here.