South Korea's capital ranked first in the magazine's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards, followed by Tokyo, Phnom Penh, Shanghai and Sydney, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Friday.
The city topped the Best Big Cities ranking for the first time, rising from fifth place in 2025 and overtaking Tokyo, which had held the top spot for two consecutive years.
Montreal ranked sixth, followed by Paris, Cape Town, Singapore and Kyoto, with Asian cities taking five of the top 10 spots.
The annual awards, now in their 39th year, drew 798,867 reader votes across categories covering cities, hotels, resorts and other travel experiences.
Seoul is drawing growing attention beyond K-pop, Korean dramas and beauty trends. The magazine has also highlighted its blend of historic neighborhoods and palaces with modern culture, shopping, food and technology.
Visitors can explore centuries-old historic sites and modern entertainment districts in a single trip, enjoying everything from affordable local experiences to luxury hotels, fine dining and shopping.
The city also ranked third in the U.K. edition of Condé Nast Traveller's separate list of the world's friendliest cities for 2026, behind Melbourne and Porto. The magazine highlighted the hospitality of local residents, from restaurant owners explaining dishes to commuters helping tourists navigate the subway.
Other international travel rankings have also recently highlighted Seoul. Time Out, a global culture and travel publication, named Jongno 3-ga the world's coolest neighborhood for 2026, citing its mix of traditional hanok areas, late-night street food, workshops and independent shops.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said the ranking reflected global recognition of the city's diverse attractions, from its 2,000-year history and globally popular K-culture to everyday life in its traditional houses and alleyways.
"We will preserve the city's history and unique character while adding new culture and vitality, making Seoul a place that residents can take pride in and visitors want to stay longer and return to," he added.
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