It’s a blessing to live in a city with good public transport, great food and plenty of greenery – but we’d argue the best bit of urban living is the unparalleled access to art and culture.
But which cities are the best of the best for culture in 2026? We asked 24,000 urbanites across the world all about their city’s arts scene to find out. Topping the list of Time Out’s Best Cities for Culture with Intrepid Travel is none other than the UK capital of London, which, despite being a pricey place to live, has one of the planet’s most accessible cultural scenes.
Nine hubs across Europe made the top 20 in total, but so did two Latin American cities – and they’re no Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Mexico City or Oaxaca.
Claiming seventh place on the worldwide list is Brazil’s largest city, São Paulo. The city garnered a 69 percent approval rating for its culture scene, with 66 percent saying art and culture is budget-friendly – a high score that landed the hub ahead of cities like Florence, Marrakech and Copenhagen.
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Where the city really shines is its visual arts scene. Editor of Time Out Rio de Janeiro Lívia Breves said: ‘The scene balances historic institutions with a contemporary market: at its core, MASP and the Pinacoteca present major exhibitions and preserve important legacies; nearby, Instituto Tomie Ohtake, MAM and other museums broaden the conversation around contemporary art.’
Photograph: Jose de Jesus Churion Del / ShutterstockGuadalajara
Elsewhere in Latin America, the western Mexican city of Guadalajara claimed 14th place on our ranking.
Sure, it might be best known for mariachi bands and tequila production, but according to local expert Hannah Breckner, the hub is flourishing when it comes to art and culture.
‘[Guadalajara’s] cultural foundation runs deep: the UNESCO-listed Instituto Cultural Cabañas houses José Clemente Orozco’s provocative murals, while leafy Colonia Americana’s beautifully restored mansions now pulse with galleries, boutiques, and studios,’ writes Hannah. ‘Established ceramics workshops like Cerámica Suro and Taller Paco Padilla sit alongside a new wave of makers, showcased in independent concept stores like Amor Apache, Albergue Transitorio, and NIMIA, that blur the line between design and art.’
📍 Read the full list of Time Out’s Best Cities for Culture with Intrepid Travel 2026.
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