Melbourne crowned ‘world’s friendliest city’

The city took the top position in the publication’s annual list, based on votes from hundreds of thousands of travelers around the world. The 2026 survey received 798,867 votes across the Readers Choice Awards.

Melbourne was recognized for the warm welcome visitors receive, including the friendliness of local residents and the city’s overall hospitality.

The result comes as Melbourne continues to attract visitors with its food, coffee, arts, sporting events and diverse cultural communities.

The city’s multicultural character is also a major part of everyday life, with communities from around the world contributing to Melbourne’s restaurants, festivals, neighborhoods and cultural events.

The recognition is positive news for Victoria’s tourism industry, as international and domestic visitors continue to explore Melbourne and surrounding destinations.

Melbourne is also performing strongly in other categories in this year’s Condé Nast Traveler awards. Two Melbourne hotels were among the top four hotels in Australia and New Zealand, with The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne ranked second.

Condé Nast Traveler’s Melbourne guide highlights the city’s arts, food, coffee culture and distinctive neighborhoods as some of its major attractions.

The latest recognition gives Melbourne another international boost and places the Victorian capital firmly in the spotlight as a welcoming destination for travelers from around the world.