This Indian city ranks sixth in world’s happiest cities 2026 list
One heritage city from India has secured a place on Time Out’s world’s happiest cities 2026 list and no, it’s probably not the one you’re thinking about.
Your city could be a a party animal’s ultimate paradise, home to some of the best food stories, and probably have some of the best landmarks for capturing those aesthetic memories. But does the city make you happy?
The latest world’s happiest cities 2026 ranking by Time Out, has featured 20 such cities. For its annual global survey, around 24,000 locals were asked to rate their cities not just for nightlife and food, but also respond to questions about the sense of community, how easy it is to find love, and whether their city makes them happy.
Indian city ranks in World’s Happiest Cities
This city is famous for its rich desi food, iconic landmarks, and is often one of the most sought-after weekend getaways for people in North India. It’s the Pink City! Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, has been ranked sixth on the Time Out world’s happiest cities 2026 list.
As the Gen Z lingo goes, “This was not on anyone’s bingo card!”
Well, the Pink City has always been easy to love. Anyone who has visited Jaipur knows how it offers an unusual balance.
It has those green parks, walkable neighbourhoods, and a hustle that isn’t overwhelmingly chaotic. It also has a slow-living charm. You can spend the morning exploring a palace, the afternoon shopping in colourful bazaars, and the evening over pyaaz kachoris, laal maas or pasta, if that’s your thing.
So, in a way, this royal city definitely has something for everyone.
As far as specific parameters are concerned, to compile the list of the world’s happiest cities in 2026, researchers asked locals to respond to the following statements:
- My city makes me happy
- I feel happier in my city than in other places I’ve lived or visited
- The people in my city seem positive
- I find joy in the everyday experiences my city offers
- The sense of happiness in my city has grown a lot recently
The rankings were then based on the share of positive responses, with only the highest-ranked city from each country making it to the final top 20. Topping the list this year is Bath in the United Kingdom, followed by Panama City in Panama, Guadalajara in Mexico, Medelln in Colombia, and Kraków in Poland.