Top 20 Smartest Cities in the World: Which Megacities Lead

Boston Consulting Group released a global smart city index evaluating 61 megacities on AI and digital technology adoption. London ranked first, with Dubai, New York, Washington, and Amsterdam in the top five. The study found growing interest in generative AI in cities across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

Boston Consulting Group published a global smart city index evaluating 61 major megacities worldwide based on their adoption of artificial intelligence and digital innovations. The assessment covered five key areas: strategy, performance, implementation of urban initiatives, infrastructure quality, and talent attraction. Cities were categorized into four groups: leading, accelerating, developing, and emerging. London took first place, demonstrating the highest scores in quality of life and economic opportunities. The top five also included Dubai, New York, Washington, and Amsterdam. Researchers noted that high interest in everyday use of generative AI is observed not only in traditional Western tech hubs but also in rapidly developing cities in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The article provides a full list of the top 20 smart cities in 2026.