Montreal ranks fourth in Canada's best cities for 2026, dropped from second place
Travel + Leisure's annual survey put Montreal at 82.78 points, behind Quebec City, Victoria and Ottawa but ahead of Vancouver.
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Montreal slipped in Travel + Leisure's 2026 World's Best Awards, landing in fourth place among Canadian cities with a score of 82.78—a noticeable drop from last year's second-place finish.
The rankings, now in their 31st edition, drew from more than 207,000 readers casting around 661,000 votes on cities, hotels and islands worldwide. Canadian cities were scored on sights, food, friendliness, shopping and overall value.
Quebec City held the top spot again with 86.99 points, followed by Victoria (83.77) and Ottawa (83.11). Vancouver came in fifth at 82.73; Toronto did not make the cut.
Travel + Leisure's Montreal guide highlighted Parc du Mont-Royal, Old Montreal and Notre-Dame Basilica, alongside the city's restaurant scene—including Mon Lapin, voted Canada's second-best restaurant in 2025—plus the world's largest jazz festival and vibrant nightlife. The magazine acknowledged the city's strength across multiple dimensions but noted it has been passed by two other Canadian destinations this year.
