New York Tops Burson’s 2026 Global Sports Cities Ranking
New York has taken first place in Burson’s 2026 ranking of the world’s leading sports cities, ending Paris’s three-year run at the top. Paris ranks second, followed by Los Angeles in third, London in fourth and Madrid in fifth. The annual study assesses 100 sports destinations. Burson’s ranking goes beyond stadiums and headline events. It combines international perception with quantitative indicators, including media coverage, social media performance and feedback from sports leaders, journalists and industry experts. New York’s position reflects its broad sports ecosystem: major professional teams, internationally recognised venues, large audiences and sustained global media attention. The result also points to the growing value of year-round visibility. Cities can gain attention through major tournaments, but the ranking suggests that lasting influence depends on recurring competitions, professional clubs, infrastructure and continued engagement with athletes, federations, media and fans. For New York, that wider presence helped lift its sporting reputation without relying on a single event. Other cities recorded gains linked to major competitions and emerging disciplines. Milan rose to seventh after the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, while several 2026 FIFA World Cup host cities improved, including Atlanta at 28th, Houston at 32nd, San Francisco at 33rd and Vancouver at 35th. New pathways are also affecting the rankings: Zurich climbed to 49th after gaining 21 places, Geneva entered at 67th amid momentum from UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, and Shanghai rose to 41st through its esports and emerging-sports calendar.
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