Just three Canadian cities rank among the ‘smartest’ in the world
Major Canadian cities often make the cut on certain global rankings, but when it comes to the world’s “smartest” cities, only three Canadian cities cracked the list.
No, that doesn’t mean people living in these cities read the most books or can win a game of Jeopardy!
The 2026 Smart City Index from IMD, the International Institute for Management Development, ranks cities based on factors including technology, infrastructure, quality of life, and more.
Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal were the only Canadian cities to crack the list, which looked at 148 cities from around the world.
So, what exactly makes a city “smart”?
The index, produced by IMD’s World Competitiveness Center, looks at technology, infrastructure, economic strength, quality of life, and inclusiveness, based largely on what residents think about their city. It evaluates 148 cities across areas including health and safety, mobility, opportunities, and governance.
Each city is given an overall grade from AAA to D based on how well it performs. AAA is the highest rating, followed by AA, A, BBB, BB, B, and so on.
Here’s where the “smart” Canadian cities ranked in 2026.
48. Toronto
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Toronto landed in 48th place in the 2026 Smart City Index, making a pretty significant jump from last year, when it ranked 63rd. It received an overall BBB rating in the index, with its technology performance scoring higher than its structural performance.
Toronto scored an A in technologies, suggesting residents are seeing the benefits of digital services in their everyday lives.
The city performed particularly well when it comes to online access to government services, with residents also saying that purchasing tickets online for shows and museums has made it easier to attend. The city’s internet speed and reliability also scored well, with residents saying it meets their connectivity needs.
The report also found that 83.1 per cent of Toronto respondents chose affordable housing as one of the five most urgent issues in the city. Next came road congestion at 55.6 per cent, followed by health services at 53.2 per cent.
58. Vancouver
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Way back in 2021, Vancouver ranked 28th overall, but this year, Vancouver landed in 58th place (last year the city ranked 53rd), and it received BBB ratings for both structures and technologies.
Much like Toronto, affordable housing was the biggest concern among Vancouver residents, with 85.4 per cent choosing it as one of their top five priorities. Health services followed at 66.7 per cent, while road congestion was selected by 58.5 per cent.
Vancouver’s results also show a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to basic services. While 78.6 per cent of residents said recycling services are satisfactory, just 56.3 per cent said basic sanitation meets the needs of the city’s poorest areas.
Vancouver’s digital services also appear to be making everyday life easier. 68.4 per cent said buying tickets online for shows and museums has made attending easier, while 65.3 per cent said online job listings have made finding work easier. Online medical appointments also scored well, with 62.3 per cent saying they’ve improved access to care.
86. Montreal
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This year, Montreal landed further down the list, coming in 86th place.
The city received an overall BB rating, with a B in technologies and BB in structures. Its technology score came in at 52.7, while structures scored slightly higher at 53.8.
Montreal also showed some strengths when it comes to digital services and quality of life. Residents gave positive marks to the city’s internet speed and reliability, while online ticket purchasing for shows and museums was also seen as making it easier to attend. Lifelong learning opportunities provided by local institutions were another bright spot.
But there are some areas that need work. Affordable housing was one of the city’s most urgent concerns, while healthcare and traffic congestion also stood out. Only 19.1 per cent of respondents said traffic congestion was not a problem, while just 39.7 per cent said medical services were satisfactory.
If you’re curious to see the top 20 smartest cities in the world, here’s the official ranking:
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Oslo, Norway
- Geneva, Switzerland
- London, England
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Lausanne, Switzerland
- Canberra, Australia
- Singapore
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Helsinki, Finland
- Seoul, South Korea
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Hamburg, Germany
- Beijing, China
- Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Munich, Germany
- Shanghai, China
To read the full index, visit IMD’s website.