Vancouver ranked very highly in a new report that analyzes global cities in a variety of work-related metrics.
The data comes from the International Workplace Group (IWG), and it’s the 2026 edition of the Anywhere Index.
According to IWG, the annual index ranks cities in terms of how they best support remote work for people who are travelling. Criteria include climate, broadband speed, accommodation, transportation, food, culture, and availability of flexible workplaces.
Vancouver was in good company on the index, with the top five as follows:
- Bangkok
- Tokyo
- Barcelona
- Porto
- Vancouver
Vancouver is the only Canadian city among the top 10 in the work report.
The metrics Vancouver scored high in include proximity to mountains, national parks, beaches, sustainability, availability of flexible workspaces, broadband, and safety.
“The ranking also highlights the growing variety of destinations now appealing to employees, from major Asian hubs and European city-break favourites to long-haul locations such as Vancouver and Medellin,” IWG said.
“Its mix of cities underlines how successful workcation destinations need to offer more than holiday appeal alone, combining strong connectivity, transport, accommodation and access to flexible workspace with the culture, food and lifestyle experiences that make extending a trip worthwhile,” it added.
According to IWG, 90 per cent of respondents believe that working from anywhere has improved their work-life balance, and 80 per cent say it has improved productivity.
Nearly half of respondents (48 per cent) said they plan to extend a holiday or mini-break by working remotely this year, while 46 per cent said they’re more likely than last year to do so. An additional 43 per cent said they have already worked remotely from a holiday destination without using annual leave time.
Unsurprisingly, IWG says that work-from-anywhere policies are a major recruitment and retention lever, with 80 per cent saying “such a policy would make a new role more attractive.”
IWG says that over 60 per cent of people say that they’d consider changing jobs for a better work-from-anywhere policy.
Avoiding burnout is also a major consideration, and 54 per cent said supporting wellbeing is the biggest reason why trips have been extended through remote working.
Mark Dixon, executive chairman and founder of IWG, said, “We’re seeing more workers than ever extending their trips to work remotely or choosing to spend longer periods abroad as digital nomads.”
Dixon added, “Thanks to hybrid working and cloud technology, employees now have the freedom to work wherever and whenever suits them best – whether that’s a local flexible workspace or a co-working centre on the other side of the world. For many, the days of long daily commutes are over, and there is more freedom to work in new locations.”