ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — Indonesia’s capital of commerce, Jakarta, has secured a place among the World’s Best Cities 2026, ranking 53rd globally in the latest report released by global consulting firm Resonance Consultancy.
The ranking places Jakarta ahead of several prominent international cities, including Washington DC in the United States, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, Busan in South Korea, and Delhi in India.
The achievement reinforces Jakarta’s growing status as one of Asia’s most influential urban centers, even as Indonesia continues its transition of the national capital to Nusantara in East Kalimantan.
According to the World’s Best Cities 2026 report, Jakarta’s strongest performance came in the “Lovability” category, where the city ranked 28th globally. The assessment highlights Jakarta’s appeal as a destination for family tourism, entertainment, shopping, and visually striking urban experiences that continue to attract both domestic and international visitors.
Among the city’s standout attractions are the revitalized Old Town district (Kota Tua), the rooftop lifestyle destinations in Jakarta’s Sudirman Central Business District (SCBD), and the waterfront developments in Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK), all of which have become major draws for tourists and social media users alike.
Jakarta’s digital footprint also played a significant role in the ranking. The city placed ninth worldwide for Instagram activity and eighth globally for TikTok video engagement, underscoring its growing visibility and cultural influence in the digital era.
Beyond tourism and lifestyle, Resonance highlighted major improvements in Jakarta’s transportation infrastructure. The expanding LRT Jabodebek network, the ongoing MRT Jakarta Phase 2 project, and enhanced airport rail connectivity were cited as key developments helping improve urban mobility and reduce dependence on private vehicles in one of the world’s largest metropolitan areas.
Economically, Jakarta continues to be viewed as Indonesia’s primary business and investment hub. Despite the formal relocation of the nation’s capital, investment flows into Jakarta remain strong, particularly in real estate, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and data center development.
The report specifically points to the rapidly growing Bekasi-Cikarang corridor, which is emerging as one of Southeast Asia’s key data center clusters, supporting cloud computing services and the region’s accelerating digital transformation.
“Yes, the nation’s capital is moving to Nusantara, but Jakarta remains the center of economic gravity,” Resonance Consultancy noted in its city profile.
The World’s Best Cities ranking is based on Resonance’s proprietary Place Power Score methodology, which combines objective city performance data with global public perception. Cities with populations exceeding one million residents are evaluated across three core pillars: Livability, Lovability, and Prosperity.
The assessment incorporates 46 metrics across 30 categories and is supplemented by a global Ipsos survey involving more than 21,000 respondents in 31 countries, measuring which cities people most want to live in, visit, and pursue economic opportunities in.
Jakarta’s inclusion among the world’s top cities signals that, despite ongoing urban challenges and its evolving political role, the city continues to strengthen its position as one of Asia’s most dynamic centers for business, tourism, culture, and innovation. (AT Network)
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