In an increasingly urban and connected world, smart cities are no longer a promise, but an urgent necessity. According to several recent indices, the best-positioned cities combine technology, sustainability, quality of life and civic-tech innovation. Here we review what these cities are, what distinguishes them, the challenges they face, and why they are expected to shine until 2026.

What is a smart city and how is it measured?

A smart city is one that uses digital technologies, connected infrastructure, data and smart policies to improve the quality of life of its inhabitants, optimize resources and efficiently manage urban services, reducing environmental impacts. Key indicators to measure their level of intelligence include mobility (travel times, public transport, traffic), digital connectivity (internet speed, coverage, IoT), environment (air quality, green spaces, CO₂ emissions), digital public services (health, e-government, security), energy efficiency and citizen participation. Environmental sustainability is central to these cities, encompassing energy efficiency, climate change adaptation, water management, biodiversity and ecological footprint reduction. However, technological accessibility remains a challenge: older people, remote areas or communities with fewer resources may be left behind, so it is critical to close these gaps through inclusive policies, economic access and digital literacy by 2026.

Selection of featured cities

The following cities appear frequently in recent rankings (such as the IMD Smart City Index 2025, sustainability reports, connectivity, innovation, etc.) and are expected to maintain or improve their leadership by 2026:

• • Zurich, Switzerland
    First place in the IMD 2025 index. Excels in urban infrastructure, health, governance, transportation and public services.

  • Oslo, Norway
    High quality of life, strong commitment to sustainability, low pollution and efficient connections.

  • Geneva, Switzerland
    Continuous improvement in services, green spaces, citizen welfare and transparent public policies.

  • Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    Strong investments in digitalization, green infrastructure and smart municipal services.

  • Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
    Emphasis on governance, green diversification and energy innovation.

  • London, UK
    Robust technology ecosystem, startups, connectivity, smart public transport and sustainable mobility policies.

  • Copenhagen, Denmark
    Benchmark in green urban planning, active mobility, clean energy and carbon neutrality.

  • Helsinki, Finland
    Innovations in integrated mobility, open data, citizen participation and energy efficiency.

  • Singapore, Singapore
    Sensor density, traffic management and advanced digital services.

  • Barcelona, Spain
    European example: smart street lighting, waste management, smart parking and urban mobility policies.

Factors that distinguish these cities

These are some of the key characteristics that make them leaders and allow them to project growth through 2026:

• • Advanced digital infrastructure: 5G networks, IoT ("internet of things"), urban sensors, digital twins.

  • Sustainable and integrated mobility: efficient public transportation, promotion of bicycles and electric vehicles, multimodal transportation applications.

  • Clean energy and energy efficiency: use of renewable sources, green certified buildings, smart lighting, energy demand management.

  • Water and waste management: optimization, recycling, pollution reduction, efficient treatment.

  • Citizen participation and transparent governance: access to open data, applications that connect citizens with municipal decisions, participatory public policies.

  • Quality of life: safety, health, green spaces, air quality, affordable housing.

Common challenges towards 2026

Although well positioned, these cities face challenges that they will need to address to maintain their advantage:

1. 1. Equity and digital divide: not only providing infrastructure, but ensuring that all citizens can access and use technologies.
   2. Cost of living: cities with high innovation tend to have high prices for housing, services and transportation; this can generate inequalities.
   3. Data privacy and security: responsible handling of citizen data, regulation, cybersecurity.
   4. Climate resilience: adaptation to climate change, extreme events, floods, heat waves.
   5. Sustainable financing: maintain sufficient investment, mixed public-private models, incentives for continuous innovation.

 Trends that will set the course until 2026

Some of the trends that are emerging as decisive:

• • Integration of AI and predictive analytics to anticipate service failures, traffic optimization, energy management.

  • Expansion of urban digital twins that allow simulating climate or mobility scenarios for decision making.

  • Increased use of electric mobility, autonomous vehicles, and transportation as a service (MaaS).

  • Focus on the 15-minute (or five-minute) city, so that essential services are close to neighborhoods, reducing trips.

  • Zero carbon or carbon neutral policies, urban climate agreements, green infrastructure, green roofs, urban green spaces.

Conclusion

The cities at the top of the rankings towards 2026 have something in common: strategic vision, political will, commitment to sustainability, openness to technological change and a focus on people. Zurich, Oslo, Dubai, London, Singapore, Barcelona, among others, show how innovation, well-being and environmental responsibility can be integrated.

For those cities that aspire to join this group, it is not enough to adopt technologies: it is a matter of integrating these tools with participatory governance, social justice and climate resilience.