Toulouse to Ho Chi Minh City: Five fast-rising cities that should be on travellers' radars right now

A new global report spotlights the world's emerging urban hotspots. From thriving cultural scenes to changing neighbourhoods, locals reveal what makes them worth exploring now.

New York, London and Paris have once again topped Oxford Economics' annual ranking of the world's leading cities. But beyond these familiar names, its 2026 Global Cities Index has identified 28 "cities to watch" – places whose rapid growth and rising fortunes could see them become increasingly influential in the years ahead.

These cities aren't just growing economically. New neighbourhoods, thriving cultural scenes and improved transport links are already reshaping the visitor experience and making them increasingly interesting places to visit.

We selected five from the list and spoke to people who know them well to find out what's changing – and why they're worth exploring now.

With its population forecast to grow by 57,000 over the next four years – more than anywhere else in France – Toulouse is one of Europe's fastest-growing cities and is attracting younger, skilled newcomers with its mild climate, relatively affordable cost of living and high quality of life.

"Here, you don't have to choose between slow life and fast life," said Elodie Paramelle, who recently returned to Toulouse after 10 years in London. "You get the energy of a big city, with an incredible food scene, independent cafes, cocktail bars and a growing cultural offering, alongside a much slower pace of life." 

Toulouse has changed significantly in recent years, according to Mélodie Tyler, who moved back here after seven years in Paris. She says the city is much more walkable and bike-friendly, while its food and wine scene has expanded dramatically. And she notes that the buzz is spreading beyond the historic centre. "Ponts-Jumeaux where I live hosts a bunch of festivals, guinguettes [open-air bars] and skateboarding competitions," she said. "The Toulousains love to party and be outside as much as possible!" 

Beyond its thriving neighbourhoods, Toulouse is also major aerospace hub, home to hundreds of companies, including Airbus's global headquarters. Visitors can explore that heritage at the Cité de l'Espace space-themed discovery centre or Aeroscopia aviation museum beside the Airbus runways. For something more unusual, La Halle de La Machine brings art and engineering together through giant mechanical creatures created by a local street theatre company.

Vietnam's largest city is on a remarkable trajectory. Oxford Economics predicts Ho Chi Minh City will be among the world's 50 fastest-growing cities over the next five years, with an economy that could rival Berlin's by 2050. Tourism is booming too, with more than eight million international visitors last year, exceeding projections.

"The first metro line only opened at the end of 2024, and it's one of the most tangible symbols of how quickly the city is changing," said Meaghan Yash, a travel specialist at tour operator Timbuktu Travel who frequently designs trips here. The 20km (12.5 mile) line runs from Ben Thanh Market in the city centre to the Suoi Tien theme park, with single fares costing less than £1 ($1.33).

Yet, Ho Chi Minh's appeal lies in how it balances change with continuity. Chris Buchart, commercial director at Vietnamese hotel company Fusion Group, suggests travellers visit the French-colonial Central Post Office and Opera House, and then the War Remnants Museum for context on the country's history, before turning to one of the city's greatest strengths: its food. 

Buchart recommends trying bánh mì (Vietnamese baguette sandwich), cơm tấm (broken rice) and bánh xèo (crispy pancakes), while Yash suggests venturing beyond the usual tourist circuit in central District 1 to quieter, more residential neighbourhoods where leafy streets are ideal for wandering and cafe-hopping. He also suggests Chợ Lớn, the city's historic Chinatown, for its markets, temples and medicine shops, while across the river in Thảo Điền, independent boutiques, galleries and home-grown Vietnamese brands make for excellent shopping.

The Polish capital has made one of the fastest jumps in the Global Cities index, climbing more than 100 places to 61st. Its quality-of-life score now surpasses London, New York and Tokyo, while its economy is projected to expand by around 3% annually – nearly twice the European city average. 

For Konrad Warzecha, a Polish-Australian whose family home is in Warsaw's Wola district, the transformation has been remarkable. "From our balcony you can see the skyline, and watching the roads, highways and towers go up over 20 years has made the city almost unrecognisable," said Warzecha, who blogs at House Sitters Guide.

The biggest changes, he says, are on the streets. "As a kid I rode the trams and did not feel safe, and I saw many robberies happen," he said. "Now I have never felt safer. People walk around at night, the streets are clean and trouble gets dealt with quickly."

For first-time visitors, Warzecha recommends a walk that takes in both the old and new city. He starts at the Soviet-era Palace of Culture and Science and follows Nowy Świat boulevard into the Old Town, painstakingly rebuilt after World War Two.

Along the way, he stops for pączki (Polish doughnuts) and a meal at a bar mleczny, one of the city's traditional, no-frills milk bars. "It tastes like home cooking," he said. "A three-course meal with drinks comes to around £13 ($17).

Warzecha once wanted to leave Poland and move back to Australia, but today his feelings have changed. "These days Warsaw is one of the places I recommend most, and not because I am from there. I am proud to have a Polish background."

Medellín's remarkable transformation is reflected in its economic fortunes. Employment in business and financial services has more than doubled over the past 20 years, and Oxford Economics predicts that the Colombian city's average income will overtake Buenos Aires and São Paulo by the 2040s.

"In the 10 years I've lived here, Medellín has gone from a curiosity for only the most daring to a hub for travel," said Patrick Quinn, who runs the Colombia Writers Retreat in nearby El Peñol. "Once blighted or overlooked places like Comuna 13, Perpetuo Socorro and Ciudad del Río have become cultural and economic centres."

The city's Metrocable, the first urban cable car system designed for mass public transport, carries commuters and visitors up the surrounding hillsides, while emerging creative districts are giving travellers new reasons to explore. "There is enough happening in its food, art and design scenes to warrant several days in its own right," said Joanna Rigby Jones, a travel specialist at Timbuktu Travel who has planned trips here for years. She recommends the creative district, Perpetuo Socorro, for design shops, galleries and speciality coffee.

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Comuna 13, once one of the city's most dangerous districts, now draws some of Medellín's biggest crowds. "Go with a local guide who can provide the context behind the murals, escalators and music rather than treating the neighbourhood simply as an Instagram backdrop," said Rigby Jones. 

Quinn also recommends exploring the Poblado and Laureles neighbourhoods, seeking out local creators and curators. "That way, you can go home and tell stories that will dismantle outdated misconceptions about this place," he said.

Once heavily dependent on oil, Abu Dhabi has transformed its economy through investment in technology, renewable energy, property and finance. The UAE capital now ranks sixth in the Global Cities index for the skills and education of its workforce, ahead of Paris and Boston, while its non-oil economy and job market are projected to surpass neighbouring Dubai.

"Abu Dhabi feels a little slower and more relaxed than Dubai or Sharjah," said Muna Abu-Hijleh, an American who has lived in both Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. "There's more of a sense of space, and you can go from a very modern city to the beach, the mangroves or quieter neighbourhoods quite easily." 

That slower pace is part of the appeal for Jeremy Savory, a longtime UAE resident and frequent visitor to Abu Dhabi, "It's a city that's been engineered to be the stable alternative next to Dubai's flash," he said. "In this region right now, boring is a selling point." 

Yet, Abu Dhabi is making an enormous cultural statement. On Saadiyat Island, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum both opened in 2025, while the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is scheduled to open on 11 December 2026.

Abu-Hijleh also suggests at least one day at a slower pace, such as having breakfast at a local cafe or browsing at the mall. "The UAE can look incredibly futuristic from the outside, but everyday life is much more ordinary and human than the skyscrapers and luxury hotels might suggest."

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