The Mother City storms onto the podium at the 25th Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards, climbing from fourth place to Bronze behind Tokyo and Buenos Aires.
Table Mountain, take a bow. Cape Town has scooped Bronze for Most Desirable City (World) at the 25th Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards, voted for by some of the most well-travelled people on the planet. More than 251,000 Wanderlust readers cast over 8.2 million votes this year, placing Cape Town in the global top three, ahead of heavyweights including Sydney, Vancouver, Hong Kong and Montréal.
It’s a climb worth celebrating. Last year, Cape Town finished just off the podium in fourth place. This year, travellers pushed the city up a place into the medal positions. Cape Town shares the podium with serious company. Tokyo reclaimed the Gold, a title it last held in 2024, while Buenos Aires, last year’s champion, took Silver.
The rest of the global top ten reads like a bucket list: Sydney, Vancouver, Cartagena, New Orleans, Hong Kong, Marrakech and Montréal. Cape Town is one of only two African cities on the list, with Marrakech in ninth place.
What makes this medal special is who hands it out. The Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards are decided entirely by public vote, with no expert panel behind closed doors. That makes them the UK’s largest consumer-voted travel awards, celebrating the most desirable countries, cities, islands, regions, tour operators and travel brands.
The 2026 edition marked the awards’ 25th anniversary. Winners were announced at a London ceremony during World Travel Market week, with the Duke of Sussex delivering the keynote address.
And the people voting know their stuff. Wanderlust is the UK’s longest-running and largest travel magazine by circulation, championing authentic, sustainable, off-the-beaten-track travel for more than 30 years. Its readers are curious, adventurous and seriously well-travelled. When they say a city is worth the trip, the travel world listens.
For Cape Town, the UK remains its largest international source market, making recognition from the readership of a leading UK travel publication especially meaningful.
Briony Brookes, Chief Marketing Officer of Cape Town Tourism, says:
“Fourth last year, bronze this year, and we’re not done climbing. This one means the world to us because it comes straight from travellers. Wanderlust readers don’t tick boxes; they go deep, and they’ve told the world that Cape Town is a city you have to experience. That’s a credit to every guide, chef, winemaker, host and small business owner who makes a visit here unforgettable. To every reader who voted for us: thank you. We’ll see you soon.”
Luthando Tyhalibongo, Spokesperson for the City of Cape Town says:
“Recognition like this helps keep Cape Town front of mind for international travellers, creating opportunities for more bookings, more visitor spend and more jobs for Capetonians. The City will continue to invest in safety, access and infrastructure so the welcome matches the reputation. Bronze looks good on us, but gold would look even better.”
Summer is here, the beaches are calling, and the mountain is looking particularly smug. There has never been a better time to find out why the world’s travellers keep voting for Cape Town.
Start planning at capetown.travel.
See the full list of 2026 Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards winners here.
