Manchester has been named one of the world’s ‘Cities to Watch’ by Oxford Economics, highlighting the city’s growth and potential for further expansion over the coming years.

The recognition comes as part of the 2026 Global Cities Index, which assesses 1,000 cities worldwide across five categories: economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance.

Manchester ranked 90th globally, making it the highest-ranked UK regional city, and was the only UK city included in Oxford Economics’ new Cities to Watch selection. It was one of just five European cities to make the list, alongside Warsaw, Eindhoven, Toulouse and Tallinn.

A City with Economic Momentum

The report points to Manchester’s economic performance as one of the key reasons behind its inclusion.

Since 2010, Manchester has outpaced every other UK city for both GDP and productivity growth. Oxford Economics also expects the city to record the fifth-largest increase in jobs of any European city over the next 25 years.

Professional and business services are expected to play an important role in that growth, alongside Manchester’s expanding knowledge-based economy.

The city’s universities are another important part of the picture. Manchester has a large student population and continues to attract graduates and younger professionals, helping to build a growing pool of skilled workers.

That combination of employment opportunities, talent and comparatively lower costs than many larger European cities is helping Manchester attract both people and investment.

Thriving Cultural Scene

Manchester is well known for it’s culture, and it’s being invested in too. Sports, football specifically, and Manchester United and Manchester City even more specifically, have both brought in huge attraction to the city. The music scene is also continuing to grow, with the opening of Co-Op LIVE, and hosting the BRIT Awards.

The creative industries in the city are hard to ignore, and they’re a huge driving factor behind why Manchester continues to grow, be recognised, and ultimately end up named in lists like this one.

Transport Network & Regeneration

Another point highlighted in the report is Manchester’s significant growth in transport services – the strongest of any UK city outside London.

That growth reflects the city’s wider investment in connectivity. Over the past two decades, Manchester’s transport network has continued to expand, with the Bee Network now bringing together buses, trams, walking and cycling, with local rail being integrated from December 2026.

It’s not just becoming bigger, but more connected and reliable too. Since the introduction of the Bee Network, punctuality across the first areas to transition has risen from around 69% to consistently above 80%, while more than 98% of scheduled kilometres have been operated across much of the network.

A major driver behind this investment is Manchester’s focus on regeneration. Across Greater Manchester, funding is being directed towards transforming brownfield land into new, liveable neighbourhoods, with projects such as Holt Town, Mayfield and CyanLines creating new homes, green space, employment opportunities and improved connections.

As these areas continue to develop, better transport links are helping connect new neighbourhoods with the city centre and wider employment hubs – eventually resulting in the continued growth of Manchester, as highlighted in the Oxford Economic report.

Winning Qualities

The report also provides a useful snapshot of Manchester’s wider economic position. The city ranks 90th globally, with a particularly strong 74th position for economics.

In 2025, Manchester recorded a GDP of US$194 billion, with GDP per person of US$53,700 and a population of 3.6 million.

Oxford Economics identifies high educational attainment, economic stability and the size of the local economy among Manchester’s key strengths. These factors are helping to support the city’s growing reputation as a destination for businesses, talent and investment.

There are challenges too, with housing costs, crime and environmental factors highlighted as areas where Manchester performs less strongly. However, the report ultimately places Manchester within its “Sustainable City” archetype, reflecting the balance between its economic performance, quality of life and longer-term development.

This broader picture helps put Manchester’s position as a City to Watch into context. Its growth is being driven not by one factor, but by a combination of economic strength, a large and highly educated population, investment and ongoing regeneration.