London ranks second and Beijing fifth in the 2026 Global City Talent Stickiness Index, which assesses 130 cities across six dimensions.
London ranks second among global cities for talent development and retention, while Beijing comes fifth, according to the Global City Talent Retention Index 2026 released in Beijing on September 21st.
New York takes the top spot, followed by London, San Francisco and Paris. Shanghai ranks ninth, placing two Chinese cities in the global top 10.
The report was released at the 2026 China-Europe Talent Forum. It was jointly published by the Beijing Academy of Talent Development Strategy and Springer Nature.
The report assesses 130 cities across 47 countries on six dimensions: economic foundations, innovation, cultural openness, ecological health, social welfare and public life. Together, these indicators measure the environment for talent development, as well as cities’ ability to attract and retain talent.
Beijing has remained in the global top 10 for seven consecutive years. This year, it ranks fifth, with innovation identified as one of its key strengths.
London, meanwhile, continues to stand out among European cities. It ranks second overall and is also included among the cities that have remained in the global top 10 for three consecutive years.
The report also examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping competition for talent. It notes that cities with strong AI innovation capabilities are increasingly combining technological strengths with broader talent development ecosystems.
In this context, Beijing and London are both highlighted as major innovation hubs. Their existing research and innovation capacity provides a strong foundation for attracting and retaining talent in the AI era.
However, the report also stresses that innovation alone does not determine a city’s ability to retain talent. Factors such as the living environment, cultural openness, social welfare and public services also play an important role.
The findings offer a broader view of how Chinese and European cities are developing their talent ecosystems. While their strengths vary, the report points to growing links between AI innovation and the wider environment for talent development.
The forum also launched the China-Europe Talent Think Tank Alliance. It will promote academic dialogue, research cooperation and talent data collaboration between China and Europe. In addition, the alliance plans to support exchanges between researchers and strengthen cooperation on international talent studies.
Founded in 2018, the China-Europe Talent Forum has become a platform for talent exchanges and practical cooperation between China and Europe. This year’s forum focused on talent and innovation cooperation, with exchanges spanning youth, education, technology, culture, future industries and ecological development.
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