The 2026 Happy City Index, released in the United Kingdom, ranked New Taipei City 44th among 251 cities worldwide, earning a place in the prestigious GOLD Group of the world's top 50 happiest cities. The city also achieved the highest ranking in Taiwan, outperforming major international cities such as San Francisco and London.

The index is jointly published by Happy City Hub and the Institute for Quality of Life in the UK. The assessment was based on approximately 150,000 data points collected by 863 researchers and evaluated across 64 indicators covering citizen well-being, governance, environmental sustainability, economic development, healthcare, and transportation accessibility.

According to Dr. Bartosz Bartosewic, Director of the Happy City Index, New Taipei's success stems from its balanced and effective governance. Strong public safety performance and the continued development of the “Three Rings, Six Lines” metro network were highlighted as key factors contributing to residents' quality of life.

In addition to reviewing data, Dr. Bartosz personally visited the 435 Art Zone, Wetland Story House, and public service centers in New Taipei. He praised the city's efforts in cultural development, environmental conservation, and public services. The New Taipei City Government stated it will continue promoting net-zero carbon policies and urban resilience initiatives as it works toward becoming a leading international happy city.