Spanish and Italian cities, particularly Madrid and Milan, rank highly in the 2026 edition of the Barnes City Index. The luxury real estate specialist lists the favorite destinations of UHNWIs (ultra-high net worth individuals), i.e., individuals of all nationalities who have one thing in common: their wealth exceeds $30 million.
UHNWIs (ultra-high net worth individuals), i.e., the ultra-rich, are increasingly fond of cities in Italy and Spain, particularly Madrid and Milan.
The top five in the Barnes City Index 2026 clearly shows the growing appeal of these two cities, which rank first and second respectively in the ranking of UHNWIs’ favorite cities. This category includes individuals of all nationalities who have one thing in common: they have assets of at least $30 million.
Multi-criteria approach
Produced annually by the eponymous luxury real estate specialist, the Barnes City Index is based on a multi-criteria approach (emotional, practical, and financial, among others) to the cities preferred by the ultra-wealthy. Emotional criteria include quality of life, cultural richness, gastronomy, and the presence of a high-level international community, while practical criteria include security, quality of healthcare infrastructure, access to international education, and mobility.
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