World's Best Hospitals 2026

Choosing a hospital is rarely a simple decision. It is often made in moments of uncertainty, when unusual symptoms or a difficult diagnosis is already weighing heavy on the patient. That’s why dependable guidance on where to find high-quality medical care is so important. Whether an individual is seeking care for themselves or for a loved one, clear information can help them pursue the best possible health outcomes.

The number of hospitals worldwide is projected to approach 216,000 this year, according to global data platform Statista. With so many options to consider, it can be challenging for patients and families to gather a comprehensive view of their options.

To help bridge that gap, Newsweek has partnered with Statista to present the World’s Best Hospitals 2026 ranking, now in its eighth year. Our list highlights leading hospitals around the globe and provides country-specific rankings, so readers can find information tailored to their needs and location.

This year’s evaluation includes hospitals across 32 countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. These countries were selected using multiple comparability criteria, including population size, life expectancy, standard of living, hospital density and the availability of reliable data.

Each hospital was reviewed and given a score based on four data sources: recommendations from medical experts—including doctors, hospital managers and other health care professionals—hospital quality metrics, existing patient experience data and Statista’s Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Implementation Survey. PROMs are defined as standardized, validated questionnaires completed by patients to measure their perception of their functional well-being and quality of life.

The 2026 methodology expanded upon previous iterations of the ranking, including the Philippines and Turkey for the first time. In addition, this year's evaluation gives greater weight to hospital quality metrics, incorporates new accreditation, quality, safety and patient experience data across multiple countries and further elevates the role of PROMS through a higher weighting and revised Implementation Survey.

More than 2,500 hospitals were evaluated this year, with special recognition given to the top 250 institutions worldwide. The top five honorees are Mayo Clinic-Rochester (Rochester, Minnesota), Toronto General-University Health Network (Toronto), Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland), Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset (Stockholm) and Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston).

Reliable, transparent data can be invaluable when navigating health care decisions. We hope that this ranking serves as a practical resource for patients, families and health care leaders seeking insight into some of the world’s most respected medical institutions.