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25 Most Cultural Cities in the World

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In this piece, we will look at the 25 Most Cultural Cities in the World. In case you want to skip our detailed analysis of cultural metropolises, you can go directly to the 5 Most Cultural Cities in the World.

In today’s world, the technological advancements of the modern day are transforming the creative landscape by fostering a globally interconnected community that serves as a global village for artists. Through this new reality, artists from different backgrounds collaborate in previously unthinkable ways, share their work, and get inspiration from one another. In addition to enhancing individual practices, the blending of artistic ideas and forms promotes a more varied and richer global culture.

Major cities like New York serve as epicenters of this cultural and economic synergy. The cultural sector in New York contributes more than $110 billion to the city's economy each year, demonstrating the financial benefits of its cultural diversity. In a similar vein, Hollywood's entertainment sector, which includes the film and television industries, contributes $504 billion to the US economy each year. These numbers highlight the fact that cultural mingling in big cities is a significant economic force, in addition to a social phenomenon.

The financial commitment of New York City to its cultural sector is evident in its FY 2024 budget, which, despite facing proposed cuts, was set at $107 billion. The budget saw a reinstatement of $36 million in funding for public libraries and $40 million for cultural institutions following advocacy from unions and community activists. However, this response underscores the city's dedication to sustaining essential services and supporting the cultural sector amidst fiscal challenges.

What acted as a catalyst for change across the media and entertainment sectors was the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused significant shifts in the global entertainment business. The global entertainment and media (E&M) industry had a 5.4% gain in sales in 2022, reaching $2.32 trillion. However, compared to 2021 growth rate of 10.6%, when economies and sectors around the world saw a resurgence, 2022 growth rate was slower. Going ahead, the growth rate is anticipated to decrease gradually over the following five years, with a forecast of only 2.8% growth from 2026 to 2027, a lower growth rate than the IMF's overall economic growth estimate for that year.​

Leading companies in the Hollywood segment of the entertainment sector, such as Disney and Netflix, have a major economic impact. Disney's yearly revenue, which surpassed $67 billion in 2023, is significantly influenced by its numerous entertainment divisions. In the same year, Netflix, with its innovative streaming service, announced sales close to $30 billion. These numbers demonstrate the economic power of the cultural industries and the mutually beneficial relationship that exists between financial success and cultural innovation in the world's largest entertainment companies.