In a press release, Savills reveals that the study, "integrated into the Impacts program, analyses which cities are best positioned to attract and retain qualified talent."

Lisbon occupies the 19th position, in a ranking led by London, New York, and Singapore, which "lead the ranking and remain the main global centres of decision-making, capital, and talent." However, according to the same study, "the corporate map is changing."

According to Savills, companies "first choose the markets where they find the right talent for their strategy. Only then do they define where to install teams and offices."

Opportunities in more cities

Thus, “opportunities arise for a wider range of cities. Markets like Toronto, Madrid, or Berlin are gaining ground in dual hub models or as alternatives to large metropolises, by combining qualified talent with more competitive operating costs,” the statement reads.

Lisbon's position

Savills says that Lisbon asserts itself in this balance, combining “qualified talent, competitive costs, and quality of life, positioning itself alongside cities like Kuala Lumpur and Bengaluru.” In this way, Lisbon is “on the radar of companies seeking to expand or relocate operations in services and technology.”

Regarding Portugal, the Global Talent Cities Index 2026 reinforces “Lisbon as a relevant destination for international companies. The city benefits from a young and qualified workforce, an expanding ecosystem of technology and service companies, and a positive image among foreign talent. These factors consolidate its role as a connecting platform between Europe, Africa, and Latin America, with a direct impact on office occupancy strategies.”

Other cities

The study also highlights other cities “where quality of life is crucial for attracting and retaining talent, such as Melbourne, Copenhagen, or Montreal.” Where companies “find more balanced cities, with lower costs than in large metropolises and prepared to receive highly qualified teams.”

Expert opinion

According to Sarah Brooks, Associate Director of Savills World Research, currently “a new corporate geography is emerging. The large global centres remain crucial, but increasingly they are part of broader office networks that support growth, provide access to talent, and improve cost efficiency.”

In turn, Michelle Needles, Global Head of Enterprise Solutions at Savills' Global Occupier Services, reinforces the point that “the traditional relationship between workers and jobs has been reversed.” The expert also says that companies are "increasingly moving away from asking people to relocate and are instead setting up shop where the talent already is and wants to continue living, giving less priority to markets saturated with competitors and starting to consider locations that are still relatively unexplored."

According to Frederico Leitão de Sousa, Head of Offices at Savills Portugal, also quoted in the press release, “the results of this index confirm what we have been seeing in the Lisbon office market. After several years of strong activity, marked by the entry of new companies and increased take-up, the city is establishing itself as a leading destination for international operations. Lisbon combines three decisive factors for companies: qualified talent, competitive costs, and a quality of life that increasingly weighs on professionals' choices. It is this combination that makes the market especially attractive for investing and establishing new teams. At the same time, a diversification of location strategies is becoming apparent, with more companies considering other Portuguese cities that offer similar conditions and room to grow. Lisbon continues to lead, but the companies' focus on other Portuguese cities is a sign that Portugal is levelling up in decisions about where to grow and establish operations.”