Which cities will be among Germany’s most digital in 2026? The first answer is clear: Aachen, Bochum, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Cologne, Leipzig, Munich, Nuremberg and Stuttgart make up the top 10 of the 2026 Smart City Index. The crucial question, however, remains unanswered: which city will come out on top?

On 8 September 2026, the digital industry association Bitkom will reveal the exact ranking of Germany’s smartest cities. One thing is already clear: there have been some significant changes at the top. Only two of the ten cities remain in exactly the same position as last year. All the others have moved up or down the ranking.

Aachen enters the rankings – Heidelberg drops out

The most prominent new entry is Aachen. The city in North Rhine-Westphalia has climbed from 16th place last year, making it into the top 10 for the first time. This comes as no great surprise: as early as 2025, Aachen was already among the national frontrunners in the field of mobility, ranking 8th.

Heidelberg, on the other hand, having finished 10th last year, has not managed to make the top 10 this time round. This once again demonstrates just how dynamic the field has become.

This shift was particularly evident in 2025: at that time, Hanover jumped a full 34 places from 41st to 7th. Düsseldorf improved from 17th to 6th place, and Leipzig from 23rd to 9th. Munich remained at the top with 90.2 points, just ahead of Hamburg with 89.6 points. Stuttgart took third place.

Will Munich be able to defend its top position in 2026? That remains to be seen.

What makes a city ‘smart’ these days?

The Smart City Index has long since measured more than just the number of available apps or digital public services. This year, Bitkom is assessing all major German cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants across five categories. The assessment takes into account more than 14,000 data points – ranging from digital administration and mobility to energy, education and digital infrastructure.

This reveals a shift: individual, spectacular digital projects are no longer enough. It is becoming increasingly crucial whether digital solutions actually work in everyday life – for example, when citizens carry out administrative tasks online, when modes of transport are intelligently linked, or when cities use data to respond more quickly to crises and new challenges.

Germany’s cities are becoming more digital – but not at the same pace

A look back at recent years also shows that ‘Smart City’ is not a title a city wins once and then retains. Positions in the ranking sometimes shift considerably.

This is precisely what makes the Smart City Index so interesting. It not only shows which German cities are currently leading the way in digitalisation, but also highlights where momentum is building, which approaches are working, and how differently cities are shaping their digital transformation.

Which city will be Germany’s smartest in 2026?

Munich has topped the Smart City Index for the last three years running. However, Hamburg closed the gap to just 0.6 points in 2025. At the same time, cities such as Hanover, Düsseldorf and now Aachen have shown just how quickly the balance of power can shift.

On 8 September, the full ranking of the 2026 Smart City Index will be published here on the website – and with it, the answer to the question: Which city is Germany’s new number one?

The winning city will also take to the stage at the Smart Country Convention on 13 October and will be honoured for its outstanding achievement.