The FT‑Nikkei Investing in America 2026 rankings evaluate 94 cities on 40 indicators that matter to foreign investors. Only municipalities with at least 250,000 residents in the 50 states and Washington qualify. Methodology mirrors prior editions but refreshes data and adds a new energy resilience metric, which accounts for 10 % of the final score, and reflects shifting geopolitical risks.

The updated framework also retains the trade‑war resilience category, measuring import and export shares of GDP at state and metropolitan levels. Talent, diversity, cost of doing business, infrastructure, livability and investment performance remain core pillars, drawing on sources such as the U.S. Census, BEA and FEMA, and benchmarks municipal incentives. Together they produce a composite attractiveness index for each city.

Investors use the rankings to pinpoint locations where supply‑chain shocks, talent pools and regulatory climates align with their expansion strategies. Cities scoring high on energy and trade‑war resilience attract more foreign direct investment, potentially shifting capital flows toward regions less exposed to oil price volatility or tariff escalations. The 2026 list therefore guides billions of dollars in cross‑border projects across sectors from tech to manufacturing.