Exit Paris and New York? The luxury real estate market is experiencing a fundamental shift today. Sector reference, BARNES highlighted in the 2026 edition of its Global Property Handbook the fact that the very wealthy (over $30 million in assets) are no longer looking just for an address or a heritage asset, but for a 5-star living environment.
Sun and sea, at the top, mountains and skiing among other big favorites… This trend is transforming what were once upscale holiday destinations into new dynamic hubs all year round. And for some, it’s the jackpot: demand is exploding, real estate prices are soaring, infrastructure is developing at breakneck speed… which of the cities concerned are the big winners from this trend?
These cities which attract more and more millionaires
Here are the top 10 new “year-round living” destinations according to Barnes:
1. Marbella
2. Majorca
3. Aspen
4.Miami
5. Dubai
6. Lake Como
7. Palm Beach
8. The Hamptons
9. Whistler
10. Comporta.
Spain, big winner of the 2026 edition
This edition clearly establishes Spain as the flagship country of “live all year round“. Marbella and Majorca occupy the first two places in the ranking, driven by a favorable climate, a recognized quality of life, international educational and medical infrastructures, but also by understandable… and advantageous taxation. The Beckham law, which allows new residents to benefit from a flat tax of 24% on income generated in Spain, appeals to entrepreneurs, senior executives and wealthy people in search of stability and fiscal predictability.
From resort to permanent residence: Europe out of the game?
This is the great novelty of the 2026 ranking: the explicit integration of historically seasonal destinations among places to live all year round. Teleworking, global connectivity and increased mobility have accelerated this movement, but it is above all based on a profound transformation of the local offer.
In Dubai, this change is particularly visible. Long perceived as a temporary expatriation destination, the city now attracts people who settle there permanently. Development of international schools, high-level medical infrastructure, serviced residences and long-term urban strategy are stabilizing a market once considered speculative, now oriented towards residential real estate. As summarized by Thibault de Saint Vincent, president of the Barnes group, “Destinations once perceived as seasonal have become true four-season cities, where people live, work and raise their children.»
Climate, taxation and clarity of the rules of the game now structure the residential decisions of an increasingly mobile international clientele. For the luxury agency, the “live all year round» reflects the evolution towards luxury real estate which is no longer just an investment, but a real lifestyle choice. And it is undoubtedly Europe which is bearing the brunt of this, because this recomposition is accompanied by a partial movement of wealth outside the Old Continent, with the exception of Spain.
