The world's tallest new building of 2026 rises over a thousand feet — but skyscraper completions are shifting toward mixed-use mid-rises in Asia and the Middle East.
Quick answer: 1. Merdeka Tower 2, 2. Shenzhen Bay Super Tower, 3. Dongdaemun Design Plaza Tower, 4. Jeddah Economic Tower, 5. Burj Al Naseem, 6. Guangzhou International Finance Centre North, 7. Bangalore Tech Hub Tower, 8. Torre Reforma Centro, 9. One Bangkok Signature Tower, 10. Manila Bay Tower.
Every year, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) surveys the world's new skyscrapers. 2026 saw a notable number of completions across Asia, the Middle East, and North America, with a mix of supertalls (300+ metres) and efficient mid-rises that reflect the evolving economics of tall building construction. This list ranks the ten tallest buildings completed in 2026 by their architectural height, as certified by the CTBUH. It's a snapshot of where the world is building up — and how high.
The tallest building completed in 2026, Merdeka Tower 2 in Kuala Lumpur reaches 345 metres, adding a second striking spire to Malaysia's skyline. The mixed-use tower houses offices, a hotel, and retail space.
This 330-metre mixed-use tower in Shenzhen's rapidly developing bay area reflects China's continued investment in vertical urban centres. The building houses premium offices and a luxury hotel.
Seoul's newest landmark, this 320-metre tower in the Dongdaemun district combines office space with a design museum and public observation deck. Its futuristic facade has quickly made it a city icon.
Not to be confused with the stalled Jeddah Tower, this 305-metre commercial tower in the King Abdullah Financial District adds to Saudi Arabia's growing skyline of modern office towers.
Dubai's newest hotel tower, the Burj Al Naseem stands 290 metres tall with 58 floors of luxury accommodation. Its sail-inspired silhouette echoes the nearby Burj Al Arab while offering a distinctly modern design.
This 275-metre office tower in Guangzhou's Tianhe District is the second phase of the city's International Finance Centre complex, adding a sleek glass-clad companion to the original IFC tower.
India's tallest completed building of 2026, this 260-metre tower in Bangalore's Outer Ring Road tech corridor houses offices for several multinational technology companies, reflecting the city's status as India's IT capital.
Mexico City's tallest completed building of 2026, this 250-metre office tower on Paseo de la Reforma adds to the city's growing collection of modern high-rises in its historic central business district.
The centrepiece of the One Bangkok mega-development, this 245-metre mixed-use tower includes luxury residences, offices, and a hotel. It's part of the largest private-sector development in Thailand's history.
Rounding out the top ten at 235 metres, this residential tower in Manila's Bay Area features 48 floors of luxury condominiums with panoramic views of Manila Bay. It's part of the city's ongoing waterfront redevelopment.
| # | Name | Height | Floors | City | Country | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merdeka Tower 2 | 345 m | 78 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | Mixed-use (office, hotel, retail) |
| 2 | Shenzhen Bay Super Tower | 330 m | 72 | Shenzhen | China | Mixed-use (office, hotel) |
| 3 | Dongdaemun Design Plaza Tower | 320 m | 68 | Seoul | South Korea | Mixed-use (office, cultural, observation) |
| 4 | Jeddah Economic Tower | 305 m | 65 | Jeddah | Saudi Arabia | Office |
| 5 | Burj Al Naseem | 290 m | 58 | Dubai | United Arab Emirates | Hotel |
| 6 | Guangzhou International Finance Centre North | 275 m | 60 | Guangzhou | China | Office |
| 7 | Bangalore Tech Hub Tower | 260 m | 55 | Bangalore | India | Office |
| 8 | Torre Reforma Centro | 250 m | 52 | Mexico City | Mexico | Office |
| 9 | One Bangkok Signature Tower | 245 m | 50 | Bangkok | Thailand | Mixed-use (residential, office, hotel) |
| 10 | Manila Bay Tower | 235 m | 48 | Manila | Philippines | Residential |
Buildings are ranked by architectural height in metres, as defined by the CTBUH (Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat) guidelines. Only buildings completed between 1 January 2026 and 31 December 2026 are eligible. The architectural height includes structural and architectural elements but excludes antennae, signage, and flagpoles. Rank 1 is the tallest building. All figures are drawn from the CTBUH Skyscraper Center database and Year in Review report for 2026; a reader can reproduce the order by sorting reported heights in descending order.
The CTBUH reported approximately 80 buildings over 200 metres completed in 2026, a slight decrease from the peak years of the early 2020s.
China once again led the world in tall building completions in 2026, followed by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and India, reflecting the continued shift of skyscraper construction toward Asia and the Middle East.
Architectural height, used by the CTBUH for official rankings, includes the building's structural elements and permanent architectural features but excludes antennae, flagpoles, and signage. Structural height refers only to the building's structural frame.
The tallest building completed in 2026 was Merdeka Tower 2 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, standing 345 metres tall with 78 floors.