Kingston tops Canada again as startup hub and is growing faster than ever

Global report ranks Kingston as Canada’s top small city for startups for the seventh straight year.

Kingston has been named Canada’s top small city for startups for the seventh consecutive year and the country’s fastest-growing startup ecosystem, according to the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2026 released by StartupBlink.

The report evaluated startup ecosystems in more than 1,500 cities across 120 countries. Kingston recorded growth of 19.1 per cent, the highest among Canada’s top 10 startup cities.

The city climbed three spots in the global rankings to reach 175th worldwide. It also ranked ninth in Canada across all city sizes and 18th among small cities globally. Kingston earned a fifth-place national ranking for ecosystem stakeholder strength, recognizing its network of investors, accelerators and support organizations.

Mayor Bryan Paterson said the ranking shows that innovation can thrive outside Canada’s largest urban centres. He credited entrepreneurs, institutions and community partners for helping build a globally competitive economy.

Kingston also performed strongly in key sectors, ranking fifth globally among small cities for cleantech and ninth for energy and environment. Donna Gillespie, CEO of Kingston Economic Development Corporation, said the results reflect years of investment in talent attraction, infrastructure and commercialization support.

Business development manager Norman Musengimana mentions a key factor in Kingston's success

Musengimana also pointed to Kingston's large post-secondary student population as an important advantage for local businesses and entrepreneurs.

Officials say the rankings highlight Kingston’s growing reputation as a centre for innovation and sustainable economic development.

Story by Alyssa Brush