The Financial Times has released its Executive MBA Ranking 2026, with the Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA programme taking the top spot globally.
The joint programme offered by Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology climbed from fourth place in 2025 to first in 2026.
CEIBS (China Europe International Business School) retained second place, while Spain’s IESE Business School rose sharply from 14th to third.
Financial Times Executive MBA Ranking 2026: Global Top 10
- Kellogg/HKUST Business School (Hong Kong) – 2025: 4th
- CEIBS (China/Switzerland/Ghana) – 2025: 2nd
- IESE Business School (Spain and other locations) – 2025: 14th
- SKEMA Business School (France and other locations) – 2025: 5th
- ESCP Business School (Europe and other locations) – 2025: 3rd
- Guanghua-Kellogg (China/US) – 2025: 10th
- EMBA-Global: Columbia/LBS (US/UK) – Not ranked in 2025
- Washington University: Olin (China) – 2025: 1st
- National University of Singapore Business School (Singapore) – 2025: 23rd
- University of Cambridge: Judge (UK) – 2025: 20th
Elsewhere, the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School ranked 16th, down slightly from 15th in 2025.
Next Stage Oxford’s Perspective
One of the most striking features of this year’s ranking is that the top two positions are held by programmes with strong connections to Greater China: Kellogg-HKUST in Hong Kong and CEIBS, which has a significant presence in mainland China.
Traditionally, US and European business schools have dominated the global business education landscape. The continued prominence of China- and Hong Kong-based EMBA programmes raises an interesting question about the evolving geographical balance of executive education.
Notably, China-based programmes also occupied the top two positions in 2025, with WashU-Fudan ranking first and CEIBS second.
Whether this represents a longer-term shift in the centre of gravity of global executive education from the US and Europe towards China remains to be seen. A broader analysis of rankings over several years will be necessary before drawing any firm conclusions.
It is certainly a development worth watching closely.
Source: Financial Times – Executive MBA Ranking 2026 (Official Rankings)