redefining cultural interactions and the global exchange of urban values. Despite this potential, most studies on smart cities have concentrated on technological and managerial dimensions, leaving the cultural and diplomatic aspects largely overlooked. Addressing this gap, the present study analyzes how the metaverse and digital urbanism can enhance cultural diplomacy in contemporary cities. A mixed-method approach was applied. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews with experts were conducted to identify the main conceptual categories. In the quantitative phase, data were collected from 384 participants through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using structural equation modeling. The findings reveal that the metaverse fosters intercultural interactions and shared cultural experiences, while institutional and policy capacity exerts the strongest direct effect on cultural diplomacy. Overall, the study concludes that the metaverse is not merely a technological tool but becomes an effective medium for cultural diplomacy when integrated with urban identity and institutional governance. It is recommended that urban policymakers promote digital cultural content and design metaverse-based cultural events to strengthen urban cultural diplomacy.