The guide, published online today (14 August) to coincide with A-level results day, chose Bristol out of 128 universities featured due to its impressive record in world-leading research.
It specifically identifies the 'formidable record' the University is building in AI research, a rise in research grants and contract income of £91m, and the research and innovation focus of its new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus due to open next year.
The accolade follows Bristol being named AI University of the Year at the National AI Awards in 2024 and the recent launch of the UK’s fastest supercomputer, Isambard-AI.
Overall, Bristol has risen an impressive ten places to 8th in the league table, scoring highly in research income (2nd), research quality (4th) and first year completion (6th).
Alastair McCall, Editor of the Daily Mail University Guide, said: "Bristol is constantly pushing at the boundaries of human knowledge. It is one of the big global players in research and is positioning itself to be at the forefront of the next industrial revolution with its artificial intelligence (AI) research capabilities.
"Bristol was the standout choice to be the Daily Mail Research University of the Year 2026. A £91m jump in competitively won research grants and contracts year on year has helped propel the university back into the UK top 10 in the wider Daily Mail University Ranking.
"The award also acknowledges the huge potential of the new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, due to fully open in 2026. The development has played a key part in the regeneration of part of Bristol city centre and will add significantly to the university's teaching and research heft as a centre for digital, business and social innovation.
"This year's launch at the university of the £225m Isambard-AI supercomputer, supported by the UK government, will help make Bristol one of the university destinations for anyone interested in technology that will shape the future of our working world."
The guide praised Bristol's efforts to make a Russell Group education as affordable as possible thanks to the range of bursaries available and its work to encourage applications from under-represented groups.
It also highlighted 'booming' applications with more than 63,000 students naming Bristol as one of their five UCAS choices in 2024 thanks to the University's reputation for 'producing in-demand graduates'.
Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol, said: "I am delighted to see Bristol recognised as the Research University of the Year. I want to thank and congratulate all our academic, technical and professional services staff who have contributed to this wonderful accolade through their hard work.
"I am also very proud that our world-leading research feeds directly into our curriculum. Our Bristol students are able to work with globally recognized experts who are pushing the boundaries of today's knowledge and skills, making this a very exciting place to study as well as undertake research."