Kannur is a city and a municipality in Kannur district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the district of Kannur.

Kannur is the fourth largest urban agglomeration in Kerala after Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, and has a population of 498,207. According to data compiled by the economics research firm Indicus Analytics on residences, earnings and investments, Kannur is one of ten best cities in India to live. Indicus considered six parameters — health, education, environment, safety, public facilities and entertainment — for preparing the 'reside-in' index.[1] It is popularly known as the city of Looms and Lores. Kannur is famous for its pristine beaches, its native performing art Theyyam, and its handloom industry.

Kannur is of strategic military importance. It houses one of the 62 military cantonments in the country and is the current seat of the Defence Security Corps.