Curitiba named World Smart City Awards finalist and projects record budget

The City of Curitiba has been named a finalist for the 2026 World Smart City Awards for its Bairro Novo do Caximba project. Competing in the Housing Award category, the initiative focuses on transforming areas of precarious occupation and flood risk into a neighborhood featuring secure housing, urban infrastructure, and environmental recovery.

Developed by the Curitiba Urban Research and Planning Institute (Ippuc), the project is supported by the Municipal Secretariat of Public Works and the Curitiba Popular Housing Company (Cohab). The intervention is funded by 47.6 million euros from the French Development Agency (AFD), alongside municipal contributions. The project includes paving, drainage, sewage networks, public lighting, and the implementation of a linear park.

Separately, the Curitiba municipal government has projected a record budget for 2027. The Annual Budget Law (LOA) proposes gross revenues and expenses of R$ 16.58 billion, representing a 7.5% increase over the 2026 projection. The plan anticipates investments of R$ 1.81 billion for the upcoming year, based on economic projections including a 1.6% GDP growth and 4.5% inflation.