Fuzhou hosts 2026 World Cities Day observance

Fuzhou, China, is hosting the 2026 Global Observance of World Cities Day from October 31 to November 2. Co-hosted by UN-Habitat and the Chinese Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the event focuses on the theme “Regenerating the City: Adequate Housing for All.”

The observance aims to address global urban challenges, noting that up to 3.4 billion people currently lack access to adequate housing or essential services. The program includes the 4th cycle of the Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities (Shanghai Award), which recognizes urban sustainability achievements. Winners of this cycle include Jingdezhen, China, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Santiago de Cali, Colombia, Istanbul, Turkey, and Katowice, Poland.

Key activities include a main forum featuring over 100 mayors and international experts to discuss high-quality urban development trends. Side events will cover various international technical exchanges, including green livable cities and low-carbon building conferences involving representatives from the UK, South Korea, and Canada.