Sustainable urban development will be the theme for WUF 2026

The thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF) will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, and it will focus on the global housing crisis and how to position access to housing as a driver of inclusive and sustainable urban development.

From May 17 to 22, 2026, the WUF’s central theme is “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities” and is organized by UN-Habitat in partnership with the Government of Azerbaijan, which has declared 2026 the “Year of Urbanism and Architecture” in the country.

The forum will explore urban transformation from technical and creative perspectives, addressing social housing and discussing strategies for adapting cities to climate change, including innovative materials and nature-based solutions, which could be highly relevant to your work in design and sustainability.

There will be a strong emphasis on how new technologies and smart design can optimize urban planning.

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Photo by WUF

Sustainable urban development

The World Urban Forum aims to raise awareness of sustainable urbanization among stakeholders and users, as well as to enhance collective knowledge about sustainable urban development through open and inclusive dialogue, the exchange of best practices and policies, and the sharing of lessons learned.

In addition, it seeks to promote collaboration and cooperation among the various stakeholders and users involved in advancing and implementing sustainable urbanization.

Global trends in neuroarchitecture, biophilic design, and sustainable materials, as many of the Urban Expo pavilions will showcase cutting-edge prototypes and construction solutions. 

Source: WUF

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