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World Cities Summit 2026: Shaping Urban Futures

The World Cities Summit (WCS) is set to take place for its 10th edition in Singapore from June 14 to June 16, 2026. This biennial event, organized by the Centre for Livable Cities (CLC) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) of Singapore, serves as a significant platform for governments, industry specialists, and academics to convene and engage in dialogues about urban living, sustainability, and shared solutions.

With over 140,000 delegates from more than 250 cities participating in previous editions, the WCS has established itself as a crucial forum for collaboration among global urban leaders. The last summit in 2024 saw attendance from over 3,500 delegates across nearly 100 cities, including 115 ministers and mayors
from diverse locations. This impressive turnout showcases the summit’s role in promoting knowledge exchange among government representatives, industry experts, and academia. Additionally, sponsors and businesses find a valuable opportunity to connect with cities and new partners in their endeavors.

Notable Speakers and Themes

The upcoming WCS 2026 will feature prominent figures such as Lawrence Wong, Singapore’s Prime Minister and Finance Minister, along with city leaders from European and Latin American countries, including Berlin, Bucharest, London, Madrid, and Bogotá. Their participation highlights the summit as a global gathering aimed at addressing pressing challenges related to urban sustainability.

The theme of the summit, “Livable and Sustainable Cities: Act Now!” serves as a call to action, emphasizing the importance of accelerating collaborative efforts to transform urban environments into more liveable, resilient, and sustainable spaces. Participants can look forward to engaging discussions structured around six thematic axes, including People-Centric Cities, Resilient and Regenerative Cities, Smart Cities, Financing for Cities, Future Cities, and the Connections WRLDCTY stage, addressing urgent urban development issues.

Participants will experience a series of plenary sessions, panel discussions, workshops, and roundtables, all organized in partnership with notable international organizations like the World Bank Group, C40 Cities, UN Development Programme, Bloomberg CityLab, and the Urban Land Institute (ULI).

Collaborations and Global Partnerships

The WCS 2026 aims to further contribute to the global urban agenda by attracting international partners such as C40 Cities, CDP, the EU’s Urban and Regional Cooperation (EU-IURC), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the ULI, the World Resources Institute, and the World Association of Major Metropolises. A notable session led by the IPCC will comprise a roundtable of high-level officials, including scientists, mayors, municipal leaders, and urban climate experts, focused on the IPCC’s Special Report on Climate Change and Cities (SRCCL).

The summit will explore actionable ideas addressing significant urban challenges such as climate change, affordable housing, health and well-being, urban energy transitions, water management, employment, mobility, social inclusion, digital innovation, and sustainable finance.

The newly introduced WRLDCTY Connections stage will delve into themes of livability, attraction, and longevity in cities, gathering perspectives from various regions. It will also spotlight cultural heritage and the creation of urban spaces as crucial elements of urban identity. Workshops led by industry professionals and participant site visits correlate with sessions, enabling a comprehensive understanding of the topics through real-world experiences.

Join the Conversation at WCS 2026

The World Cities Summit 2026 promises to be an invaluable experience for city leaders, solution providers, and stakeholders in urban development. It provides an essential platform for networking, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing among those dedicated to advancing the future of urban environments. Don’t miss this opportunity to participate in discussions that shape our cities of tomorrow.

For more information on the full program and featured participants, visit the official World Cities Summit website at worldcitiessummit.com.sg.