NAIROBI, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- China's Fuzhou will host World Cities Day 2026, themed "Regenerating the City: Adequate Housing for All," the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) announced Wednesday.
This year's commemoration will take place on Oct. 31 at the Fuzhou Strait International Conference and Exhibition Center in the capital city of southeastern China's Fujian Province, UN-Habitat said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.
The event serves as the culmination of UN-Habitat's Urban October, a month-long campaign dedicated to promoting sustainable urban development and adequate housing for all.
"World Cities Day 2026 will highlight how urban regeneration contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities, and advancing the implementation of the New Urban Agenda," the statement said.
The upcoming commemoration in Fuzhou will explore how targeted urban regeneration can help alleviate the global housing crisis, UN-Habitat noted. Discussions will focus on revitalizing existing urban spaces, expanding access to adequate housing, and fostering more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities.
The event will bring together senior United Nations officials alongside representatives from national governments, local authorities, international organizations, academic institutions, the private sector, and community networks to share best practices and advance practical solutions to shared urban challenges.
The global observance of World Cities Day will form part of a three-day program running from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.
The program will also include the presentation of the fourth-cycle Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities, also known as the Shanghai Award, which recognizes cities for achievements in sustainable urban development.
The program will feature a high-level opening ceremony, thematic forums, side events uniting urban decision-makers and practitioners, specialized exhibitions, and guided city tours.
Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013 and inaugurated in 2014, World Cities Day aims to foster global solidarity to advance sustainable urbanization.
