Baku to Host World Urban Forum 2026, Highlighting Global Urban Challenges and Sustainable Development Goals
Baku, The Gulf Observer: Azerbaijan is set to host the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in 2026, underscoring its growing role in global urban development and sustainability initiatives.
The World Urban Forum, established by the United Nations in 2001 and organized by UN-Habitat, serves as a premier global platform addressing the challenges of rapid urbanization, climate change, and rising social inequalities. The inaugural forum was held in 2002 in Nairobi, Kenya.
UN-Habitat, founded in 1977 following the Habitat I conference in Vancouver, Canada, is mandated to promote socially and environmentally sustainable urban development and adequate housing for all, guided by the Habitat Agenda adopted in Istanbul in 1996.
With more than half of the global population now living in urban areas, sustainable urbanization has been enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 11, which aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by 2030. Rapid urban growth continues to place pressure on infrastructure, housing, and public services, contributing to challenges such as inequality, environmental degradation, and unplanned urban expansion.
The New Urban Agenda, adopted at a global conference in Quito, Ecuador, in 2016, provides a comprehensive framework for sustainable city planning, promoting compact, smart cities, green transport systems, and inclusive access to services. It also outlines pathways for achieving SDG targets and addressing climate change through resilient urban development.
Azerbaijan’s role as host was formalized through a Host Country Agreement signed on December 22, 2023, between the Government of Azerbaijan and the United Nations, later approved by President Ilham Aliyev in March 2024. Subsequently, Anar Guliyev was appointed National Coordinator for WUF13, and an organizing committee was established in June 2025.
Scheduled to take place in Baku from May 17 to 22, 2026, WUF13 will be held under the theme “Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities.” The forum is expected to attract high-level government officials, international organizations, and leading experts in urban planning and architecture.
For the first time in Azerbaijan, the forum will feature a Leaders’ Summit format, with several global leaders already confirming participation. In addition to the main sessions in Baku, technical visits are planned to the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions, showcasing large-scale reconstruction efforts under Azerbaijan’s “Great Return” programme.
Widely regarded as the second most significant global platform within the UN system after the COP climate conferences, the World Urban Forum offers Azerbaijan a strategic opportunity to highlight its urban development achievements and strengthen international partnerships.
Officials say hosting WUF13 reflects Azerbaijan’s expanding leadership in sustainable urban planning and environmental stewardship, while reinforcing its collaboration with UN-Habitat and its growing influence in shaping global urban policy.
