A media briefing in Baku has outlined preparations for the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), scheduled to take place in Baku from 17 to 22 May 2026.
The briefing highlighted the growing role of cities in global development, with housing placed at the centre of discussions. The theme of this year’s forum, “Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities,” reflects growing concern over the global housing crisis.
Speakers included Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat; Anar Guliyev, Chairman of Azerbaijan’s State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture and WUF13 National Coordinator; Erfan Ali, Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at UN-Habitat; Igor Garafulic, United Nations Resident Coordinator ad interim in Azerbaijan; and Maria Fernanda Espinosa, President of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly and former foreign minister of Ecuador.
They noted that more than one billion people worldwide live in informal settlements, while around 300 million are homeless, highlighting the scale of the global housing challenge.
Journalists were previously shown preparations at the Baku Olympic Stadium, which will serve as the forum’s main venue. The site is expected to host around 40 main sessions, more than 350 parallel events and a 35,000-square-metre Urban Expo, presenting innovative housing solutions and sustainable urban initiatives.
Officials said preparations are progressing through close cooperation between the Government of Azerbaijan, UN-Habitat and international partners.
UN representatives praised the Government of Azerbaijan for its strong support not only in hosting a world-class event but also in linking WUF13 to long-term public policy, global development goals, and environmental and urban priorities. Speakers also highlighted Azerbaijan’s hospitality, rich culture and history, and the country’s leadership in demonstrating how cities can address global urban challenges.
Speakers also stressed the importance of linking WUF13 with regional and national urban forums, including upcoming meetings in Bratislava, Serbia and Uzbekistan, as well as global platforms such as the Sustainable Development Forum in Geneva and the ESCAP Committee for Housing and Urban Development.
Officials also highlighted the wider regional context of urban development in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, noting that a new UN-Habitat regional office in Istanbul will support urban transformation across the region.
Key logistical preparations include the launch of the official website World13.org, which provides information on registration, visas, accommodation and transport for participants. An official accommodation booking platform has also been introduced.
Organisers say nearly 15,000 participants from 169 countries have already registered for the forum.
The event is expected to bring together governments, local authorities, UN agencies, civil society organisations, academic institutions and private-sector representatives to discuss major urban challenges.
WUF13 will also host its first Leaders’ Summit, bringing together heads of state and government to discuss cities as strategic global priorities.
Organisers said the media will play an important role in sharing the forum’s outcomes and highlighting solutions to global urban challenges.
With thousands of participants expected, the forum is set to become a major international platform for shaping discussions on the future of cities and communities.
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation that would provide new aid to Ukraine and impose additional sanctions on Russia, marking th...
Bosnia’s international peace oversight body failed on Thursday to reach agreement on a successor to Germany’s Christian Schmidt, who unexpectedly ...
U.S. President Donald Trump said he sees progress between Israel and Lebanon after talks with Netanyahu, while Hezbollah has rejected a new ceasefire ...
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire after U.S.-backed talks in Washington. The deal requires Hezbollah to halt attacks and withdra...
Artificial intelligence, digital innovation and youth engagement in environmental governance took centre stage at Eco Expo Central Asia 2026 in Samark...
Azerbaijan continues to host a series of high-profile global events, including COP29, the World Urban Forum and upcoming World Environment Day activities, positioning itself at the centre of international climate discussions.
The World Urban Forum 13 in Baku brought together global urban leaders to discuss how cities are adapting to climate pressures, digital transformation and inequality. While the discussions were ambitious, the real test remains whether these ideas will translate into practical urban change.
As the 13th edition of the World Urban Forum ended, Azerbaijan's Pavilion showcased reconstruction efforts in its liberated territories and foregrounded the importance of mine removal in resettlement efforts.
The 13th session of the World Urban Forum in Baku concluded with a high-level Women’s Roundtable focused on advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in housing and urban development.
Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi brought heavy rain, power cuts and transport disruption across Japan on Wednesday (3 June) as it tracked towards the greater Tokyo region.
Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Albania in recent days to protest against a luxury tourism project linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, and his wife Ivanka Trump.
Armenia’s parliamentary election comes at a defining moment for the South Caucasus, a region reshaped by the Garabagh conflict and broader shifts in Russia-West relations. The outcome is increasingly seen as a signal of Armenia’s future foreign policy direction and the regional balance of power.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said in a statement that its Aerospace Force did not strike the Kuwait Airport passenger terminal on Wednesday, and that the destruction was instead caused by a failed U.S. Patriot missile.
Global weather forecasters predict a strong El Niño will develop in the second half of 2026, bringing hotter, drier conditions to much of Asia while increasing rainfall in parts of North and South America.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he sees progress between Israel and Lebanon after talks with Netanyahu, while Hezbollah has rejected a new ceasefire proposal and Israel has ruled out a troop withdrawal.
Disruptions to global energy routes have transformed energy security from an economic concern into a matter of national security, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Wednesday.
Artificial intelligence, digital innovation and youth engagement in environmental governance took centre stage at Eco Expo Central Asia 2026 in Samarkand, as experts and young leaders explored new approaches to climate resilience and sustainability.
A series of signals from Washington, including congressional testimony, a U.S. Embassy statement and a senior diplomat's visit to Tbilisi, has given Georgia's ruling party reason to declare a diplomatic reset. But Washington's message is more nuanced than Tbilisi is suggesting.
Afghan and Uzbek business officials have discussed ways to expand trade, ease transit bottlenecks and address customs challenges facing traders, according to the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI).
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment