Baku to host World Urban Forum as housing takes centre stage

The thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum will open in Baku on Sunday, bringing together government representatives, city leaders, urban planners, international organisations, businesses and civil society to discuss the future of sustainable urban development.

Held from 17 to 22 May 2026, WUF13 will focus on the theme: “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities.” The theme reflects one of the most pressing urban challenges globally — providing adequate, affordable and resilient housing amid rapid urbanisation, climate pressures and growing demand for inclusive cities.

According to UN-Habitat, the forum has registered 31,000 participants from 180 countries, making the Baku edition a major platform for global dialogue on the future of cities.

The programme will begin with a Ministerial Meeting on the New Urban Agenda, placing housing, social inclusion, urban prosperity and environmental sustainability at the centre of discussions. The formal opening ceremony is scheduled for Monday, 18 May.

Growing pressure on urban housing

The scale of the challenge remains significant. UN-Habitat estimates that nearly 3 billion people worldwide face some form of inadequate housing, while more than 1.1 billion live in informal settlements or slums. More than 300 million people are estimated to be experiencing homelessness.

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At the same time, the United Nations projects that the share of the global population living in urban areas will rise from 55% in 2018 to 68% by 2050.

Established by the United Nations in 2001 and first held in Nairobi in 2002, the World Urban Forum is convened by UN-Habitat every two years. It is not a treaty-making summit and does not usually produce legally binding decisions. Instead, its role is to bring together national governments, local authorities, experts, development partners and communities to exchange experience, shape urban policy discussions and support implementation of the global urban agenda.

Forum’s influence on urban policy

Over the years, the forum has helped shape priorities for cities and urban development. Previous editions produced declarations and calls to action, including the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Cities 2030 at WUF9, the Abu Dhabi Declared Actions at WUF10, the Katowice Declared Actions at WUF11 and the Cairo Call to Action at WUF12.

While voluntary, these outcomes carry political and technical influence. They help shape policy debates, guide cooperation between governments and cities, and contribute to global reporting on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 11, which focuses on making cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

Baku’s hosting of WUF13 comes at a significant moment. The forum marks the midpoint of the New Urban Agenda’s 20-year implementation timeline and is expected to contribute to the 2026 report by the UN Secretary-General on its progress.

Azerbaijan’s role as host

For Azerbaijan, hosting WUF13 places Baku at the centre of global discussions on cities, housing and sustainable development. The event also offers an opportunity to present the country’s experience in urban transformation, infrastructure planning and international event organisation to a global audience.

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