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7th Guangzhou Award: What to Expect


Launched on September 29, 2025, the call for submissions for the 7th Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation ("Guangzhou Award") officially closed on April 30, 2026, following a final surge of applications from cities and local governments worldwide. These submissions featured substantial transformative initiatives addressing critical challenges such as climate change, social equity, smart cities, and urban inclusion.

Key Milestones Ahead

With the submission window now closed, the Guangzhou Award enters its intensive evaluation and events phase. Cities and urban practitioners are encouraged to mark their calendars for the following upcoming milestones:

  • June 2026 – Shortlist Announcement: The Technical Committee will conclude its evaluation in Tangier, Morocco, during the UCLG World Congress, resulting in the announcement of the 15 shortlisted initiatives and 30 exemplary initiatives. Shortlisted cities may be contacted to provide additional materials for the next stage of assessment.

  • September 2026 – Final Assessment: The International Seminar on Learning from Urban Innovation will be held online, featuring presentations of the 15 shortlisted initiatives. This seminar will be open to the public while also serving as a key component of the final assessment conducted by the Jury.

  • December 2026 – Award Ceremony: The Award Ceremony will be held in Guangzhou, China, in December 2026, in conjunction with the Global Mayors’ Forum (GMF). Winners of the 7th Guangzhou Award will be announced during the ceremony, and each will receive a $20,000 prize, a trophy, and a commemorative certificate. Beyond the ceremony, the GMF will feature a series of thematic sub-forums, side events, public activities, and field visits.

To stay updated on the upcoming event details, please follow the Guangzhou Award official website: 

https://www.guangzhouaward.org/

All valid initiatives submitted for this cycle will be uploaded to the Guangzhou Award Urban Innovation Database (www.urban-innovations.org) after the conclusion of the evaluation process, providing a global platform for peer learning and knowledge exchange.