11 September 2020 –UN-Habitat has opened the applications for cities to express their interest in hosting the Global Observance of World Habitat Day or World Cities Day in 2021 or 2022.

The two days are key opportunities to raise awareness on sustainable urbanization, share best practises and solutions, facilitate networking and partnerships and advance the New Urban Agenda and the urban dimensions of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

World Habitat Day, which was established in 1985 by the UN General Assembly, is celebrated on the first Monday of each October.  The programme includes a high level ceremony, the presentation of the prestigious UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour awards and roundtables, workshops and other events and will fall on 4 October in 2021 and 3 October in 2022.

Urban October concludes with World Cities Day on 31 October 2020. World Cities Day was established  in 2013 by the UN General Assembly  with the first Global Observance being held in 2014 in Shanghai.  World Cities Day has an overall theme of Better City, Better Life.

Each year’s World Habitat Day and World Cities Day focuses on a particular theme to highlight  an  aspect of sustainable urbanization.

The theme of World Habitat Day and World Cities Day 2021 will be linked to Climate Change and Climate Action which is the focus of UN-Habitat’s Flagship programmes on Resilient Settlements for the Urban Poor.

The theme of World Habitat Day and World Cities Day 2022 will be linked to the theme of UN-Habitat’s Flagship Programme on Inclusive, Vibrant Neighbourhoods and Communities.

The closing date for receiving the expressions of interest in hosting World Habitat Day and/or World Cities Day 2021 and/or 2022 is 31 January 2021 and the selection of the host cities will be made by a UN-Habitat internal committee

Click on the links below to get more details on applying for the Expressions of Interest (EOIs).

  1. Expression of Interest to host World Habitat Day
  2. Expression of Interest to host World Cities Day