World Cities Day (October 31) is the United Nation’s first international day focused on cities. The 2026 Global Observance of World Cities Day will be held in Fuzhou. According to the Fuzhou Municipal Bureau of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, a call was made on June 16 to invite global submissions of creative ideas for the flagship event of World Cities Day, in alignment with the overarching theme “Better City, Better Life” and the annual theme “Regenerating the City, Adequate Housing for All.”

According to a person in charge of the Fuzhou Municipal Bureau of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the flagship event refers to a public-interest activity held on World Cities Day (October 31). Being widely accessible, ceremonial, transferable, sustainable, zero-risk and low-cost, the event has a distinctive festive identity, while remaining adaptable to promotion across different countries and cities, and open to participation by the general public worldwide. The event is designed to become a highly recognizable cultural symbol of World Cities Day.

Submissions must be a “core creative proposal” for the flagship event (no more than 500 words). Emphasis shall be placed on what the activity is, why it fits World Cities Day, and how it will be organized and promoted. Submissions that propose forums, seminars, exhibitions or art performances or involve high investment, complex construction or difficult implementation will not be accepted.

Creative ideas will be solicited from across the world. Both individuals or groups can make submissions, and each applicant can only submit no more than three proposals. Submissions will be accepted until 24:00 on July 10, 2026 (Beijing Time, GMT+8). All submissions will be accepted via this email address submission@cityideas.cn.

Based on evaluation results, the sponsor will award honorary certificates to individuals or groups submitting the top 20 creative proposals, and invite the creators of the final selected proposals (one representative only per team) to attend the World Cities Day Global Observance.  (Sun Man)