Next year, Azerbaijan will once again stand at the center of global attention as it hosts one of the United Nations’ most prestigious international gatherings — the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13).
Established in 2001, this Forum has become the UN’s largest non-legislative platform and one of its most influential convenings. Organized by UN-Habitat since 2002 and held across five continents, the World Urban Forum has played a pivotal role in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 11, dedicated to creating inclusive, safe and resilient cities.
The urgency of this mission is clear. Today, nearly three billion people around the world live in inadequate housing conditions. Another 1.1 billion reside in informal settlements or temporary shelters, and more than 300 million people are completely homeless. These circumstances pose profound health, safety and economic challenges for societies everywhere. It is against this global backdrop that Baku will host WUF13 from 17 to 22 May 2026 under the theme, “Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities.”
The Forum will bring together heads of state and government, ministers, city leaders, researchers, practitioners and innovators to shine a spotlight on the global housing crisis. Its rich program will include strategic dialogues, partner-driven events, interactive sessions and an international urban exhibition. WUF13 aims to elevate housing as a top global policy priority, to showcase practical solutions from around the world, and to mobilize new commitments – in financing, policy, and partnerships – that can generate tangible progress. The Forum is expected to produce concrete outcomes, including the WUF13 Perspectives, the official Report, and a forward-looking “Baku Call to Action.”
Azerbaijan enters this process not only as a host country, but as an example of how sustainable urban development principles can be put into practice. Today, Azerbaijan is a safe, peaceful, and rapidly developing nation with extensive experience organizing large-scale global events. As well as, compelling example of Azerbaijan’s urban development vision is unfolding in the post-conflict regions of the country – Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur.
Guided by the national program known as the “Great Return,” these regions are being reconstructed. These territories will be among the world’s first net-zero carbon emissions zones by 2030 and feature smart city and smart village concepts, including smart cloud management systems, online healthcare services, high-speed fiber-optic internet, and intelligent transport networks.
Azerbaijan’s broader urban transformation extends far beyond these regions. Modern urban planning initiatives in Baku, new transport and infrastructure projects in the regions, the establishment of ecological parks and the development of socially oriented residential complexes all reflect the country’s commitment to shaping a sustainable urban future for its citizens.
WUF13 will also mark a historic moment: for the first time in the Forum’s history, a Leaders’ Summit will be held as part of the program. Heads of state and government from various UN member countries will gather to exchange views on housing challenges, urban resilience, and sustainability — creating an unprecedented platform for high-level dialogue.
The Forum will draw participants from around the world, including research institutions, think tanks, civil society, private sector representative,s and global experts. It is a reliable platform for the Global South and developing countries where their voices and challenges will be heard.
The main ambition of the Baku Forum is to help the world move from discussion to action by presenting practical solutions, strengthening political and financial commitments, and adopting concrete outcomes through the Baku Call to Action. By fostering global cooperation, sharing best practices and generating new knowledge, WUF13 will contribute meaningfully to shaping the future of sustainable urbanization.
As Azerbaijan prepares to host this important global dialogue, it does so with a clear message: urban development is ultimately about people — about giving every individual the opportunity to live safely, with dignity, in resilient and vibrant communities. In Baku, the world will come together to advance this goal.
