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Urban October

Urban October is an opportunity for everyone to be part of the conversation about the challenges and opportunities created by the fast rate of change in our cities and towns. Each October, everyone interested in sustainable urbanization from national and local governments to universities, NGOs and communities is encouraged to hold or participate in activities, events, and discussions.

The month begins with World Habitat Day on the first Monday of the month, and ends with World Cities Day on 31 October. Activities take place on those specific days or at any time during the month.

The UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour award is one of the highlights of the World Habitat Day global observance. The award, a plaque engraved with the name of the winner, is presented to the selected winners during the global observance.

By engaging all stakeholders, cities can harness transformational change and ensure a better life for all in an urbanizing world.

Current Report

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Urban October 2024 report

Global Event highlights

Nairobi, Kenya
Bogota, Colombia

Events by region

Hosaena, Ethiopia

Durban, South Africa

Nairobi, Kenya

Port Louis, Mauritius

Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Nakuru, Kenya

Egypt
Lagos, Nigeria
Douala, Cameroon

Mombasa, Kenya

Akure, Nigeria

Nísia Floresta, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

São Paulo, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Porto Alegre, Brazil

Campinas, Brazil

Nísia Floresta, Brazil

São João de Meriti, Brazil

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Istanbul, Turkiye

Kyiv, Ukraine

Ahmedabad, India

Multan, Pakistan
Bengaluru, India

Bucharest, Romania

Makhachkala, Russian Federation

Viladecans, Spain

Winchester, United Kingdom

A Coruña, Spain

Madrid, Spain

Corfu, Greece

Tirana, Albania

Explore all events

Numbers by Event type

Numbers by region

Scroll of Honor 2025

The UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award, launched in 1989, recognizes individuals and institutions that have made outstanding contributions to urban development, including improving the quality of urban life for all and ensuring adequate, affordable, and accessible housing.

View past winners and their achievements here to learn more about the impactful work recognized through this prestigious award.

Nominations for 2025 are now closed. The awards will be presented during the global observance of World Habitat Day on 6 October 2025.

Expressions of Interest

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST TO HOST WORLD HABITAT DAY 2026

UN-Habitat has officially opened the call for countries to express interest in hosting the global observances of World Habitat Day in 2026. This high-profile event will offer a unique opportunity to put urbanization, housing, and sustainable development issues on the world stage. The call will close on 30 November 2025.

HOW TO APPLY

Countries interested in hosting the global observance of World Habitat Day 2026 are invited to submit their expression of interest using the official guidelines.

Videos

UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach
President of the UN Habitat assembly Y.B. Nga Kor Ming
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen
UN Special Rapporteur Paula Gaviria Betancur
UNHCR High Commisioner Filipo Grandhi
Governor of Gangwon State Korea Kim Jin-tae
Rebuilding Hope: Housing at the heart of crisis response
Message of the UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach on World Habitat Day 2024
Engaging youth to create a better urban future
Join us this Urban October for World Habitat Day & World Cities Day
Urban October 2020

Reports