Launched by the City of Guangzhou in China, United Cities and Local Government (UCLG), and the World Association of the Major Metropolises (Metropolis), in alliance with ICLEI, the 7th Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation (Guangzhou Award) is now open for submission. The award recognises transformative urban solutions and highlights innovative practices that are shaping the cities of tomorrow.
The early bird submission deadline is 31 March 2026 (UTC +8:00). Early submissions will have the opportunity to receive feedback and advice from the awards experts to help strengthen their final entries. The final submission deadline is 30 April 2026.
Apply here.
Download the application form here.
About the award
Started in 2012, the Guangzhou Award recognizes innovation in enhancing social, economic, and environmental sustainability and promoting good urban governance in cities and regions, thereby advancing the prosperity and quality of life for their citizens.
The seventh cycle of the Guangzhou Award welcomes applicants from all cities and local governments worldwide with ongoing or recently finished initiatives, including those carried out in partnership with private and civil society organizations.
The thematic areas include, but are not limited to
- Social inclusion and shared prosperity.
- Environmental protection and resilience.
- Public services and infrastructure.
- Urban heritage and cultural preservation.
- Smart cities and use of digital technologies.
- Urban governance.
Benefits and opportunities
Applying for the Guangzhou Award gives cities and local governments the opportunity to:
- Win USD $20,000 along with a trophy and commemorative certificate.
- Showcase their initiatives at prominent international conferences and exhibitions.
- Gain valuable insights and foster new partnerships through a global platform for city-to-city learning and exchange.
Urban innovation database
Submitted initiatives will be listed in the publicly accessible Urban Innovation Database. The database shows that over 1,600 initiatives have been submitted to the Guangzhou Award in the past 12 years.
Shortlisted initiatives of each cycle of the Award have been selected into the Urban Best Practices Databaseof the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
Timeline
The Guangzhou Award is open for submission until 30th April 2026. 15 shortlisted initiatives and 30 exemplary initiatives will be released in June 2026. International seminar on urban innovations, jury assessment, and online vote will be held. An award ceremony will be held in Guangzhou, China in November 2026.
Find out more about frequently asked questions here.