The capital of Azerbaijan is Baku. Baku is preparing to host the World Urban Forum Culture and education
There are just over two months left before the opening of the World Urban Forum, and preparations for it are in full swing. From 17 to 22 May 2026, Baku will become a global arena for discussions on the future of cities, including such pressing topics as housing affordability and sustainable development of urban infrastructure. The forum’s theme is ambitious: “Housing for the World: Safe and Sustainable Cities and Communities.”
What is the World Urban Forum?
The World Urban Forum was created by the United Nations in 2001 to explore one of the most pressing issues facing the world today – rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, economies, politics and climate. In the middle of the last century, only 20 percent of the world’s population lived in cities, while today this figure is 45 percent of the total population of the planet, which has already reached 8.2 billion.
“This forum will focus on housing the entire world population and creating safe and sustainable cities,” says Gene Baderschneider, former vice president of ExxonMobil and now a board member of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center. “The Forum will ideally continue the UN Climate Conference (COP-29), which was held with great success in Baku last year.”
The forum is an ideal follow-up to the UN Climate Conference (COP29), which was a huge success in Baku last year. crisis and positioning housing as the foundation for creating safe and resilient communities.
How did you prepare for the forum?
To put peace on the forum’s agenda in advance, the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) and the Azerbaijani government held a series of meetings in Geneva – first with diplomats, then with journalists.
At a diplomatic briefing, UN-Habitat Executive Director Anaklaudia Rossbach and Head of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture of Azerbaijan Anar Guliyev presented the vision of the forum and its key objectives. The main one is to talk honestly about the housing crisis, which today affects almost a third of the world’s population. The forum in Baku should become a platform where representatives of governments, city authorities, business and civil society can not only exchange ideas, but also propose real solutions to problems.
It is completely unacceptable that in an era when a certain part of the people enjoy enormous luxury, when technology has advanced so much, more than three billion people live in inadequate housing conditions
“Most people will tell you that the most important thing in life is a roof over your head and food on the table,” says Vaira Vike-Freiberga, former president of Latvia and one of the co-organizers of the forum in Baku. “In a civilized society, we also believe that people should have a decent roof and decent amenities, such as running water and heating in the winter.” It is completely unacceptable that in an era when a certain portion of people enjoy enormous luxury, when humanity has collectively accumulated enormous wealth, when technology has advanced so much, more than three billion people live in inadequate housing conditions.”
Azerbaijan, the host of the forum, assured partners that it was preparing the event to be as open, inclusive and practical result-oriented as possible.
Following the diplomatic briefing, the forum organizers gathered journalists. Reporters were told what topics would be central at the forum, how to gain access to speakers and what opportunities exist for reporting from Baku.
For many media outlets, this was their first acquaintance with the forum – and, judging by the interest shown, it will not be the last.
Start of a global campaign
These briefings are only part of a large-scale campaign to promote the Baku forum. The goal is simple: to involve as many government and city officials, experts and journalists as possible so that the forum develops into a truly global discussion about how to make cities safer, more sustainable and more livable.
What does the forum logo symbolize?
Did you know that each session of the World Urban Forum has its own unique logo? For the thirteenth session, which will be held in Baku, this symbol is not just an element of visual style, but a link between the main theme of the forum and the cultural identity of the host country, Azerbaijan.
The designers worked closely with Azerbaijani experts to create a visual identity that is understandable to the world and at the same time reflects national traditions. The design is based on two of the most recognizable symbols of Baku. The Maiden Tower represents the ancient roots of the city and its rich heritage, while the Flame Towers symbolize modern Baku and its dynamic development. Together they convey a dialogue between past and present that shapes the city’s appearance today.
The mosaic pattern is inspired by the traditional Azerbaijani art of stained glass – shebeke. Smooth lines refer to the movement of the wind, this is a reminder of Baku as the “City of Winds”. The mosaic pattern, inspired by the shebeke, symbolizes diversity, sustainability and unity – values that are at the core of the Forum’s mission. All these elements together represent the union of tradition and innovation.
