The 2026 Global Cities Forum, a thematic session of the 2026 World Cities Day Global Conference on Sustainable Urban Development, will be held on November 3-4, 2026, in Shanghai. Co-hosted by the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Development Research Center of Shanghai Municipal People's Government, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the forum provides an international platform for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to exchange cutting-edge research and advance innovative solutions for urban governance.

Conference Theme: Wise Governance for Resilient Cities

In an era of intensifying climate change, frequent extreme weather events, aging infrastructure, and rapid digital transformation, cities around the world are confronting risks that are increasingly interconnected, cross-sectoral, and cascading. Urban vulnerability is no longer a concern only for megacities; it has become a shared challenge for cities of all sizes.

These conditions call for a fundamental shift in how cities are governed. Traditional models of management—narrowly technical, fragmented, and reactive—are no longer sufficient for the complexity of today's urban environment. Cities need governance that is both precise and principled, responsive and anticipatory, efficient and inclusive. In short, cities need wise governance.

Wise Governance goes beyond "smart" technologies. It embraces judgment, foresight, and care in decision-making. Wise governance means seeing weak signals before they become crises, balancing development and security, and ensuring that no group and no neighborhood is left unseen. It is not merely about technical precision or data-driven efficiency; it is a philosophy of governance that values prudence, attention to detail, and responsiveness to the lived experience of residents. It has often been likened to the care and precision of "needlework"—weaving together diverse actors, tools, and resources to address complex urban problems before they escalate.

Resilient Cities is the ultimate goal of such governance. Resilience here encompasses not only physical safety and infrastructure reliability but also economic adaptability, social cohesion, environmental sustainability, and institutional learning. A resilient city is one that can withstand shocks, adapt to change, and continue to thrive in the face of uncertainty.

The 2026 Global Cities Forum invites scholars and practitioners from around the world to explore how wise governance can build resilient cities, and how the principles and practices of wise governance can be shared, adapted, and advanced globally.

Conference Sub-themes

The forum invites contributions addressing the following five sub-themes, though submissions on related topics are also welcome.

1. Economic Resilience and Innovation Districts

How do cities build economic resilience through innovation ecosystems, industrial diversification, and spatial strategies such as innovation districts, science parks, and creative clusters? This sub-theme examines how innovation districts can become engines of resilience rather than isolated enclaves, and how governance arrangements can enable economic adaptation in uncertain times.

2. Social Resilience and Inclusive Communities

How can cities maintain social cohesion in the face of aging, migration, inequality, and digital divides? This sub-theme focuses on community-based governance, affordable housing, social protection for vulnerable groups, and the role of grassroots organizations in building trust and collective capacity.

3. Climate and Environmental Resilience

How do cities adapt to extreme weather, pursue low-carbon transition, and integrate ecological systems into urban development? This sub-theme addresses green infrastructure, disaster risk reduction, urban ecology, and the governance of climate adaptation across scales.

4. Infrastructure and Digital Resilience

How can cities ensure the safety and continuity of lifeline infrastructure while harnessing digital technologies for anticipatory governance? This sub-theme covers smart city platforms, data governance, cybersecurity, and the transition from responsive to anticipatory approaches.

5. Wise Governance as the Art of New Urban Governance

In an era of cascading uncertainties, wise governance means more than smart technology. It is the art of governing with precision, prudence, and care—much like the Chinese practice of "needlework" in urban management. This sub-theme explores the philosophy and practice of wise governance for all cities: how to see weak signals before they become crises, how to balance development and security, and how to ensure that no one and no place is left unseen.

Submission Guidelines

Abstract Submission

We welcome abstract submissions via the submission link (Click on "Read More" to directly access the submission link):

https://ciugsjtu.mikecrm.com/Z95p6Pj

Abstracts must be written in English and limited to 500 words. Please include the title, author(s), affiliation(s), and contact information.

Full Paper Submission

Authors of accepted abstracts are invited to submit full papers. Full papers should be written in English, around 8,000 words, and formatted according to standard academic conventions.

Panel Proposals

Authors who wish to propose a panel session may contact the conference organizing committee and submit their panel proposal via email: ciug@sjtu.edu.cn.

Important Dates

· Abstract Submission Deadline: October 1, 2026

· Notification of Acceptance: October 8, 2026

· Full Paper Submission Deadline: October 15, 2026

· Registration Deadline: October 15, 2026

· Conference Date: November 3-4, 2026

Featured Journals

· Cities

· Habitat International

· Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis: Research and Practice

· Urban Governance

We are planning to organize special issues in the featured journals (more journals are expected to join and will be announced later).

Contact

2026 Global Cities Forum Organizing Committee

Email: ciug@sjtu.edu.cn

Website: ciug.sjtu.edu.cn