The Release of the Shortlist of the 7th Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation (Guangzhou Award) will take place on 25 June 2026 in Tangier, Morocco, announcing 15 Shortlisted Initiatives and 30 Exemplary Initiatives.

As an important event of the 2026 UCLG Congress and World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders, the Technical Committee Meeting of the 7th Guangzhou Award will be held in Tangier from 22 to 25 June. During the meeting, the Technical Committee will conduct a collective assessment of initiatives submitted from around the world and officially announce the 15 Shortlisted Initiatives and 30 Exemplary Initiatives on 25 June. The 15 shortlisted initiatives will advance to the final stage of the Award and compete to become the five winners of the 7th Guangzhou Award.

Established jointly in 2012 by the City of Guangzhou, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), and the World Association of the Major Metropolises (METROPOLIS), the Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation aims to encourage and promote innovative urban governance practices worldwide and facilitate the exchange and mutual learning of experiences among cities. Over the years, the Guangzhou Award has gradually developed into an important global platform for showcasing urban governance innovation achievements and promoting exchanges and cooperation.

In September 2025, as an important agenda of the 40th anniversary celebration of the World Association of Metropolitan Cities, the 7th Guangzhou Award Global Project Call was officially launched in Seoul, South Korea, attracting wide attention and active participation from cities around the world. A total of 381 urban governance innovation projects from 248 cities in 60 countries were submitted to the Guangzhou Award. The number of participating cities and projects reached a new high, fully demonstrating the global city's active exploration to address development challenges through innovation and promote inclusive and sustainable development.

The release of the preliminary evaluation results is an important session in the evaluation process of the 7th Guangzhou Prize. It showcases innovative practices undertaken by cities around the world in addressing contemporary urban governance challenges and provides valuable experiences and insights for mutual learning and exchange among cities globally.

The lists of the 15 Shortlisted Initiatives and 30 Exemplary Initiatives of the 7th Guangzhou Award will be released on 25 June through the Guangzhou Award's official website and social media platforms.

Stay tuned for the Release of the Shortlist of the 7th Guangzhou Award and join us in witnessing inspiring urban innovation initiatives from cities around the world.