The global housing crisis will take centre stage at the World Urban Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 17 to 22 May 2026.
Under the theme of ‘Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities’, the 13th session of the Forum (WUF13) will convene around 2,000 participants from more than 130 countries and examine how housing can act as a foundation for inclusive, resilient and sustainable urban development.
Nearly 3 billion people worldwide face some form of housing inadequacy, including more than 1.1 billion living in informal settlements and over 300 million experiencing homelessness — pressures that are being intensified by climate change and widening inequalities.
The World Urban Forum is an initiative of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), co-organized in 2026 with the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Taking place at the midpoint of the New Urban Agenda, WUF13 is expected to help shape global policy debates and contribute to the UN Secretary-General’s 2026 report on its implementation.
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