I. Event Introduction

World Cities Day (October 31) is the United Nations’ first international day focused on cities. The 2026 Global Observance of World Cities Day will be held in Fuzhou. This call invites global submissions of creative concepts for the flagship event of World Cities Day, in alignment with the overarching theme “Better City, Better Life” and the annual theme “Regenerating the City: Adequate Housing for All.”

The flagship event refers to a public-interest activity held on World Cities Day (October 31). It is widely accessible, ceremonial, scalable, sustainable, zero-risk, and low-cost, with a distinctive festive identity, while remaining easily adaptable and promotable across different countries and cities, open to participation by the general public worldwide. The activity should serve as a highly recognizable cultural symbol of World Cities Day.

II. Organizer

Task Force of the Fuzhou Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Global Observance of World Cities Day

III. Target Participants

The call is open to individuals and groups worldwide. Each participant may submit up to three entries.

IV. Submission Requirements

Submissions must be a “core creative idea” for the flagship event (within 500 words). The focus must be on what the activity is, why it fits World Cities Day, and how it will be organized and promoted. Submissions that propose forums, seminars, exhibitions, or art performances or involve high investment, complex construction, or difficult implementation will not be accepted.

V. Submission Period

Submissions are accepted from the date of this announcement until 24:00 on July 10, 2026 (Beijing Time, GMT+8).

VI. Submission Channel

Submissions will be accepted via email.

Email: submission@cityideas.cn

VII. Valid Submission Criteria

A submission is deemed valid only if it is received and properly archived at the official email before the deadline. Submissions that do not meet these criteria (e.g., not sent to the correct email, submitted after the deadline, or unreadable) will not be accepted.

VIII. Awards and Recognition

The top 20 proposals, selected through a formal review process, will be awarded honorary certificates issued to individual or group representatives. The creators of the final selected proposals (one representative only per team) will be invited to attend the World Cities Day Global Observance, with necessary support provided by the event hosts.

IX. Rights of Submitters

By submitting a valid entry, the submitter is deemed to have read, understood, and agreed to the rules and requirements of this call. 

1. Declaration of Rights

(a) The submitter shall guarantee that the content submitted is their original work or has been fully and lawfully authorized. The submission must not infringe upon the legitimate rights and interests of any third party. The submitter shall bear full legal responsibility for the authenticity and legality of the submitted work.

(b) The copyright and other intellectual property rights of the submitted work belong to the submitter, except for the part expressly authorized for use by the organizer in related terms. The submitter’s act of submission does not alter their legal status as the copyright holder.

2. Non-selected Submissions

The intellectual property rights of non-selected proposals shall remain with the submitter.

3. Authorization of Selected Works

(a) Once a proposal is selected, the submitter is deemed to have granted the hosts an irrevocable, exclusive, and worldwide license to exercise all economic rights of the copyright in perpetuity. This includes, but is not limited to, the rights of reproduction, distribution, rental, exhibition, performance, screening, broadcasting, information network dissemination, adaptation, translation, and compilation. The hosts are also permitted to make necessary modifications to the work. The submitter pledges not to transfer the whole or any core part of the selected work to any third party, nor to authorize any third party to use it for purposes identical or similar to the mission of this event.

(b) The hosts and organizers shall credit the name or pseudonym provided by the submitter in a reasonable manner when using the selected work, except in cases where technical limitations or fair use scenarios prevent such attribution.

4. Incentives for Selected Works

The submitter of an adopted work will receive a certificate of honor. This award is considered reasonable consideration for the authorization granted by the submitter for the use of their work. Once it is received, the submitter may not claim any additional licensing fees.