The 7th Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation has officially opened for submissions following a launch ceremony held in Seoul, South Korea, on September 29, 2025. The ceremony took place during the Metropolis 40th anniversary Seoul Congress, with speeches delivered by Mr. Hu Hao, Vice Mayor of Guangzhou, Mr. Jordi Vaquer, Secretary-General of Metropolis, and Ms. Emilia Saiz, Secretary-General of UCLG.
First established in 2012 by the City of Guangzhou in partnership with Metropolis and UCLG, the Guangzhou Award aims to promote sustainable urban development and international cooperation by recognizing and disseminating innovative practices in urban governance. Through six previous editions, the Award has attracted participation from cities and local governments in over 100 countries and regions, with over 1,600 initiatives submitted worldwide. The Award has become a vital platform for cities to showcase local governance experiences and advance global sustainable development agendas.
Cities are encouraged to submit initiatives that address global challenges including climate change, social equity, and inclusive development. The Award provides an opportunity for municipalities to share innovative governance solutions and contribute to building more sustainable and resilient cities for the future
Full application guidelines and updates are available at www.guangzhouaward.org.
The use platform is proud to partner with the Guangzhou Award and will publish the winning case studies following the 2026 awards ceremony. You can view previous Guangzhou Award case studies here.