PAST EDITIONS
On this page, you can find information on past editions of the UN Forum of Mayors, including links to the UNECE website for each edition and to the UNTV broadcast.
The Global Cities Hub has participated in each session of the UN Forum of Mayors since 2020. We are a strong supporter of the Forum, which provides a unique opportunity for local and regional governments to engage with the multilateral system on key global issues with local effects.
The Sixth UN Forum of Mayors took place on 12 and 13 October 2026 in Geneva with the participation of 70 mayors from all over the world.
The theme was “Cities Delivering for a Sustainable Future”, with topics focusing around SDG11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
The President of the Global Cities Hub, Mayor of Geneva Ms. Christina Kitsos, delivered opening remarks in the first session of the Forum. Alongside her, speakers included Ms. Tatiana Molcean, Executive Secretary of UNECE; Mr. Darren Tang, Director General of WIPO; Mr. Jean Todt, UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety; and Ms. Paola Albrito, Director, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Ms. Kitsos also spoke during the event “Women Mayors: Empowering Urban Leadership for a Sustainable Future“, reflecting on the challenges that women in leadership positions still face today.
The programme of events included:
Nature as urban infrastructure: local solutions to heat, flooding and fires (13 October 2026)
The discussion explored how nature-based approaches can help reduce disaster-related human and economic losses while providing safe, inclusive and accessible green and public spaces.
Mayors × International Organizations: High-level Exchange (13 October 2026)
Through small-group conversations with UNDRR, WHO, UNECE, ITU and UN-Habitat, mayors gained first-hand insights into the work, tools and opportunities offered by these organizations. In turn, international organizations heard directly from political leaders about local needs, barriers and priorities.
Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) as a process and pathway to implementation (13 October 2026)
Participants explored how VLRs can evolve beyond reporting exercises to become practical instruments for action, investment and multilevel governance, and how international attention to their implementation and follow-up could be strengthened.
Urban Transformation Summit (14 October 2026)
The GCH also contributed to the Urban Transformation Summit, organized by the World Economic Forum (WEF) back-to-back with the UN Forum of Mayors, helping foster synergies on urban issues and facilitate mayors’ participation. Bringing together 100 mayors, investors, business executives, international organizations, civil society representatives and other stakeholders, the Summit examined how infrastructure, technology, governance and investment intersect to shape productivity, resilience and economic performance in cities.
WIPO named Charleroi (Belgium), Liverpool (United Kingdom) and Shanghai (China) as the first winners of its “City of Innovation” awards program that recognizes cities’ commitments to advancing innovation and creativity in their communities. The award ceremony was held during the Sixth UN Forum of Mayors.
You can watch the Sixth UN Forum of Mayors on UNTV:
The Fifth UN Forum of Mayors took place on 6 and 7 October 2025 in Geneva with the participation of more than 60 mayors from all over the world.
The theme was “Cities shaping the Future”, with topics focusing around SDG3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG5 (Gender Equality) and SDG8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Moreover, mayors engaged in discussions on Climate Finance Mechanisms, Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs), Housing and Urban Development, Cooling and Urban Climate Resilience as tools to advance sustainable local development.
The President of the Global Cities Hub, Deputy Mayor of Geneva Ms. Christina Kitsos, delivered opening remarks in the first session of the Forum. Alongside her, speakers included Ms. Tatiana Molcean, Executive Secretary of UNECE; Ms. Anacláudia Rossbach, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-Habitat; and Ms. Laura Thompson, Assistant Director-General of ILO.
The programme of events included:
Cooling and Building for Urban Resilience: Local Solutions, Global Impact (7 October 2025)
This event provided a dedicated space to explore how urban cooling and resilient building strategies can address extreme heat and fire risks. Local and regional governments are on the frontline of implementing practical solutions.
High-level Meeting of Mayors and Heads of International Organizations (7 October 2025)
The heads of UNECE, ITU, UN-Habitat and UNDRR engaged directly with mayors on housing, urban resilience, digitalization and smart cities.
Action-Oriented Plans for Implementing Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) (7 October 2025)
This event, dedicated to Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs), highlighted the growing role of local and regional governments (LRGs) in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through transparent, data-driven, and participatory review processes.
Urban Futures Dialogue: Driving Public-Private Collaboration for Future-Ready Cities (8 October 2025)
A special event by invitation only at the World Economic Forum (WEF) it gathered mayors, business leaders, and civil society to explore how cities and the private sector can work hand in hand to accelerate innovation and sustainable urban development.
Women Mayors’ Declaration for Safe and Inclusive Governance
Women mayors adopted a Declaration reaffirming women’s key role in shaping resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities and calling for urgent action to ensure women’s empowerment, safety, and equal representation in decision-making.
You can watch the Fifth UN Forum of Mayors on UNTV:
The Fourth UN Forum of Mayors (ECE/HBP/2023/42 §75) was held on 30 September – 1 October in Geneva.
The theme was “Cities Summit of the Future”.
It took place immediately after the UN Summit of the Future. Discussions focused on topics relevant to cities that were explored during the Summit.
You can watch the Fourth UN Forum of Mayors on UNTV:
The Third UN Forum of Mayors was held on 2-3 October in Geneva.
The theme was “Urban regeneration towards 2030”.
You can watch the Third UN Forum of Mayors on UNTV:
The Second UN Forum of Mayors was held on 4-5 April in Geneva.
The theme was “Recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic while advancing the implementation of the SDGs”.
Read the Mayors’ Declaration condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, led by the city of Vilnius.
You can watch the Second UN Forum of Mayors on UNTV:
The First UN Forum of Mayors was held on 6 October in Geneva.
The theme was “City action for a resilient future”.
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