Vision statement
Breakdown or breakthrough?
New strategies for healthier cities
Cities are changing fast. At Healthy City Design 2026, we’re seeking out bold ideas that turn urban breakdowns into breakthroughs. Share your research, projects, or strategies and be part of the movement shaping healthier, smarter, more equitable and resilient cities.
Cities across the world are navigating a period of profound instability. Economic uncertainty, geopolitical turbulence, climate fragility, migration patterns, social divisions and health inequalities are converging to create a uniquely challenging urban agenda for city leaders, developers, planners and policymakers.
Faced with so many pressures that could fracture urban systems, it would be easy to de-prioritise the role of health in making our cities greener, fairer and more inclusive. But that would be a mistake. Far from being a sideshow to urban development, the healthy city is central to it.
A healthy society and healthy urban environments are not peripheral ambitions; they are foundational conditions for long-term prosperity. Cities that prioritise health create the platform for climate resilience, social cohesion, innovation and economic productivity.
Thriving urban environments attract talent, stimulate creativity, reduce public spending burdens, and enable inclusive growth. Without health, there can be no sustained competitiveness, no dynamic workforce, and no resilient economy.
The question facing city leaders, investors, planners, designers and policymakers is stark: will our cities drift towards fragmentation and decline – or will they achieve breakthrough transformation?
From healthy homes and neighbourhoods to sustainable infrastructure and green mobility, from community impact and social value to digital innovation and population health, the programme will examine how integrated, cross-sector collaboration can deliver measurable improvements in both human and planetary wellbeing.
Healthy City Design 2026 returns to the Lowry in Salford, Greater Manchester on 20–21 October 2026 under the theme “Breakdown or breakthrough?” The Congress will explore bold
strategies that place health at the centre of urban transformation – bringing an interdisciplinary focus across research, investment, development, design, planning and public health.
Fighting back
The question of breakdown or breakthrough has particular resonance in the context of the UK’s policy framework, which emphasises cross-sector Health in All Policies, the building of New Towns, and the fast-tracking of high-density housing around well-connected transport hubs. The NHS is committed to switching health services from hospital to the community, from analogue to digital, and from treatment to prevention. The fightback is on.
But this fundamental wellbeing challenge facing cities extends globally, crossing continents and cultures. When the Congress was first established a decade ago, the aim was to encourage designers and planners of the built environment to collaborate more closely with public health professionals. That objective remains of paramount importance today.
Salford celebrations
This year is a special one for our host city, Salford, Greater Manchester. As it celebrates 100 years of city status – with a forward-looking programme of cultural, civic and environmental initiatives – Salford provides an ideal living laboratory for exploring how health-led development can shape the next century of urban progress.
We invite proposals for papers, workshops and Video+Poster presentations that address the theme of “Breakdown or breakthrough?” and demonstrate how health-centred approaches can drive equitable, resilient and economically productive cities.
Abstracts of 400 words should clearly state background, purpose, methods, results and implications, and be submitted here by 1 April.
Call for Papers
The Call for Papers for the 10th Healthy City Design International Congress 2026 have been launched with the deadline on 1 April, view the themes below and submit by then.
Themes
How urban planning and design can create healthier, more resilient, and inclusive cities, highlighting global, evidence-based strategies for compact, vibrant, and people-centred urban development that prioritise wellbeing, active living, and community-led regeneration. Including a focused examination of how local planning, design, culture are shaping healthier futures in Salford and Greater Manchester
How housing and neighbourhood design can support health, equity, and everyday wellbeing, exploring evidence-based approaches to delivering healthy, affordable, and adaptable homes within inclusive, walkable neighbourhoods, addressing issues such as housing quality, density, access to services and green space, and social connection. The stream will showcase policy, design, and community-led initiatives that create safe, resilient places where people can thrive across all stages of life
How sustainable urban, economic, and social infrastructure, together with green mobility, can support human and planetary health. Grounded in the principles of sustainable development, it will examine how low-carbon, resource-efficient and integrated urban systems enable inclusive economic growth and strengthen social cohesion and community resilience. Topics include active travel, clean energy, nature-based solutions and social infrastructure, that help cities thrive within ecological limits
Examines how urban planning and development can deliver meaningful social value and positive community impact, exploring methods for embedding equity, inclusion, and health outcomes into decision-making, measuring social value, and empowering communities through co-design and local leadership. Case studies will highlight how place-based approaches can strengthen social connection, support regeneration, and ensure that urban change benefits people and communities
Exploring how digital innovation and smart technologies can improve health, wellbeing, and quality of life in cities. It will examine the role of data, digital tools, and emerging technologies in shaping healthier urban environments—supporting active travel, access to services, environmental monitoring, and more responsive public spaces. It will also address governance, equity, and ethics, highlighting how smart city approaches can be people-centred and inclusive
How cities can improve health outcomes through place-based approaches, exploring the integration of healthcare provision into communities—at home, in neighbourhood settings, and on the high street—alongside planning and design strategies that support prevention, early intervention, and health equity. Sessions will highlight models that connect health services, housing, and local infrastructure to create accessible, resilient, and people-centred systems of care
How a wide range of workplaces can be designed, delivered, and managed to support health, wellbeing, and productivity. It will cover commercial real estate and offices, public sector buildings such as healthcare and education, construction sites, and other non-office workplaces. Sessions will highlight evidence-based design and policy approaches that improve physical and mental health, safety, inclusion, and sustainability across diverse working environments
Programme committee
Our Programme Committee comprises some of the most influential and important names in healthy urban design and planning, public health, and planetary health. They span the academic and research fields, policy and strategy, and practice and delivery.
Click below to view the members of our programme committee.
