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. Abstract submission forms will open soon.
Cities around the world are increasingly operating in fraught and difficult conditions. In 2026, economic uncertainty, geopolitical turbulence, climate fragility, migration patterns, social divisions and health inequalities are combining to create a uniquely challenging urban agenda for city leaders, developers, planners and policymakers to plot a way forward.
Faced with so many pressures that could fracture urban systems if left unchecked, it would be easy to de-prioritise the role of health in making our cities greener, fairer and more inclusive for citizens. But that would be a mistake. Far from being a sideshow to urban development, the healthy city is central to it.
Healthier cities and healthier citizens provide a gateway to stronger climate resilience, improved economic productivity and greater social cohesion. If we want to avoid urban breakdown, then we need those breakthrough ideas that create healthy cities. The choice is stark: transform through policy and practice – or regress in terms of urban living standards and social progress.
‘Breakdown or breakthrough?’ will form the overarching theme of the Healthy City Design Congress 2026, which returns to the Lowry in Salford, Greater Manchester on 20-21 October 2026. This international conference will showcase a range of new ‘breakthrough’ strategies for healthier cities. Research, investment, development, design, planning and public health strategies will bring a multidisciplinary focus to a subject of urgent and unprecedented significance.
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 cure to health prevention. The fightback is on.
But this fundamental wellbeing challenge facing cities extends globally, crossing continents and cultures. When the Healthy City Design Congress was first established in London in 2017, 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.
For the 2026 Congress, we invite international proposals for papers, posters and workshops in the spheres of practice, research and policy that speak to the theme of ‘breakdown or breakthrough?’
We look forward to welcoming you to this year’s 10th Healthy City Design 2026 International Congress, Exhibition and Awards, hosted for the second time in Salford, Greater Manchester. Join us for eight streams, featuring talks, workshops, panels and Video+Poster presentations of the latest research evidence, best practice project case exemplars, new policy ideas, and innovative investment strategies in the way we plan and design our cities and communities to be fairer, healthier and more sustainable.
Call for Papers
The Call for Papers for the 10th Healthy City Design International Congress 2026 launches in February. Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear when it opens.
Themes
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
Exploring how sustainable urban, economic, and social infrastructure, together with green mobility, can support both human and planetary health. Grounded in the principles of sustainable development, it will examine low-carbon, resource-efficient systems that enable inclusive economic growth while strengthening social connection and community resilience. Topics include active and public transport, clean energy, nature-based and social infrastructure, and integrated urban systems that improve air quality, support wellbeing, and 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. The stream will also address governance, equity, and ethics, highlighting how smart city approaches can be people-centred, inclusive, and focused on real-world health outcomes
How cities can improve health outcomes at both population and neighbourhood levels 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
This stream explores 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, operational practices, 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.
