World Cities Report 2026

The world is confronting one of the most complex and far-reaching housing crises of the 21st century. The 2026 edition of UN-Habitat’s Flagship World Cities Report provides a greater understanding of drivers, impacts and solutions to the global housing crisis, which has been persistent and pervasive. The report addresses the global housing crisis through five interrelated and interlocking dimensions: affordability, displacement, informality, resilience/sustainability, and liveability, illustrating these with new data. The report is action-oriented, focusing on practices and approaches to adequate housing that have worked in various contexts. The Report views housing as an enabler of access to a broad range of social and economic goods, covering the varying dimensions of the right to adequate housing.  The Report calls for strengthening the social function of housing; expanding affordable, well-located housing and diverse rental options; improving land governance; and reforming planning systems to support compact, connected and climate-resilient urban development. The report also highlights the central role of informal and community-led housing, and underscores housing's critical contributions to health, well-being, economic opportunity and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda. During this UN-Habitat Arena event, urban experts, policymakers, planners, partners and stakeholders will debate and provide varying perspectives on the key finding and messages of the World Cities Report 2026. Discussions will centre on how the findings and messages from the Report can be implemented in varying contexts. How can cities, communities and relevant stakeholders take up these findings and messages translate them into the delivery of adequate and affordable housing that leaves no one behind?

Moderator: Edlam Yemeru. 

Panelists: