Awards
The Healthy City Design Awards 2026 celebrate and recognise professional and research excellence in the design and planning of healthy and sustainable cities and communities around the world.
The Call for Entries for the Awards has now launched – click below to submit your entries.
Recognising excellence in the design and planning of healthy and sustainable cities and communities
The Healthy City Design Awards recognise innovation and excellence in the conceptualisation, planning, design and delivery of places and infrastructure within the urban built environment that promote human health and wellbeing, while embedding the principles of planetary health and sustainable development.
The awards comprise eight categories that reflect the breadth and interconnected nature of healthy city design today. These span key domains including healthy city design and planning; healthy homes and neighbourhoods; population and neighbourhood health; sustainable infrastructure and green mobility; community impact and social value; healthy working environments; smart cities and digital health; and design research for healthy cities. Together, they capture interventions from building to city scale, as well as the systems, technologies and research that underpin healthier, more inclusive and resilient urban environments.
The awards aim to celebrate projects, schemes and research that offer innovative and well-considered approaches to improving the physical and mental health and wellbeing of urban populations. This includes addressing
environmental quality, enabling active lifestyles, improving air quality, strengthening community agency and participation, enhancing climate resilience, advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, and ultimately improving quality of life for people of all ages.
The awards are underpinned by the guiding principles of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in advancing good health and wellbeing, sustainable cities and communities, climate action, responsible consumption, and strong partnerships.
Across all categories, the awards recognise excellence in innovation, sustainable development, health equity, social value and community impact, highlighting the contributions of professionals and researchers working to create healthier, more liveable and resilient cities worldwide.
The winners will be announced at a prestigious awards dinner and ceremony to be held at Manchester United Old Trafford Stadium on 20 October, bringing together leaders from across the built environment, public health and research communities.
Chair of HCD2026 Awards Jury
