One of the main activities of ISOCARP is the organisation of our annual World Planning Congress which focuses on a planning theme of foremost international interest. Attended by some 350-500 delegates, ISOCARP Congresses are small enough for personal interchange of ideas on a given theme, yet big enough to encompass a broad professional and international range.
The Congress takes place in a different city every year. The Congress has addressed vital topics in the field of city and regional planning, every year since 1965.
Combining a unique, triple perspective in theory, policy and practice, ISOCARP has pioneered the focus of the planning profession on issues such as regional urban planning (1966), urban regeneration (1981), planning for land and water (1998), the creative economy (2005) and low carbon cities (2009).
Host our 60th Anniversary World Planning Congress
Since 1965, ISOCARP has organised a unique annual international conference with a triple perspective in theory, policy and practice.
Every year we gather hundreds of professional planners, policymakers, academics, city leaders, and Government and civil society representatives from the Global South and North to explore and discuss vital topics in the field of urban and regional planning.
We invite city governments, universities, planning agencies, institutions, and consortiums to submit an Expression of Interest to be the 2024 host of our memorable 60th Anniversary.
Deadline: 15 July, 2023
Joint 5th Urban Economy Forum + 59th ISOCARP World Planning Congress
The Urban Economy Forum 5 + World Planning Congress 59 concluded successfully in October 2023! We would like to thank all our 630+ attendees and contributors (online and in person) for making this event unforgettable!
Two events composed our Congress. First, the main in-person Congress in Toronto, Canada (10-13 October) and second, the Virtual Pre-Congress (19-21 September), offered to enable the participation of contributors and attendees that could not make it to Canada.
World Planning Congresses 2023 – 2010
World Planning Congresses 2009-2001
2009 – Low Carbon Cities
45th World Planning Congress
Porto, Portugal
18-22 October
2008 – Urban Growth without Sprawl
44th World Planning Congress
Dalian, China
19-23 September
2007 – Urban Trialogues
43rd World Planning Congress
Antwerp, Belgium
19-23 September
2006 – Integration and Disintegration
42nd World Planning Congress
Istanbul, Turkey
14-18 September
2005 – Making Spaces for the Creative Economy
41st World Planning Congress
Bilbao, Spain
17-20 October
2004 – Management of Urban Regions
40th World Planning Congress
Geneva, Switzerland
18-22 September
2003 – Planning in a More Globalised and Competitive World
39th World Planning Congress
Cairo, Egypt, 17-22 October
2002 – The Pulsar Effect
38th World Planning Congress
Glifada, Athens, Greece
21-26 September
2001 – Honey, I Shrunk the Space – Planning in the Information Age
37th World Planning Congress
Utrecht, The Netherlands
16-20 September
World Planning Congress 2000-1965
2000 – “People‘s Empowerment in Planning”
Cancun, Mexico
1999 – “The Future of Industrial Regions – Regional Strategies and Local Action towards Sustainability”
Gelsenkirchen, Germany
1998 – ‘Land and Water – Integrated Planning for a Sustainable Future”
Azores, Portugal
1997 – “Risk Assessment and Management: Planning for an Uncertain Future”
Ogaki, Japan
1996 – “Migration & the Global Economy: Planning responses to disintegrating patterns and frontiers”
Jerusalem, Israel
1995 – “Adaptation and Mediation in urban planning”
Sydney, Australia
1994 – “Expanding Demands on Planning”
Prague, Czech Republic
1993 – “Cities, Regions and Well-being”
Glasgow, United Kingdom
1992 – “Cultural Identities and Unity”
Cordoba, Spain
1991 – “Planning for Leisure – the Challenge of Tourism”
Guadalajara, Mexico
1990 – “The Environment and the City”
Warsaw, Poland
1989 – “Communication Technology and Mobility and their Impact on Urban Structure and Form (25th Anniversary)”
Basel, Switzerland
1988 – “Urban and Metropolitan Peripheries”
Taormina, Italy
1987 – “Planning and Actions for Shelter for the Homeless”
Delhi, India
1986 – “Research for Urban Planning Practice”
Paris, France
1985 – “Implementation of Planning – Non-Governmental Actions in Urban Planning”
Berlin, Germany
1984 – “Implementation of Planning in Small Towns – Agents of Action”
Braga, Portugal
1983 – “Implementation of Planning: The Partners”
Amsterdam, Netherlands
1982 – “Habitat for All: What is the Solution?”
Istanbul, Turkey
1981 – “Renaissance of the City, How?”
Stockholm, Sweden
1980 – “Planning and Education”
Tunis, Tunesia
1979 – “Planning and Energy”
Strasbourg, France
1978 – “Evolution of Urban and Regional Planning with Regard to Changes in the Society” – Montreal, Canada
1977 – “Urban Change and Urban Structure: How to Regain Coherence”
Athens, Greece
1976 – “Demands on Land”
Helsenki, Finland
1975 – “Planning for our Inheritance”
Edinburg, United Kingdom
1974 – “Urban Planning and Political Decision”
Munich, Germany
1973 – “Integration and Segregation in Urban Land Uses and Activities”
Zurich, Switzerland
1972 – “Visual Qualities of the Built-up Environment”
Gothenburg, Sweden
1971 – “Physical and Economic Planning”
Antwerp, Belgium
1970 – “Education of the Planner”
Aix-en-Provence, France
1969 – “The Integration of Public Transport in Town Planning Policy”
Dusseldorf, Germany
1968 – “Preservation and Life of Historic Sites in Urban Planning”
Torino, Italy
1967 – “Texte Programme of ISoCaRP”
Lyon, France
1966 – “The Urban Developments in the Region”
Coimbra, Portugal
1965 – “The Position of the Netherlands in a Uniting Europe”
Amsterdam, Netherlands