61st ISOCARP World Planning Congress
Cities & Regions in Action:
Planning Pathways to Resilience and Quality of Life
1-4 December 2025
Cities are at the frontline of response to multiple crises that the contemporary world faces, which, if managed well, could open up tremendous possible futures for the way we plan, manage, and govern cities. As a home for already more than half of the world’s population, centers of innovation, magnets of talent, and locus of economic productivity, cities are uniquely placed to reflect on the quality of life, address well-being, and prototype solutions to global problems, capturing advances in Artificial Intelligence for the benefit of all people. At the same time, cities are called to lead the response to the climate crisis through localizing global frames of reference towards urban resilience.
At this crucial point, the global urban planning community and associated disciplines are rethinking processes, urban development models, and planning across scales to forge new pathways for cities to adapt to the convergence of crises and take on opportunities for a better quality of life for present and future generations. Cities and regions worldwide are putting strategies and resources, learning from peer networks, and prototyping new ways of planning and governing to accelerate implementation and act now.
At the 2025 World Planning Congress, ISOCARP calls on ‘Cities & Regions in Action’, to analyze, discuss, and search for better pathways for urban and regional planning aiming at improving the quality of life of citizens beyond the current time of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity of crisis convergence and building resilience. The Congress also presents an opportunity to explore the possibilities of urban development for dynamic cities, reflect on alternative ways of planning yet at the same time think collectively on scalable solutions to the similar challenges that all cities and regions around the globe are called to face.
ISOCARP’s New Year’s Reception – 23 January 2025!
Dear Members and Friends of ISOCARP,
We kicked off 2025 with an inspiring New Year’s Reception, marking the beginning of our Diamond Jubilee celebrations! It was a moment to reflect on 60 years of ISOCARP, engage in meaningful discussions, and look ahead to an exciting year of planning and innovation.
Highlights from the Event:
- Celebrating 60 Years of ISOCARP: A look back at our legacy and the road to ISOCARP100.
- Accelerating Agenda 2030: Insightful discussions on planners’ roles in implementing the SDGs and the New Urban Agenda.
- The Countdown to the 61st World Planning Congress: Key takeaways on the upcoming Congress and how to get involved.
- Cyber Agora #13 – Climate Action Planning: A dynamic exchange on “Does COP matter for planners?”
Thank you to all who joined us! Let’s continue shaping a future of collaboration, commitment, and innovation as we celebrate ISOCARP’s 60th year.
Stay tuned for more events and opportunities to engage throughout 2025!
