World Habitat Day 2026; October 5th.

FORUM: "Adequate Housing for All" World Habitat Day 2026. The world is facing a global housing crisis. More than 3 billion people lack access to adequate housing today. Furthermore, more than 1.1 billion people, continue to live in an informal settlement, and hundreds of millions are experiencing homelessness. This crisis is exacerbated by conflicts, disasters, and climate change, with individuals living in informal settlements facing the harshest impacts and having the least ability to recover. Housing is acknowledged as a human right in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Other than it being well established as a right that the world is yet to deliver, people facing the challenge of inadequate housing are also deprived of dignity, safety, stability and opportunity. The Global Observance of World Habitat Day 2026 builds on a renewed wave of political commitment to Adequate Housing. At the second session of the UN-Habitat Assembly, 2023 Member States adopted resolution2/7, which focuses on ensuring adequate housing for all, and resolution 2/2, which aims to transform informal settlements and slums. In these resolutions, Member States have urged UN-Habitat to strengthen its efforts in these important areas and UN Habitat launched the Open-ended Intergovernmental Expert Working Groupon Adequate Housing for All, as an intergovernmental process to help contribute to solving for this challenge. Further through the Pact for the Future, Member States have also committed to ensuring that everyone has access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing. This year also marks the first Urban October under UN-Habitat’s new Strategic Plan 2026–2029, which places housing, land and basic services at the centre of the organization’s mandate. The Baku Call to Action from the thirteenth World Urban Forum held in May 2026, emphasises the importance of a human rights approach to housing and encourages a shift from diagnosis to action. Housing is essential for achieving the SustainableDevelopment Goals. Making progress on both the 2030 Agenda and the New Urban Agenda is closely tied to our ability to provide adequate housing for everyone. World Habitat Day will highlight the importance of adequate housing for thriving communities and the actions needed to make it a reality. This requires targeted efforts for lower-income groups, people experiencing disasters, crisis and homelessness, and those most at risk of displacement. Success depends on how we plan and manage our cities, recognizing the social, economic and ecological functions of land, promoting secure land tenure, preventing urban sprawl, and ensuring housing is located within well-serviced, liveable neighbourhoods. Achieving adequate housing also requires diversifying how housing is produced and delivered, through social, public, rental, cooperative and community-led models alongside market-based solutions. Housing must be environmentally sustainable, climate resilient and culturally appropriate, while prioritizing the upgrading andtransformation of informal settlements to improve conditions for those most in need. Above all, these efforts rely on effective multilevel governance, supported by enabling policies and legislation, robust data, and adequate financing. The Global Observance, hosted by the Sultanate of Oman in Muscat, will kick off the Home & Building Expo and Urban October. It will provide a global platform for exchanging experiences, showcasing innovative approaches, and strengthening partnerships that advance the right to adequate housing in practice.  In line with UN-Habitat’s Strategic Plan 2026–2029 and resolution 2/7 on adequate housing for all, the objectives of the World Habitat Day 2026 will: 1. Showcase innovative practices that advance adequate housing for all and recognise outstanding contributions through the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award, one of the world’s most prestigious human settlements awards. 2. Reaffirm adequate housing as a human right and a cornerstone for achieving the SustainableDevelopment Goals and the New Urban Agenda. 3. Raise awareness of the drivers contributing to the global housing crisis, including unaffordability,informality, insecure tenure, climate impacts, displacement and inadequate conditions and highlight the ongoing gap between commitment and actual progress. 4. Promote dialogue on inclusive, integrated and holistic housing strategies that reach all households and all forms of tenure, with targeted efforts for those in the most vulnerable situations. 5. Highlight the central role of all levels of governments, effective multilevel governance, national urbanpolicies, housing law, well-planned, well-located compact neighbourhoods, in realising adequatehousing. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #WorldHabitatDay, #UrbanOctober, #urbancrisisresponse, #Right2Housing, #MindtheGap, #LeaveNoOneBehind, #adequatehousing.

EVENTS: On 5 October 2026, the Global Observance of World Habitat Day will be related to "Adequate Housing for All". The global housing crisis whereby an estimated 2.8 billion people face various forms of housing inadequacy, in which close to 1.1 billion reside in slums and informal settlements, calls for urgent and concerted action. World Habitat Day will consider how to realize the ambition of ensuring access to adequate housing for all as a cornerstone for achieving the SDGs and the New Urban Agenda. Register to participate!

AGENDA PROGRAMME OF THE GLOBAL OBSERVANCE OF WORLD HABITAT DAY 2026.

10.30 -11:00 ARRIVAL OF ATTENDEES (All guests to be seated by 11:00)
11:00 - 11:45 NATIONAL OBSERVANCE HIGH-LEVEL OPENING
11:45 - 12:30 GLOBAL OBSERVANCE HIGH-LEVEL OPENING

UN-HABITAT SCROLL OF HONOUR AWARDS: The UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award, launched in 1989, recognizes individuals and institutions that have made outstanding contributions to urban development, including improving the quality of urban life for all and ensuring adequate, affordable, and accessible housing.

12:30 - 12:45 SIGNING CEREMONY FOR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, INCLUDING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
12:45 - 13:30 INAUGURATION OF THE EXPO
15:00 - 15:15 SCROLL OF HONOUR
15:15 - 16:00 MINISTERIAL SEGMENT
16:00 - 17:15 FLAGSHIP DIALOGUE: ADEQUATE HOUSING FOR ALL
17:15 - 17:30 CLOSING CEREMONY

Related Sites and Documents: Concept note & Agenda programme (pdf).

LIVESTREAM: Watch the World Habitat Day 2026 - "Adequate Housing for All" (Muscat, Oman) (Morning Session)!

ARRIVAL OF ATTENDEES (All guests to be seated by 11:00) 10.30 –11:00 

NATIONAL OBSERVANCE HIGH-LEVEL OPENING 11:00 – 11:45 

GLOBAL OBSERVANCE HIGH-LEVEL OPENING 11:45 – 12:30 

Opening address by master of ceremonies World Habitat Day 2026 video Video message from Nga Kor Ming, President of the United Nations Habitat Assembly and Minister of Housing and Local Government, Malaysia Message from António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, read by Anacláudia Rossbach, Under-Secretary-General and Executive-Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Welcome address by Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habita

SIGNING CEREMONY FOR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, INCLUDING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS 12:30 – 12:45 

UN-HABITAT SCROLL OF HONOUR AWARDS

 Introduction by master of ceremonies Award ceremony • Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister of Punjab, Pakistan, representing the Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency, Lahore, Pakistan • Htoo Aung, representing Housing NOW, Bago, Myanmar • Thiago Bauermann Gubert representing Aldeia do Espraiado - Tekoa Ara Hovy: Brazil’s First Indigenous village established by a Brazilian Municipality • Abdelmalek Ghannem, Bizerte, Tunisia • Sadiq Khan, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

INAUGURATION OF THE EXPO 12:45 – 13:30

MINISTERIAL SEGMENT 15:00 – 15:45

FLAGSHIP DIALOGUE: ADEQUATE HOUSING FOR ALL 15:45 – 17:00 

MODERATOR: Rania Hedeya, Director, Regional Office for Arab States, UN-Habitat 

PANELISTS: • Elena Carolina Díaz Galán, United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights • Dr Asmus Hammerich, WHO Representative to Oman • Melani Penjani Chirwa, Programmes Coordinator, Slum Dwellers International (SDI) • Rony Lahoud, General Director, Public Corporation for Housing, Lebanon • Sultan Barakat, Professor of Public Policy, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (Qatar Foundation) and Honorary Professor, University of York • Partha Mukhopadhyay, Senior Fellow, Centre for Policy Research, India • Wendy Werner, World Bank Group Country Manager for Oman CLOSING CEREMONY 17:00 – 17:20 

Closing session by the master of ceremonies Closing remarks, TBC Closing remarks by Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat Group photo session

COMMUNICATION MATERIALS: Get the campaign toolkit & other assets!

World Habitat Day 2025; October 6th.

FORUM: "Urban Crisis Response.'' World Habitat Day 2025. An increasing number of people are driven from their homes by crises such as conflict, political instability, climate change and economic hardship. A record 122 million people are forcibly displaced1 . In an increasingly urbanizing world, displacement is becoming an urban phenomenon. Over 60% of internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrants are seeking refuge in cities, putting pressure on local systems. This is accelerating urban growth while changing territories significantly. This makes urban crisis response and urban displacement a timely focus for World Habitat Day. The day will highlight sustainable, scalable, and transformative solutions to urban displacement that help stabilize populations while promoting prosperity and fostering social cohesion for all. It will put the spotlight on the importance of urban and territorial planning, inclusive urban governance and the role of local governments in sustainable solutions for displacement. 

MOVING FROM ACUTE CRISIS RESPONSE TO SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS: A humanitarian response that fails to integrate development approaches early, risks prolonging the crisis and aid dependency. There is an urgent need to pivot earlier towards development- and government-led solutions in dealing with displacement situations for more durable outcomes. 

To effectively transition to sustainable urban solutions and promote self-reliance, three approaches are key:

First, inclusive approaches to urban and territorial development with social cohesion at the center are key to addressing the needs of both host communities and the displaced. In line with SDG 11 and the New Urban Agenda, inclusive urban planning and urban governance are essential tools to facilitate social cohesion and integration of displacement of affected communities.

 Second, sustainable solutions also need to ensure access to adequate housing, land, and basic services. Displaced populations and host communities, particularly the urban poor, often face acute challenges in access to adequate housing, basic services, and economic opportunities. The ever-worsening global housing crisis exacerbates these challenges, as it strains already limited resources. The influx of more displaced persons strains urban systems even more, and if unplanned, further fuels informal settlements and slums where 1.1 billion people already reside globally. Third, Mayors and local governments have demonstrated over and over again that they can drive solutions, working closely with the displacement of affected communities in all their diversity. Their leadership is key to ensure social cohesion as a prerequisite for inclusive growth and stability. Enhancing multi-level governance, building local governments’ capacity, and ensuring enabling legal and policy instruments, along with comprehensive financing solutions, are critical in achieving long-term solutions for both host and displaced communities and provides them with access to adequate housing. The World Habitat Day is marked on the first Monday of October each year and is recognized by the United Nations to reflect on the state of towns and cities, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. Follow the converstions with the hashtags:  #WorldHabitatDay, #UrbanOctober, #urbancrisisresponse, #Right2Housing, #MindtheGap, #LeaveNoOneBehind, #adequatehousing.

EVENTS: On October 6th, From the UN-Habitat HQ at UNON, Nairobi; Kenya, the Global Observance of World Habitat Day 2025 will be linked to, urban crisis response. The theme will focus on addressing multiple crises affecting urban areas, including climate and conflicts that are contributing to inequality, and promote existing tools and approaches to effective crisis response. In line with UN-Habitat’s Strategic Plan 2026–2029, World Habitat Day will: 1. Share urban and territorial development strategies for durable solutions to displacement. 2. Recognize the central role of local governments in championing solutions and the need for multi-level governance. 3. Highlight social cohesion and inclusive governance as key enablers of urban integration of displaced populations. 4. Consider the critical role of housing, land and basic services for sustainable solutions for displacement. 5. Showcase urban practices that have successfully achieved social cohesion, recovery and integration for displacement of affected communities. Read the Concept Note, Register to participate and Watch the World Habitat Day 2025 livestream!

Statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on World Habitat Day 2025; October 6th.

In our rapidly urbanising world, cities often shoulder the impacts of today’s crises. Conflict, political instability, and the climate emergency have forced 123 million people from their homes – most seeking safety in cities and towns already under pressure. About one in eight people live in informal settlements, and more than 300 million have no home at all. Health services, water systems, and transport networks are stretched, while the risks of new disasters loom. Yet cities are where solutions can take root and grow. When we plan for inclusion, newcomers help to drive economies, strengthen communities, and enrich culture. On this World Habitat Day, we shine a light on solutions, from better housing, to land rights, to water and sanitation. We recognise the vital leadership of mayors and local governments, and the resilience of urban communities –– especially women and youth. Most of all, we seek to share the innovations that help guarantee access for the most vulnerable –– including people with disabilities, older persons, and children. A city is more than bricks and mortar. It is the promise of home. Together, let’s build stronger cities that ensure safety and belonging for all.

United Nations Secretary-General.

Message from the UN-Habitat Executive Director on World Habitat Day 2025; October 6th.

Every crisis has a human face. A family forced to flee their home. A child studying in a refugee camp. A community living without water or electricity. Today, crises are unfolding in our cities. Conflict, instability, and climate change are pushing millions into displacement. In 2024, a record 123 million people were forced from their homes – most of them seeking safety in cities that are already under strain. At the same time, nearly 3 billion people suffer from inadequate housing, and more than 1.1 billion live in informal settlements and slums. But crisis does not have to mean despair. At UN-Habitat, we have seen communities rise again when housing, land, and basic services are prioritized. In Iraq, displaced families have regained homes and stability. In Somalia, improved access to land has brought hope to the marginalized. In Lebanon, inclusive upgrading has turned divided neighbourhoods into united communities. These stories remind us that rebuilding homes is about more than bricks and mortar. It is about dignity. It is about hope. On this World Habitat Day, I call on all of us – governments, partners, and communities – to act with urgency. Let us put housing at the heart of crisis response globally. Let us invest in cities as places of safety, opportunity, and resilience for all. In May 2026, at the World Urban Forum in Baku, we will come together under the theme Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities. Let us bring solutions. Let us drive action. Because when we rebuild homes, we rebuild hope.

Executive Director of UN-Habitat.

Opening Statement by Hon. Alice Wahome, EGH, Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, during the Global Observance of World Habitat Day held on Monday, 6th October 2025 at the UN-Habitat Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

AGENDA PROGRAMME 

Global Observance of World Habitat Day 2025 Monday, 6 October.

HIGH-LEVEL OPENING CEREMONY

 LOCATION Conference Room 4 

09:30 – 10:00 Opening address by Master of Ceremony, UN-Habitat Message from Mr. António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General read by Mr. Stephen Jackson, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Kenya Video message from Hon. Nga Kor Ming, Minister of Housing and Local Government and President of the United Nations Habitat Assembly Video message by Ms. Inger Andersen, Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP Welcome address by Ag. Secretary Eng. Byron Buyu, Secretary for Urban and Metropolitan Development, Government of Kenya Welcome address by Ms. Anacláudia Rossbach, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat World Habitat Day 2025 video.

UN-HABITAT SCROLL OF HONOR AWARDS AND SPECIAL CITATION

 10:00 – 10:30 Introduction by Master of Ceremony, UN-Habitat Award ceremony 1. Ms. Jana Haidar representing Public Works Studio - Beirut, Lebanon 2. Mr. José Afonso representing Just a Change - Lisboa, Portugal 3. Mr. Israel Smart - Jos Plateau, Nigeria 4. Ms. Clara Marina - Brugada Molina, Mexico received by Ms. Rocío Lombera 5. Special Citation: Gangwon State (IUTC), Republic of Korea received by H.E. Mr. Kang Hyung-shik, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to Kenya Statements by recipients of UN-Habitat Scroll of Honor Awards and Special Citations Closure of the session by Master of Ceremony Group photo.

HIGH-LEVEL PANEL DISCUSSION 

10:30 – 12:00 Introduction by Master of Ceremony, Mr. Filiep Decorte, Chief, Programme Development Branch, UN-Habitat Video message from Ms. Paula Betancur, UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons Video message from Mr. Filipo Grandhi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR Statement by Ms. Maymuchka Lauriston, Head of Office - East Africa Multicountry Office, OHCHR Panelists: 1. Ms. Jana Haidar, Public Works Studio, Lebanon 2. Ms. Beatriz Eraso Puig, Senior Urban Specialist at World Bank, Kenya 3. Ms. Madina Mahboobi, Founder of Vision Development Organization, Afghanistan 4. Mr. Kitoga Amuri Kilonzo, Executive Director of Unity Sending Peace to All Tribes, Kenya Live Questions and Answers segment Wrap up

CLOSING CEREMONY 

12:00 – 12:30 Closing session by the Master of Ceremony, UN-Habitat Closing remarks by Ms. Anacláudia Rossbach, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat Group photo.

Download the agenda programme.

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