Global Campaign Countdown: Choosing the 7 Wonders of Future Cities

The initiative aims to move beyond blueprints, turning localized urban planning into a shared international conversation. Jean-Paul de la Fuente, chairman of the campaign, emphasized that the coming months serve as a critical window for participants to build the public support necessary to stand out when voting opens on October 31, 2026.

Participating sites are highlighting diverse priorities. In South Africa, Stellenbosch Mayor Jeremy Fasser focuses on the Adam Tas Corridor, aiming to replace urban fragmentation with walkable, mixed-income neighborhoods. Meanwhile, Vienna’s aspern Seestadt and Japan’s Minato Mirai 21 are positioning their projects as models for long-term sustainability. Other contenders, such as Warsaw’s Służewiec and Kenya’s Konza Technopolis, view the process as a platform to exchange expertise on large-scale transformation and smart city development. For Curitiba, Brazil, Mayor Eduardo Pimentel noted the event serves as a showcase for integrating innovation with human-centered urban care.