World Cities Culture Forum

World Cities Culture Forum: a global network of cities placing culture at the heart of urban policy

World Cities Culture Forum is an international network of civic leaders from more than 40 creative cities across six continents, representing a combined population of over 245 million people. Its work involves sharing ideas and solutions to address 21st-century urban challenges — such as climate change, the shortage of affordable workspaces, cultural tourism strategies, the night-time economy and diversity in public space — by placing culture at the heart of city planning and investment.

The organisation was founded in 2012 on the idea that global cities can achieve more by working together and sharing ideas. It is chaired by Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries in London, and has Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, as its patron.

Research and publications

The forum produces reports and analysis on urban cultural policy. Its publications include the World Cities Culture Report, whose fifth edition reveals that cultural participation is rebounding strongly, that creative spaces are being protected and that the night-time economy has become a mainstream policy focus for global cities. Other publications cited are Culture Counts: Insights & Strategies in Evidence-Based Cultural Policies (2021), African Alternatives: The Future of Creative Cities, Culture and Climate Change Report (2018) and Nothing About Us Without Us: Youth and Culture in Global Cities Today, commissioned together with the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and presented at the 2024 World Cities Culture Summit.

Leadership exchange and training programmes

Since 2018, the Leadership Exchange Programme has supported cities in sharing innovative solutions to complex cultural policy challenges, through a series of eleven exchanges. The network also organises Digital Dialogue Masterclasses to develop civic leadership.

Summits and international meetings

The 15th World Cities Culture Summit will take place in Tokyo from 28 to 30 October 2026, hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and will bring together the global network of more than 45 cities for three days of exchange, insight and collaboration. The forum has also held online launches, such as that of the fifth edition of the World Cities Culture Report on 29 January 2026.

Work themes and participating cities

Its workstreams include the relationship between culture and health, with social prescribing programmes and arts-in-health initiatives; healthy ageing and the silver economy; the future of the creative economy in the face of artificial intelligence; the protection of live music venues, such as the case of Adelaide and its specific legislation; and pedestrianisation as a driver of culture in the streets, with examples from Barcelona to Bogotá.

The network includes cities such as Abu Dhabi, Adelaide, Amsterdam, Austin, Barcelona, Beijing, Bengaluru, Boston, Brasília, Brussels, Buenos Aires, Chicago, Cologne, Dubai, Dublin, Edinburgh, Guangzhou, Hamburg, Helsinki, Hong Kong, İstanbul, Jakarta, Kyiv, Lisbon, London, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Milan, Montréal, Nanjing, New York, Oslo, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, San Francisco, São Paulo, Seoul, Stockholm, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo, Toronto, Vancouver, Vienna, Warsaw and Zürich.

Public advocacy and manifestos

The forum drives policy advocacy initiatives, such as the manifesto A Goal for Culture: The São Paulo Manifesto, aimed at strengthening the role of culture in urban agendas.

Team and institutional contact

The organisation has a team based in London and maintains vacancies for roles in high-profile international projects. For general enquiries it has the email info@worldcitiescultureforum.com, and for media enquiries and interview requests, the email katherine.thornton@worldcitiescultureforum.com. It is registered as a charity with number 1204602.

Location and contact

Email: info@worldcitiescultureforum.com