The WHO European Healthy Cities Network will convene its 2025 Annual Business Meeting and Technical Conference in Bursa, Türkiye, on 17–19 June 2025. With the Network currently in Phase VII (2019–2025), the event will reflect on the progress and achievements of the past 6 years and set the stage for the transition to Phase VIII, which will officially start in January 2026.
The event will bring together policy-makers, urban health experts and technical specialists from across the WHO European Region and beyond to share knowledge and engage in strategic discussions on building resilient, sustainable and inclusive cities.
Conference theme and subthemes
The Conference, themed “Resilient Healthy Cities: Creating Sustainable Urban Futures for All”, will explore 6 key subthemes aligned with the guiding thematic priorities for Phase VII:
- prosperity: thriving cities, thriving futures – the well-being economy in action
- planet: climate-ready cities – One Health for a sustainable tomorrow
- participation: cities by us, for us – co-creating the urban future
- people: reducing inequities to promote urban health and well-being
- place: designing healthy and equitable spaces
- peace: fostering safe and inclusive cities for all.
Programme highlights
Over 3 days, participants will engage in 2 plenary sessions, abstract presentation sessions, workshops and a public film screening. Two workshops will also be conducted in the city of Izmir. The first will focus on the Place Standard tool, a practical way to help cities assess how well the places where people live support their health and well-being. The second aims to help cities understand how environmental and social exposures – such as pollution, stress, green spaces and early nutrition – affect children’s mental health and cognitive development.
These sessions aim to facilitate the exchange of innovative solutions, strategic approaches and community initiatives that address urban health challenges and place health and well-being high on the agenda.
Registration now open
Registration for the Conference is now open through the official event website. Participants are encouraged to register early, as capacity is limited. The event is free of charge, but registration is required for entry into all sessions and activities before 2 May.
Host city: Bursa, Türkiye
Bursa is a city with a rich history of urban planning. Embracing its role as a healthy city, it has invested in the creation of parks, transport solutions, sports facilities, cycling roads, ecotourism facilities and urban design projects. A proud member of the Healthy Cities Network since 1998 (Phase III), Bursa now welcomes the Network back after 20 years, reigniting the spirit of the 2005 meeting.
Join the WHO European Healthy Cities Network
The WHO European Healthy Cities Network, which comprises over 1900 cities across the Region, is working to promote health and well-being through innovative policies and urban design. Cities can join by committing to the Network’s core principles of health equity, sustainability and participatory governance.
If you are a city leader in the Region seeking to amplify your city’s health initiatives, you can join the Network by emailing eurohealthycities@who.int.
For questions about the WHO European Healthy Cities Conference, email the Secretariat at eurohealthycities@who.int.