ISOCARP Awards 2027: Applications Open

ISOCARP AWARDS 2027 The ISOCARP Awards 2027 are now open for submissions! Recognising excellence across planning practice, academic research, collaborative processes, and emerging talent, the four awards celebrate the people, projects, and ideas shaping the future of cities and regions.  Ahead of the ISOCARP World Planning Congress 2027, shortlists for each award category will be announced. Shortlisted candidates will be give the opportunity to present and share their projects, plans, and innovative approaches in more detail. The winners will be announced at the Congress. This creates a platform to not only celebrate outstanding achievements, but also to exchange deeper knowledge, showcase good practices, and give inspiring planning initiatives greater international visibility.  Discover the award categories and find the right opportunity to showcase your work.  ISOCARP AWARDS 2027 AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE Recognising Outstanding Planning Practice  Established in 2005, the Award for Excellence celebrates outstanding urban and regional planning initiatives, from visionary plans to projects under implementation and completed developments.  Who can apply? Planning professionals, architects and planning firms, public administrations, development agencies, universities, research institutes, NGOs and independent consultants.  What can be submitted? Strategic, normative and urban plans.  Urban design and regeneration projects.  Urban policies and research studies.  Digital planning platforms, software and smart tools.  Award Categories and Recognitions Grand Award - Planned Projects: One year of complimentary ISOCARP membership, Congress registration, award plaque and certificate, and promotion through ISOCARP channels. Grand Award - Realised Projects: One year of complimentary ISOCARP membership, Congress registration, award plaque and certificate, and promotion through ISOCARP channels.  Merit Award: Congress registration, award plaque and certificate, and promotion through ISOCARP channels. Submissions are assessed based on sustainability of planning, resilience of resources, alignment with local challenges, quality, and innovation.    Submission Fees Applicant Early Bird Regular ISOCARP Members €675 €750 Non-Members €1,350 €1,500 What to submit: Online application form, 150-word project summary, project description (maximum 10,000 characters), and supporting visual material (maximum four A3 pages). An optional video is welcome.    Find out more & Apply: Award for Excellence ISOCARP AWARDS 2027 GERD ALBERS AWARD Celebrating Excellence in Planning Research and Publications  Established in 1999 in honour of Professor Gerd Albers, ISOCARP co-founder and former President, this Award recognises outstanding academic publications that advance urban and regional planning theory and practice. Who can apply? Exclusively for active ISOCARP members.  Eligible publications:  Books and book chapters.  Peer-reviewed journal articles. Published project reports.  Publication period: 30 June 2025 - 31 October 2026.  Accepted but unpublished journal articles are also eligible, with the manuscript and the publisher's acceptance letter.  Award Categories and Recognitions Best Book: Two years of complimentary ISOCARP membership, award certificate, and promotion through ISOCARP channels.  Best Article: Two years of complimentary ISOCARP membership, award certificate, and promotion through ISOCARP channels.  Special Mention: Award Certificate and promotion through ISOCARP channels.  Submissions are assessed based on content (relevance, quality, contribution, significance, coherence) and design/presentation (clarity, quality, and overall presentation).    Submission Fees Category Early Bird Regular Best Book €180 €200 Best Article €90 €100 What to submit: Online application form, publication PDF, and a summary of main findings (maximum 2,000 characters). Additional documentation may be required for accepted articles and publications in languages other than English, French, German and Spanish. Publications in all languages are welcome. Those in other languages must include an extended English abstract of at least three pages.    Find out more & Apply: Gerd Albers Award ISOCARP AWARDS 2027 PLANNING PROCESS AWARD Recognising Excellence in Collaborative and Inclusive Planning This Award celebrates planning processes that put participation, co-creation and collaboration at the heart of urban and regional development. It recognises initiatives that bring communities, public authorities, civil society and other stakeholders together to create more inclusive, sustainable and resilient outcomes. Who can apply? Planning firms, consultancies, municipalities, local and regional authorities, national planning institutions and relevant ministries.  Projects may be completed, under implementation or in advanced stages of delivery. Eligible submissions: Strategic and urban plans Regeneration programmes Climate adaptation initiatives Public space projects Community-led planning Policy development and participatory governance programmes Award Categories and Recognition Award: One year of complimentary ISOCARP membership, award plaque and certificate, and promotion through ISOCARP channels. Special Mention: Award Certificate and promotion through ISOCARP channels.  Submissions are evaluated on stakeholder engagement, transparency, co-creation, innovation, implementation potential, knowledge-sharing and contribution to sustainable and equitable outcomes. Submission Fees Applicant Early Bird Regular ISOCARP Members €450 €500 Non-Members €900 €1,000 What to submit: Online application form, 150-word project summary, written description (maximum 10,000 characters), and visual material (maximum four A3 pages). An optional video is welcome.  Find out more & Apply: Planning Process Award ISOCARP AWARDS 2027 STUDENT AWARD Celebrating the Next Generation of Urban Planners Established in 2016, the Student Award recognises outstanding academic achievement, creativity and innovative thinking among emerging urban and regional planners. Who can apply? Individual students or groups enrolled in Bachelor's or Master's programmes in urban and regional planning or related disciplines. Eligible submissions: Urban and regional planning projects Urban design and planning studio projects Research essays Bachelor's and Master's theses Award Categories and Recognition Award: One year of complimentary ISOCARP membership (one representative for group submissions), award certificate, and international promotion. Special Mention: Congress registration, award certificate, and international promotion. Submissions are evaluated on academic quality and content, methodological rigour, creativity, innovation, and relevance.  Submission Fees Applicant Fee All Applicants €25 per submission What to submit: Portfolio (maximum of four A3 pages), project description (maximum of 5,000 characters), CV of each applicant, and a 150-word project summary. Valid proof of student status is required for every applicant.  Find out more & Apply: Student Award ISOCARP AWARDS 2027 Important Dates & Submission Information All four awards will be presented at the ISOCARP World Planning Congress 2027 in Wellington, New Zealand (27-30 April 2027).  Winners and Shortlisted Candidates will also have the opportunity to present their work at the Congress. Key Dates Early Bird Deadline 22 November 2026 Final Submission Deadline 10 December 2026 Awards Ceremony 27–30 April 2027 Deadlines are at 11.59 PM CET. The Early Bird discount applies to the Award for Excellence, the Gerd Albers Award, and the Award for Planning Process. The Student Award has a fixed registration fee.  Application Procedure Applications shall be submitted through the official online submission portal. Only applications for which the submission fee has been received will be considered complete and taken into consideration by the jury.    CALL FOR AWARDS 2027 Share news with us! If you would like to share announcements or contributions for future newsletters or ISOCARP’s social media channels, please drop an email to Communications Officer. View this email in your browser International Society of City and Regional Planners Knowledge for Better Cities Hoefkade 9, 2526 BN The Hague, The Netherlands Copyrights 2026. All rights reserved by ISOCARP.