London wins the prestigious global 2026 Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize

• London recognised for world-class innovation, strategic leadership and transformative urban development.
• The capital awarded for major initiatives across air quality, housing, the cost of living, economic growth and transport.
• Jury found that London’s vibrant public spaces and community-focused development continue to enhance quality of life and ensure London remains a city for everyone.

London has for the first time ever been named the Laureate of the prestigious 2026 Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize, recognising the city’s outstanding achievements in urban development, innovation, and long-term strategic leadership under Mayor Sadiq Khan, who marks ten years as Mayor this year.

Home to more than nine million people, London is one of the most diverse cities in the world, with over 300 languages spoken and communities from every corner of the globe. This diversity underpins its global appeal as a leading hub for talent, investment and culture.

The Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize is one of the most prominent global awards in urban planning and city development, recognising cities that demonstrate exceptional achievements in creating liveable, vibrant and sustainable urban environments. Established in 2010 by the Singapore Government’s Urban Redevelopment Authority and Centre for Liveable Cities, the Prize honours leaders and organisations that demonstrate foresight, innovation and excellence. Previous recipients include Bilbao, New York, Suzhou, Medellin, Seoul, Vienna, and, most recently, Mexico City, recognised for its large-scale, people-centred transformation in response to challenges such as congestion, inequality and climate risk.

The award highlighted London’s enduring ability to reinvent itself while remaining liveable, economically dynamic and socially inclusive. The judges recognised that over the past 25 years, the creation of a directly elected Mayor and the Greater London Authority has enabled the city to deliver consistent policy leadership, long-term planning and transformative change across its 32 boroughs and the City of London Corporation.

Major initiatives that contributed to London’s win include:

• Clean air and social programmes: The Ultra Low Emission Zone has cut nitrogen dioxide emissions by an estimated 54 per cent in central London compared to a scenario without the ULEZ (1), enabling the London to meet legal limits 184 years earlier than was projected when the Mayor took office in 2016 (2). Free school meals for state primary school children have saved families £500 a year per child, on top of addressing inequality (3).
• World-class transport and regeneration: Major investments in transport have made the city more connected and sustainable. The Elizabeth line launched under Sadiq Khan’s mayoralty has carried 800 million passengers since operation began and catalysed the development of more than 71,000 new homes, demonstrating how transit and housing integration can drive urban regeneration (4).
• Transformational redevelopment projects: Areas such as King’s Cross and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park have become vibrant mixed-use districts, combining infrastructure, culture, business, and academic institutions to create jobs and foster collaboration.
• Inclusive public spaces: London’s planning policies now ensure that new developments include community facilities, green spaces, and cultural programming, creating inclusive and liveable neighbourhoods. This summer Oxford Street will transform into a pedestrian-friendly, world-class retail and leisure destination enhancing its unique character, identity, and cultural heritage, creating a place that Londoners and visitors alike can enjoy and explore. Destination City, the City of London Corporation’s growth strategy for the Square Mile, which is focused on strengthening the City as a magnetic destination that drives wider economic success by attracting high-value firms and highly skilled people.
• Global leadership in economy, research, and culture: London remains a world-leader in finance, technology, life sciences, and the arts, with top universities, cultural institutions, theatres, and music venues reinforcing its international reputation. London is a global hub for AI innovation, leading the way in AI adoption through the London Growth Plan launched last year - a blueprint for turbocharging productivity in the capital. The city is also a major global destination for sport, hosting iconic events such as the London Marathon, FA Cup and Six Nations while being home to multiple Premier League clubs.

London’s approach has demonstrated how historic global cities can balance heritage with bold innovation, sustainable growth, and social inclusion. London continues to set a standard for urban resilience, and long-term planning that can deliver a fairer, greener, and more prosperous city.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “I am honoured that London has been recognised with the 2026 Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize. This prestigious award reflects the creativity, resilience, and determination of everyone who lives here.

“London thrives because of its people – our diverse communities, innovators, and businesses – working together to create a city that is sustainable, inclusive, and full of opportunity. From cleaner air and affordable housing to world-class transport and cultural spaces, we continue to grow, innovate, and remain a place where everyone belongs.

“London is a city like no other – a place where every culture and every community comes together. This prize recognises our commitment to building a greener, fairer, and more vibrant city for everyone who calls London home.”

London’s Transport Commissioner, Andy Lord, said: “It’s great to hear that London has won the 2026 Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize for innovation, inclusion, and urban transformation. Public transport is the strong, green heartbeat of London and through our sustained investment in transformational projects like the Elizabeth line, as well as implementing the Ultra Low Emission Zone,  we are making the city more connected and sustainable. A safe and accessible public transport also helps people get to the wide range of opportunities and iconic events that take place across the city, supporting its economic growth and further driving regeneration.”

Laura Citron OBE, CEO of London & Partners, said: “London is truly a city that never stops reinventing itself; and we are immensely proud to have our capital city recognised with this award.

“We remain committed to continual innovation and evolution as a global city. In 2025, London launched a ten-year growth plan to create an economy that works for all Londoners, making our city more equal as well as more prosperous.

“The city has undergone major transformations across key areas (like public transport: the world-class Elizabeth line), with much more to come in 2026 including the Oxford Street pedestrianisation, East Bank cultural development and new visitor destinations like the London Museum.”

Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities said: “This award shows what can be achieved with decisive city leadership. 

“From slashing air pollution through the world’s largest clean air zone to investing in clean, accessible public transport and creating greener, more inclusive neighbourhoods, London is showing how climate action can protect and enhance the lives of all residents. 

“Under Mayor Sadiq Khan, the city has combined high ambition with effective delivery, setting a gold standard that is already inspiring cities around the world.”

Ben Rogers, LSE Cities, said: “As the body that nominated London for the 2026 Lee Kuan Yew World City prize, LSE Cities would like to congratulate the capital on its success.  London has an unusually networked system of government, with power distributed between central government, the Mayor and the boroughs. But these spheres of Government have worked constructively together, and with London's businesses and civil society, to oversee more than 30 years of sustained, strategic investment in public transport, public realm, culture regeneration and social integration, with the result that London's reputation and attractiveness have grown and grown. This has been good for London, but also for the UK. It's vital the UK capital has the power and resources to sustain investment and built on its achievements.     

Dee Corsi, Chief Executive, New West End Company, said: “The acknowledgement of London as an exceptional urban environment confirms what Londoners already know – our capital is one of best global destinations to live, work and invest. Achieving this award has required long-term vision and city-wide partnership. Operating at the centre of London’s visitor economy, the West End continues to benefit from recent transformational urban projects including the Elizabeth line, which keeps the district thriving. Looking ahead, New West End Company is committed to working closely with the Mayor of London and the Oxford Street Development Corporation to pedestrianise Oxford Street – delivering a vibrant public realm fit for the “nation’s high street” and securing its global position for years to come.”

City of London, Policy Chairman, Chris Hayward said: “London’s recognition with the 2026 Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize is a powerful endorsement our unique partnership celebrates not just what London has achieved, but what we can achieve together. The City Corporation is proud to play its part in that success, and we will continue working with London and for London to ensure our capital remains the best place in the world to live, work and thrive.”

Shazia Hussain, CEO of London Legacy Development Corporation, responsible for the development of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park said: “London’s recognition with the 2026 Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize is a moment of real pride for everyone working to shape the city’s future. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park demonstrates how London, a historic global city, can continue to evolve through investment in homes, culture, innovation and local talent - creating a thriving new district that unlocks opportunities for local communities. That same ambition is driving transformation across the capital, ensuring that growth is shared, sustainable and rooted in fairness. We’re proud to play our part in a London wide effort to build a city where everyone can benefit from its success.”

Lizzie Smith, Chair of the London Anchor Institutions’ Network (LAIN) and Director of Workforce, Training and Education for the NHS in London said: “London being awarded the 2026 Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize is a wonderful recognition of the commitment of so many organisations to work together, to help make London a fairer, greener and more prosperous city. I’m proud that through LAIN, health, education, transport, police and fire services are collaborating across sectors to play our part as anchor institutions – helping small businesses to thrive, supporting Londoners into good jobs, and taking action on climate change.”

Jemima Hartshorn, Founder and Director Mums for Lungs, said: “Huge congratulation to our Mayor who is leading his team with a clear vision for a cleaner, greener and more inviting London. He has made it a better place for all of us as the air is less polluted because of the ULEZ. More needs to be done – but today, we thank Sir Sadiq for all that he has done so far.”

Stephanie Slater MBE, Founder and Chief Executive of School Food Matters said: “Congratulations to Sadiq and London on being awarded the 2026 Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize. This honour rightly recognises the Mayor’s leadership in helping young people throughout the city thrive. At School Food Matters, we are particularly proud to support the Mayor’s free school meals programme and it's brilliant to see it recognised as part of this Prize. By funding free school meals for all state primary school children, the Mayor is improving family finances, the health and wellbeing of children, and positively impacting on school communities. This is truly something to celebrate."

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