WALK21 Regional Dialogues 2026

To inspire and accelerate the momentum for walking ambition in every region of the world to achieve a measurable benefit to communities over the next ten years.

AFRICA

Cape Coast, Ghana
14-16 OCTOBER
Register

LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN

Belo Horizonte, Brazil
3-5 NOVEMBER
Register

PAN-EUROPEAN

London, UK
24-26 NOVEMBER
Registration coming soon

Global Call for Contributions

Walk21 Regional Dialogues & Walking Cities Labs 2026

Walking Cities Lab and Walk21, in partnership with VREF, the UN Environment Programme and UN-Habitat

Bring your knowledge into the dialogue

Researchers, practitioners, policymakers, community organisations, advocates and funders are invited to contribute to the 2026 Walk21 Regional Dialogues and Walking Cities Labs across Asia-Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe.

Read the full call

submit your contribution

CONTRIBUTIONS ARE INVITED ACROSS FIVE THEMES

(Un)walkable cities
Climate-resilient walking
Caring cities and walking equity
Governing walkable cities
Implementing and sustaining change

Selected contributors will be invited to present their work in person at the relevant Regional Dialogue. Selected contributions may also be developed for consideration in regional and thematic journal special issues, supported by publishing workshops held during each Dialogue

ABOUT THE REGIONAL DIALOGUES

To mark the start of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport, Walk21 will host four events in 2026, in partnership with the Walking Cities Lab and local partners.

The events will vary in each region, adapted to local context and in collaboration with the ambitions of local partners.

The program of activities will bring together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, advocates and community leaders to inspire a greater regional ambition and define an implementation pathway to improve walking over the Decade.

The Regional Dialogues aim to:

1. 1. Grow political momentum for walking during the UN Decade through commitments by national, sub-national and city governments.
  2. Provide a pathway for achieving better walking experiences for everyone in the Decade through more evidence based walking ambitions translated into implemented actions.
  3. Provide a regional platform for dialogue about walking across research, policy and practice that becomes the go-to place for actionable knowledge and research capacity
  4. Consolidate a regional Community of Practice to advance walking in the region through collective action.
  5. Create opportunities for capacity building around strategic needs to prioritise walking.

PROGRAMME AT GLANCE

Each Regional Dialogue will be adapted to regional needs and local priorities, while following a shared structure designed to connect policy ambition, research, practice and collective action.

The National Opportunity for Walking in the Decade of Action for Sustainable Transport

Explore why walking matters now and what each region can achieve during the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport. Through political perspectives, local stories, regional evidence and interactive roundtables, participants will help define shared priorities and practical pathways for improving walking over the next decade.

Enabling Implementation of the Ambition for Walking

Connect research, practice and lived experience through the Walking Cities Lab. Participants will explore key themes such as unwalkable cities, climate resilience, caring cities, governance and implementation through WALKshops, discussions and collaborative sessions designed to turn knowledge into action.

Regional Meetings

Take the conversation forward with regional partners and networks. This final day will focus on strengthening collaboration, identifying next steps and shaping the Communities of Practice that will continue supporting walking action beyond the events.

In Partnership With

Hosted by

Walk21 News

WALK21 Regional Dialogues 2026

To inspire and accelerate the momentum for walking ambition in every region of the world to achieve a measurable benefit to communities over the next ten years.

ASIA-PACIFIC

AFRICA

LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN

PAN-EUROPEAN

Global Call for Contributions

Walk21 Regional Dialogues & Walking Cities Labs 2026

Bring your knowledge into the dialogue

CONTRIBUTIONS ARE INVITED ACROSS FIVE THEMES

ABOUT THE REGIONAL DIALOGUES

To mark the start of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport, Walk21 will host four events in 2026, in partnership with the Walking Cities Lab and local partners.

The events will vary in each region, adapted to local context and in collaboration with the ambitions of local partners.

The program of activities will bring together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, advocates and community leaders to inspire a greater regional ambition and define an implementation pathway to improve walking over the Decade.

The Regional Dialogues aim to:

PROGRAMME AT GLANCE

Each Regional Dialogue will be adapted to regional needs and local priorities, while following a shared structure designed to connect policy ambition, research, practice and collective action.

Take the conversation forward with regional partners and networks. This final day will focus on strengthening collaboration, identifying next steps and shaping the Communities of Practice that will continue supporting walking action beyond the events.

In Partnership With

Hosted by

Walk21 News

Building Momentum for Walking and Cycling in the Caribbean

National Walking Case Studies

Connecting the Region: The Inspiring Action LAC Workshop in Panama

New policy briefs for Active Cities

Benefits of interventions given real values, for the first time, by the Walkability App in Kumasi, Ghana

Walking to Public Transport reports launched at UITP congress

Walk21 LAC: Growing Impact in Latin America and the Caribbean

New Walkability App