Call for Hosting Proposals City+2028 and City+2029

International Conference on Interdisciplinary Urban Studies

Application deadline: 20 November 2026

Submission and enquiries: zhangyongping2112@gmail.com

Invitation to host

City+ invites proposals to host the 2028 and 2029 editions of the International Conference on Interdisciplinary Urban Studies. Applicants may apply for either year or indicate flexibility to host in 2028 or 2029.

Since its first conference in 2017, City+ has developed an annual conference series hosted by universities in different countries and cities. It brings together researchers across urban planning, geography, urban policy, transport, sustainability, smart cities, urban design, and related fields.

Previous conferences have taken place in Cambridge, London, Delft, Milan, Canberra, Perth, Kitakyushu, Oxford and Mytilene. City+2027 will be hosted by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). As the network grows, City+ is seeking hosts further in advance to support institutional preparation and programme development.

Hosting City+ conferences offers an opportunity to connect local urban research and practice with international debates, strengthen academic relationships, and involve academic staff, early-career researchers and students in the wider City+ community.

Who can apply

Proposals are welcome from:

• Universities, including their schools, departments, institutes and research centres;
• Research institutes;
• Other established academic or professional organisations with a strong connection to urban studies.

Joint applications are welcome, provided that a lead host institution is clearly identified. Applicants should be able to establish a reliable Local Organising Committee with academic leadership and administrative support, and nominate a local chair or co-chairs and a principal contact.

What to include in a hosting proposal

Please prepare a proposal in English of approximately 4 to 6 pages, excluding appendices, covering the six areas below. Indicative information is sufficient at this stage. Please identify any major arrangements that remain subject to institutional approval or further discussion; confirmed bookings and detailed operational plans are not required.

1. Host institution, city and venue

Introduce the proposed host institution and city, their connection to interdisciplinary urban studies and the institution’s reasons for wishing to host City+. Joint applications should identify the lead host institution and participating partners.

Describe the proposed university campus or conference venue, including the approximate capacity of the main meeting space, the availability of parallel session rooms, and facilities for keynote speeches, workshops, receptions and other activities. Summarise international travel connections and accommodation options at different price levels.

2. Organising team and capacity

Identify the proposed local chair or co-chairs and core organising team, including their affiliations and anticipated roles. Designate one or more principal contacts and provide their names, positions, affiliations and email addresses.

Summarise the team’s relevant conference organising experience and the institutional support available, such as facilities, administrative assistance and staff time. Explain how the team would manage the main conference organising responsibilities, including coordination between participating institutions where applicable.

3. Proposed dates and outline programme

Indicate the preferred year and hosting period, with alternatives where possible. City+ conferences are preferably held between April and October, excluding September, taking account of academic calendars.

Include an outline schedule showing the number of days, overall structure and main activities. Previous City+ conferences have generally included two to three days of presentations and two days of field study, with opening and closing keynote speeches and workshops on topics such as academic publishing. Applicants may use this as a reference and propose a structure suited to their local context.

4. Proposed conference theme

Propose a conference theme and provide a description of approximately 200 to 300 words, explaining its rationale, the urban questions it addresses and its relevance to interdisciplinary urban studies. The theme should provide a clear focus while accommodating contributions from different disciplines. Explain how the host institution’s expertise or the city’s urban context could inform the discussion.

For reference, themes from previous and forthcoming City+ conferences include “Urban Data Analytics and the Polycrisis” in Oxford, “Improving Liveability for Urban and Rural Settings” in Mytilene, and “The Rise of Megaregions: Reshaping the Global Urban Landscape” in Hong Kong.

5. Financial and resource plan

Outline the resources available to support the conference, including institutional contributions and potential sponsorship. Provide an indicative budget showing the main anticipated costs and sources of income, or briefly describe the financial resources available if a budget has not yet been developed.

Include a preliminary approach to registration fees, considering affordability and possible discounts for students, early-career researchers and City+ members.

6. Field study and academic visits

Field study is an important part of City+ conferences, connecting academic discussions with urban places, local research and practice. It also helps attract participants by offering engaging opportunities to explore the host city and surrounding region.

Provide an outline plan for activities such as a City+ Walk, visits to notable landmarks, distinctive neighbourhoods or urban projects, and exchanges with local institutions, researchers or practitioners. Indicate how the visits would be organised, taking account of accessibility, ease of organisation and potential local partners. The proposed activities should combine academic value with an interesting and practicable experience of the city.

Selection criteria

The City+ Committee will mainly assess proposals against the following considerations:

• Academic strength and relevance to interdisciplinary urban studies;
• Experience of the organising team and institutional commitment;
• Suitability and accessibility of the venue and conference facilities;
• Financial and organisational feasibility;
• The academic interest of the host city and the quality of proposed field study and local engagement.

Application and selection timeline

Stage	Anticipated timing
Application deadline	20 November 2026
Discussions or online meetings with shortlisted applicants	Early December 2026
Final decisions and notification	Late December 2026

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to discuss their proposals and arrangements for collaboration.

Submission and enquiries

Deadline: 20 November 2026

Format: PDF preferred

Recipient: Dr. Yongping Zhang (Founder and Chair of City+; Assistant Professor at Zhejiang University) at zhangyongping2112@gmail.com

Subject Line: “City+ Hosting Proposal – [Lead Institution Name] – [Contact Name]”

Optional appendices may include venue information, photographs or plans, institutional support letters and a preliminary budget. Prospective applicants are welcome to contact us for enquiries or preliminary discussions.

Expressions of interest for 2030 and later editions

Institutions interested in hosting City+ in 2030 or later are welcome to express their interest by email at any time, including after the deadline above. Please indicate your preferred year and briefly introduce your institution and hosting interests. A full proposal is not required for an initial expression of interest.

Early discussions will help prospective hosts and City+ explore mutual interests and develop a preliminary understanding of possible arrangements. Final host selection will take place closer to the relevant conference year.

Website and social media

City+ website: https://www.city-plus.org/

WeChat account: CityPlus2016