The Preeminent Global Forum for Urban Health

The International Conference on Urban Health (ICUH) is the world's only annual global conference dedicated exclusively to the intersection of cities and health. Established in 2002 by ISUH, ICUH has convened for 21 years across six continents, bringing together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, community leaders, government officials, and private sector representatives from across the globe.

What Makes ICUH Distinctive

  • Interdisciplinary: ICUH draws participants from public health, medicine, urban planning, architecture, environmental science, epidemiology, engineering, economics, social sciences, community organizing, and law. The convergence of these disciplines in a shared forum is where the most consequential urban health insights emerge.

  • Cross-sector: Unlike academic conferences, ICUH is specifically designed to attract and engage government officials, private sector organizations, civil society advocates, and community practitioners alongside researchers — because sustainable urban health improvement requires all of these actors to be in dialogue.

  • Global: Hosted in a different world region each year, ICUH ensures that global urban health expertise is brought to bear on local contexts, and that local innovations are elevated to the global stage. Each host city contributes its own urban health challenges and innovations as living case studies for the conference.

  • Focused on research translation and partnership: ICUH programming is structured not only for the presentation of innovative research, but for dialogue between researchers and the practitioners, policymakers, and community members who can work together to apply and act on it. This translation function is one of ICUH's most consequential contributions.

What ICUH Produces

  • Annual abstract books and conference proceedings documenting emerging research, practical experience, and perspectives from across the global urban health community

  • Policy dialogues generating recommendations for city, national, and international decision-makers

  • Research and practice partnerships that generate funded projects, publications, and community initiatives

  • A sustained global community of practice across disciplines and sectors that operates year-round through ISUH's member network

  • Legacy Projects: In partnership with host cities and local organizations, ISUH convenes hands-on expert forums focused on a priority urban health challenge. These forums connect city leaders with evidence, global practitioners, and practical strategies to develop locally relevant solutions that create lasting benefits for residents.