The Accessibility 2030 Pavilion Returns to the World Urban Forum (WUF).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

First launched at WUF12 in Cairo, the first dedicated space for accessibility and disability inclusion at WUF will make its Baku debut on 18th May 2026 at the Urban Expo, bringing together disability advocates, urban planners, policymakers, and community leaders to demand that accessible, inclusive housing are non-negotiable in the world's cities.

Baku, Azerbaijan, 17 May 2026. The Accessibility 2030 Pavilion will return to the World Urban Forum (WUF) when WUF13 opens its doors in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 17 to 22 May 2026. Building on the historic momentum generated at WUF12 in Cairo, the Pavilion once again creates a dedicated space to explore the role of accessibility and disability inclusion in ‘Housing the World’.

The time is now to make our cities more inclusive. Nearly 3 billion people worldwide face some form of housing inadequacy, with more than 1.1 billion living in informal settlements and over 300 million experiencing homelessness. For people with disabilities, older persons, and other disadvantaged groups, these challenges are amplified by a lack of accessible design, inclusive services and persisting stigma. Homes are built without ramps, neighbourhoods lack tactile pathways, and emergency systems fail people who communicate differently. Guided by WUF13's theme "Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities" this is the defining moment to declare that housing for all must mean housing that is accessible to all. 

This year, the pavilion forms part of the Civil Society Cluster, supported by UN-Habitat and the Government of Azerbaijan, joining the Children and Youth Pavilion, Urban Safety Pavilion and Habitat Village in a space that explores visions for inclusive cities for all. 

The Accessibility 2030 Pavilion is is a collaborative initiative brought to WUF13 by UN Habitat, Global Disability Innovation Hub, and the UK International Development-funded AT2030 programme with supporting partners including BMZ: Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, World Blind Union, the United Nations Global Disability Fund, the International Disability Alliance, UCL, UCLG, Kota Kita, Kounkuey Design Initiative, OpenStreetMap, Freetown City Council, FEADP, Cities4All, The Centre for Disability Studies at the University of the West Indies and United Disabled Persons of Kenya.

“I am thrilled to attend WUF 13 as part of the GDI Hub delegation to amplify the voices of persons with disabilities from Addis Ababa. Inclusion is not optional; it is an absolute necessity for building safe, resilient cities where truly no one is left behind. Beyond discussions, this forum serves as a pivotal catalyst for action, promising to bring persons with disabilities concrete commitments, strengthened global partnerships, and practical frameworks that will transform accessible urban design into a lived reality.” Abayneh Gujo, Executive Director of the Federation of Ethiopian Associations of persons  with Disabilities 

The Accessibility 2030 Pavilion is an interactive space dedicated to advancing inclusive design and accessibility as core drivers of inclusive and resilient urban environments. The pavilion showcases city case studies, evidence-based tools, and live programming to champion proactive accessibility over reactive retrofitting. It is also a space to gather, for conversation and collaboration among WUF participants who are interested in learning more about what makes cities accessible and inclusive, and for those who have knowledge to share. The idea is that visitors can explore curated content, participate in collaborative workshops, and access a digital resource hub, designed to foster safe, accessible neighborhoods through shared knowledge and community engagement.

As in Cairo, all Pavilion content will be available through a dedicated digital hub at www.at2030.org/accessibility-2030, ensuring that people unable to attend in person can access materials in a range of accessible formats. 

[We’re delighted the Accessibility 2030 pavilion has returned for WUF13. The importance of hosting a dedicated space at the World Urban Forum, supported by UN-Habitat, for accessibility cannot be underestimated in the movement to create more inclusive cities at scale. The breadth of partners that are supporting the pavilion says it all – the commitment is there, the time for action is now.

Mikaela Patrick, Head of Research and Delivery, Global Disability Innovation Hub

Join us at the Accessibility 2030 Pavilion at WUF13 in Baku, in the Civil Society Cluster (A40) of the Urban Expo.

For more information and to access pavilion content: www.at2030.org/accessibility-2030

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