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World Town Planning Day

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On 8 November every year, planners and communities all over the world come together to celebrate how good planning improves lives.

On World Town Planning Day, held annually on 8th November, planners, and communities all over the world come together to celebrate how good planning improves the lives of people and benefits society at large, creating vibrant places to live, work, and play together.

Argentinian professor Carlos María della Paolera started World Town Planning Day in Buenos Aires in 1949. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the event – an important milestone for the profession.

This year, on or around the 8 November 2025, planners globally will celebrate World Town Planning Day with lectures, school competitions, fundraisers, charity events, planning awards, and street festivals.

76th World Town Planning Day statement

On 8 November, the Global Planners Network (GPN) proudly recognizes the 76th anniversary of World Town Planning Day.

Read the statement

World Town Planning Day 2025 Theme: With Planning We Can!

Planning is the lever to help create sustainable, equitable, inclusive, healthy, accessible, prosperous, safe cities and communities that are adaptable and flexible to future disruptions.  In a world confronted with multiple challenges, social, economic and environmental, planning is therefore part of the solution.  Planning supports the delivery of better outcomes and help mitigate impacts of climate change, recovery from natural and made disasters and future proofing communities.  Planning support the provision of adequate homes for all, through new innovative housing or through retrofitting existing ones, to build the homes of the future.

It is our collective future, together let’s plan it! 

To kick off the campaign, we have released an animation to celebrate planning. And what a better way to do this than, showcasing some of our Award for Planning Excellence winners?  So check the video and share widely with your networks using  #WTPD2025  #WithPlanningWeCan!

This year on World Town Planning Day, we are celebrating how good planning empowers communities and provides pathways to prosperity for all.  We are shining a spotlight on the contributions of planning, showcasing projects and initiatives that have led to positive impacts for our cities and communities across the globe.  From delivering the right homes and in the right locations, linking services and infrastructure planning to the places where we live, work and play, to working with nature to address urban heat or manage water challenges, and working with multiple stakeholders to bring collective solutions for better outcomes for all. 

The RTPI will join the global community and celebrate the positive impact of planning through a number of activities including an online knowledge exchange programme.

The Professor Tony Hall lecture

The RTPI World Town Planning Day celebrations is starting off with the Professor Tony Hall lecture on 4 November 2025.  To find out more and to book, please click here.

The RTPI 2025 WTPD online knowledge exchange programme

The RTPI 2025 online programme brings together case studies from the UK and Internationally, fostering the exchange of ideas globally. This year the Institute is bringing together events through out the week in the run up to World Town Planning Day.

To find out more about the online programme and to book, please click on the links:

What is happening near you?

The RTPI Regions and Nations organise events about global and local challenges for planning and communities.

Get in touch with your local RTPI Region or Nation to see what is going on, or organise an event in your local neighbourhood, at your office, university, school etc. Invite planners, residents and students to take part.

If you are a member, we can help you to promote your activities - email international@rtpi.org.uk and tell us what you are planning to celebrate.

Other events

The University of Plymouth RTPI Planning School is organising a World Town Planning Day online knowledge exchange event with the planners from Perth Australia.  To find out more click here.

Global Planners Network (GPN) Activities

  • The American Planning Association and the Canadian Institute of Planners have an online programme.  To find out more click here.
  • The Irish Planning Institute is also organising fee online events.  For more information click here.

Social media:

Join the campaign and share your stories about the positive impact of planning in building more resilient cities and communities wherever you are in the world.

#WTPD #WorldTownPlanningDay2025

Download the World Town Planning Day Logo here

Don't forget to keep your social media calendars open to get involved in the RTPI's public awareness campaign, launching on World Town Planning Day.

If you are a member, we can help you to promote your activities - email international@rtpi.org.uk and tell us what you are planning to celebrate.