In the summer of 2018, NewCities launched the first ever Wellbeing Cities Award, in partnership with the Novartis Foundation, Novartis US Foundation, the City of Montréal, and in collaboration with the Toyota Mobility Foundation, Transdev and the U.S. Green Building Council.

More than 115 participating cities from 30 countries across 5 continents applied throughout the year. After a two-round selection process, a jury selected the laureates to be recognized at the inaugural Wellbeing Cities Forum. 300 urban leaders gathered in Montréal on June 19-20, 2019 showcasing innovative and inspiring solutions from around the world.

Our 2019 Laureate Cities

Laureate cities, Milan, Pune, Kigali, Lisbon, and Santa Monica actively transform urban life by investing in public health, strong communities, a thriving and sustainable environment, and local economy. Their success stories proves what can be achieved when cities focus on creating a better quality of life for the community.

Scroll down for more details on the finalist and laureate cities, their selected initiatives, and access op-eds by the laureate cities’ mayors.